Shepshed Dynamo 2-2 Coventry Sphinx
Stuart Guest
After signing the club’s first ever contracted player, chairman Dannie Cahill reiterated Coventry Sphinx’s intention to be competitive in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands.
Early draws in the 2023/24 season gave way to a difficult spell but wins over AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Rugby Town offered hope. A 2-2 draw at Shepshed Dynamo on a sunny October afternoon demonstrated again that Shaun Thomas and John Woodward’s side have the ability to make their presence felt at Step Four.
On another day this match might have been won or lost. Both teams hit the frame of the goal in the second half. Sphinx deservedly led twice but had to hold on to a point as Shepshed rallied late. It was, in the end, an entertaining contest between two good teams – contrary to the loudly expressed view of a home supporter that the opposite had been true.
Disruption on the M1 meant that Sphinx’s joint managers had to rethink their plan. Goalkeeper Keelan Fallows started behind Callum Whiteside, Will Edjenguele and stand-in captain James Bryson with Callum Woodward out injured and Louis Guest’s delayed arrival leaving him on the bench.
Joe Pursey and Finlay Shorrock played out wide with Luke Downes, Jack Downes and new signing Alex Lock selected in midfield behind Dylan Parker and Matty Shipman. Both forwards would give Sphinx the lead in a highly competitive match in Leicestershire.
The first two chances of the game dropped for Jack Downes, attacking the box from midfield. In the fourth minute he was thwarted by goalkeeper Brandon Ganley after he'd come out to punch a cross. In the fourth, Downes' clean strike was deflected into the goalkeeper's arms.
Sphinx came to play and made a good start at the Dovecote Stadium. Parker was next to go close, firing wide on the half-volley after a determined header by Shorrock to keep the move alive.
A Shepshed free kick from just outside the box was deflected wide immediately before Sphinx opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Goalkeeper Fallows sent a long kick forward looking for Lock, with Parker making the run in behind.
Lock didn't appear to get a touch but the bounce did the job and Parker smartly turned the ball past Ganley and into the Shepshed net for a lead the visitors deserved to cap off a fine first quarter of the match.
Dynamo were sparked into life by the need to chase the game. While Sphinx continued to look the better side for much of the first half, the hosts began to create openings.
Pearson Mwanyongo showed good composure to give himself a shooting chance that he took well but couldn't guide on target. With half an hour played, Fallows had to make a brilliant low save to keep out another deflected effort.
But Shepshed's pressure was building and they equalised in the 38th minute. There was a touch of good fortune about the cross from the right as it took a nick on the way to James Shaw but the striker did well to finish off-balance at the near post.
Sphinx hadn't been able to hold out until half time but felt they could get themselves back in front in the second half.
They didn't take long to do so. Woodward and Thomas made a substitution at half time, with Bryson carrying a yellow card and a change of shape deemed necessary. Max Johnson came into midfield and it was a fruitful shift.
In the third minute of the half Parker rolled his man and got in behind again. This time he was fouled by Elwalid Elhaghany just inside the box and a penalty was awarded.
Injured skipper Callum Woodward took Sphinx’s previous penalty so striker Shipman took responsibility for the spot kick and drilled home it to Ganley’s bottom right while the goalkeeper headed in the opposite direction.
Sphinx remained on top into the middle of the second period. With his team in front and in the ascendancy, Shipman found himself on the end of a set of studs to the ribs. For the second match in a row, a Sphinx player was subjected to a clear instance of serious foul play and not a red card between them.
Shipman was subsequently shown a bizarre yellow card but the energetic visitors continued to push for a third goal. They thought they had it when Whiteside met a corner at the back post.
His header struck the inside of the post and somehow stayed out. Ganley had to react quickly to prevent it from spinning over the line and it was the closest Sphinx would get to another goal.
Dynamo’s Kieran Cummings served notice as the home team cranked into action in search of a second equaliser. His powerful strike sailed over Fallows’ goal with 20 minutes remaining but Shepshed’s second was imminent.
Unfortunately it was a disappointing goal to concede from a Sphinx point of view. Substitute Dylan Reason headed in from a poorly defended corner to make it 2-2 and the home team now had the momentum.
Fallows had to tip over from a crossed free kick that would have snuck in the top corner with quarter of an hour left. Jack Downes, the captain for the second half, had to head an effort off the line from the resulting corner.
Sphinx had their moments. Lock was unlucky not to get a telling touch on a vicious ball across the box, and Shipman managed to dig out a speculative curling shot that was turned wide of goal for a corner. But Dynamo had the better of the final few minutes.
Fallows had to tip over once more with ten minutes left, shortly before another cross looked to be a threat only to swing just over the crossbar. In the second minute of stoppage time the home team came close to a spectacular winner.
The Sphinx goalkeeper cleared the ball into midfield and the quick-thinking Shaquille Master’s chip was almost perfect. On this occasion it was the away team who were thankful for the intervention of the woodwork.
Sphinx returned to Coventry with one point that might have been three. Drawing after twice going in front is cause for frustration but the effort and application of the players – not to mention the quality on show – rightly earned them applause at the end of a terrific match.
Shepshed are now an established Step Four outfit and Sphinx went toe to toe with them, matching them for the most part and bettering them for spells too. It was an encouraging display and one that can give the team confidence as they move towards the last game of October.
Like Shepshed, Coleshill Town are former Midland Football League rivals now settled in the division above. Sphinx have proved themselves capable of taking points off opponents at this level and should be looking forward to the visits of the Colemen and Anstey Nomads over the next few weeks.
Sphinx team
Fallows, Whiteside, Shorrock, L. Downes, Edjenguele (Guest), Bryson (Johnson), Pursey, J. Downes, Shipman, Lock, Parker (Ellis). Unused sub: Cristofaro