Sphinx weathered an early onslaught from Rushall with giant striker Rory May
causing problems from aerial balls into the box. Centre halves Terry Ward
and Liam Kay managed to snub out any threat though with Carl O'Neil in
superb form when they were beaten.

With Sphinx stalwart Rob Stevenson drafted back in to add some experience
for his first game of the season Sphinx were under pressure for the opening
20 minutes as Rushall tried to get on top. With chances for both teams it
was Sphinx centre forward Kelvin Phillips who had the best chance when out
of nothing he forced Chris Gemmell into an acrobatic save on 30 minutes.
Rory May then saw his effort hit the Sphinx bar but the referee had already
stopped the game for an infringement.

On the stroke of half time Jerome Murdock very nearly broke the deadlock as
he beat two defenders only to see his drive come back of the angle of post
and bar to go in at half time all square.

Sphinx started the second half brightly and both Murdock and winger Aaron
Donaldson came close before Rory May forced Carl O'Neil to push away his
close range effort.

In the 69th minute it was Kyle Rhodes who broke the deadlock when his
chipped shot caught Gemmell off his line to lob the stranded keeper from 25
yards.

Despite Rushall creating a couple of chances it was to be Sphinx' day and
they now go into the draw for the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

 

The draw to be made Monday will contain the following clubs who will join this rounds winners to complete the draw;

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Sphinx: Carl O'Neill, Craig Goodbody, Jamie McAteer, Kyle Rhodes, Terry Ward, Liam Kay, Aaron Donaldson, Rob Stevenson (Gary Mead, 84 mins), Kelvin Phillips (Luke Hopkins, 75 mins),Jerome Murdock, Tom Muldoon (James Holmes, 90+1 mins). Unused Subs: Chris Daffern, Andy Woodall, Paul Green.

 

Rushall Olympic: Chris Gemmell, Tom Starkey, Tim Jackson, Lee Barrow, Tesfa Robinson, Anthony Maguire, Scott Stevenson (Neil Grainger, 81 mins), Gary Fitzpatrick (Mark Lowe, 74 mins), Shane Benjamin, Rory May (Ramone Stephens, 62 mins), Grant Beckett. Unused Subs: Richard Brown, Michael Williams, Neil Kitching, Jem Mills.

 

Attendance: 196

In the Press:

EMBARRASSMENT AS OLYMPIC CRASH OUT OF FA CUP TO LOWER LEAGUERS (from www.rofc.co.uk)

Rushall Olympic suffered the ignominy of being dumped out of the FA Cup against lower league opposition as their now faltering start to the season plumbed new depths at equally mediocre Coventry Sphinx where they eventually succumbed to a dreadfully poor single goal defeat………. The only goal of an extremely lacklustre encounter arrived in the 70th minute when the visitors spurned several chances to clear their lines before allowing Kyle Rhodes time and space to produce an optimistic lobbed finish from distance that caught 'keeper Chris Gemmell well off his line………. It was an afternoon to forget for the UniBond League outfit where very few of their misfiring contingent came out of the tie with any credit.......... Indeed, the biggest crime was the club losing out on the much needed £3,000 that the fully deserving winners of the tie now receive.