At the moment if you want to see a goal fest get yourself down to Sphinx Drive, after Tuesday's game against Boldmere which Sphinx won 5-2 the crowd at Sphinx Drive were treated to a 8 goal thriller this time round.

 

Before hand though a minute's silence was impeccably observed by all in attendance for four local members of the British Armed Forces sadly lost in combat in Afghanistan in recent days. Those remembered were Sergeant Simon Valentine (Bedworth), Fusilier Louis Carter (Nuneaton), Lance Corporal James Fullarton (Bell Green) and most recently Fusilier Shaun Bush (Stoke Aldermoor).

When the football began Sphinx started well with Donaldson and Murdock causing problems for the Swifts defence who looked prone to pace. But it was Swifts who drew first blood scoring a headed goal from Jones on 7 minutes.

 

Sphinx shrugged this set back off and started to control the game, with Murdock looking to capitalise and just failing going close with a raising shot over the bar. In the space of 8 minutes though Sphinx were 3 down with another headed goal from a corner by Jukes on 18 minutes then a needless penalty was given away as the defence failed to clear their lines and instead upended Wood in the box and Joyce despatched the penalty to make it 3-0.

The scoreline did not do Sphinx justice with the way they were controlling the game from open play but worse was to come on 35 minutes when Mead was caught in possession on the edge of the box by Wood who placed the ball past a on-rushing O'Neill to make it 4-0.

The crowd could of well thought the tie was dead and buried for Sphinx but not the boys in Sky Blue and White urged on by a particularly vocal dugout to produce a dazzling 4 minute spell of football to change the tie's momentum.

 

Jerome Murdock scored a sublime lifeline for Sphinx cutting across 3 challenges from the right before unleashing a unstoppable shot past Evans in the Swifts goal on 41 minutes. Sphinx Manager Danny McSheffrey made 2 changes Gary Mead, with a dead leg, was replaced by Tom Muldoon at right back and Paul Green was sacrificed for Adrian Fisher in midfield and McSheffrey made a formation change going from 4-4-2 to a more attacking 4-3-3.

Adrian Fisher reduced the arrears on 44 minutes with his first touch when he curled a lovely 25 yard free kick into the top left hand corner of Evans goal. With celebrations just settling down on the Sphinx bench more was to come as Murdock rose at the far post to nod in Woodward's free kick on the stoke of half time.

The second half started with Sphinx pushing Swifts back at every opportunity and it was not long before Sphinx were on level terms with the goal of the game. Murdock received the ball in midfield and sent Muldoon rushing down the right. His pace took him past 2 defenders before crossing for Donaldson to notch at the far post on 55 minutes.

 

Now it was all one way traffic with Donaldson and Muldoon causing havoc down the right and Murdock a constant threat for the Swifts defence.

Sphinx peppered the Swifts goal and must be wondering how they did not get a winner. Woodward had a shot cleared off the line, Phillips screwed a header just wide and had another header that fell kindly into the 'keeper's arms. Murdock hit the side netting, a goal mouth scramble ended with Swifts clearing their lines and Donaldson had a cross which evaded Phillips and Murdock by inches.

Swifts themselves went close on 2 occasions with the dangerous Pattison crossing for Benbow who could only hit a shot over the bar.
So the referee blew for full time and Swifts must be kicking themselves for letting a 4-0 lead go and Sphinx must be happy for still being in the round but also wondering how they did not win the game.

 

The battle will be rejoined on Tuesday night at Stourport, kick off 7.45pm, with a home tie against Rushall Olympic in the next round the prize for the victors.

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Sphinx: C. O'Neil, G. Mead, J. Holmes, K. Rhodes, J. McAteer, L. Kay, A. Donaldson, C. Woodward, K. Phillips, J. Murdock, P. Green. subs: , L. Simmons, T. Bryce, T. Muldoon, A. Fisher, L. Hopkins, C. Wilson-King.

 

Stourport: P. Evans, C. Duggan, N. Clayton, N. Jukes, D Wittall Williams, A. Jones, J. Insall, J. Price, W. Joyce, M. Benbow, T. Wood. subs: B. pattison, S. Towers, L. Whittington, J. Triana, S. Morris.

 

Attendance: 108

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photos copyright and courtesy of Mick Evans @ KORU Digital

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