Gresley Rovers 1-1 Coventry Sphinx
Coventry Sphinx’s first away fixture in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands might have appeared, on the surface, to be a game of two halves. Superficially and statistically, it’s true. But that’s not really what was going on in this 1-1 draw against Gresley Rovers at the Moat Ground.
In fact, what was happening was a Sphinx team acclimatising to Step Four football on the job, learning and evolving in real time. They were superb in the first half against established NPL opposition, playing with intent and good value for their 1-0 lead at the break.
The second half was more about dealing with the other side of the game at this level. The faster tempo and increased physicality are already clear to see and Gresley made sure the visitors were aware of both. Sphinx are standing up to the challenge.
With Jordan Hayward unavailable through injury, Callum Martin was given his first league start of the season at left back. The rest of the back four was unchanged, with goalkeeper Keelan Fallows protected by Joe Pursey, Callum Whiteside and Louis Guest.
Joint managers John Woodward and Shaun Thomas opted to unite the Downes brothers in midfield. Luke Downes came in to link up with Jack Downes and skipper Callum Woodward. Dylan Parker, Kyle Carey and striker Matty Shipman continued in the forward positions.
The home team made a strong start to the game but Sphinx gave as good as they got in the early exchanges before taking the initiative. Pursey was effective at the back and also produced the game’s first shot on target, firing into the arms of Gresley goalkeeper Lewis Fenney from 30 yards.
Carey’s effort from 25 yards ended with the same result a minute later as the visitors began to play some excellent football in the middle of the park. Gresley were resolute and Sphinx pushed for the opening goal.
The away side’s defensive shape was good and the back four were reliable on the cover, providing a robust base from which attacks could spring. With passes connecting all over the pitch a goal seemed imminent by the middle of the half.
Gresley had their say before Sphinx took the lead. Stephen Hart tried to test Fallows with the outside of his boot in the 27th minute. Another Gresley shot went over on the half hour, and Fallows had to make a tidy save soon after. The hosts were starting to gain some control but they didn’t have it for long.
Sphinx led at half time thanks to a goal of some quality in the 38th minute. Gresley had a throw-in deep in their own half on the Sphinx left. Martin read the flight and won a clean header to divert the ball to Parker. Parker turned the ball round the corner to set Shipman in behind, where he showed strength and composure to fire past Fenney and claim his first of the season.
The second half started as the first had ended. Sphinx’s shape was making life difficult for the home team. Gresley pushed but Sphinx contained them reasonably well for the first quarter of an hour of the half.
They came close to a second. Carey’s clever threaded ball picked out Shipman only for his cross to be slid out for a player right under Fenney’s nose but the pressure from the home side was building by the hour mark.
A free kick from a long way out in a central position was leathered just over Fallows’ crossbar. The goalkeeper had to react quickly to save with his feet in the 65th minute and Sphinx needed to get on the ball as the match ticked into its final quarter.
John Woodward made a change with 20 minutes remaining, bringing on defender Dawid Peplinski for his Sphinx debut in place of Parker. It wasn’t designed to be a defensive move but Gresley made sure to keep the away team under the cosh. Sphinx put in a terrific defensive shift but the Gresley threat continued to grow.
When Sphinx were able to put together attacks they were effective. With 15 minutes remaining Martin whipped a vicious ball across goal but Woodward wasn’t able to get enough on the glancing header as he threw himself at the ball.
Five minutes later a brilliant Shipman run gave him the opportunity to swap passes with Jack Downes before smashing the ball towards the far post. It just swung away and it was just a few seconds before the ball was in the other net.
Gresley’s equaliser was as simple as can be. A dangerous ball was loaded into the box from a deep free kick and James Tague managed to attack it with enough determination to get to it first and flick his header beyond Fallows. It wasn’t a suckerpunch for Sphinx but it was a shame to concede so late.
Gresley looked the likelier winners for a spell but it was Sphinx who made the late chances, most notably after a couple of corners. Woodward clipped in the second and Guest met it full, sending his header just over. Neither team would get another opportunity before the final whistle.
Despite conceding a late equaliser, the Sphinx shouldn’t be disheartened. They’re two matches into life as an eighth tier club and the challenge is already evident.
To lead in both games and take two decent points is cause for encouragement. The efforts that went into the draws against Quorn and Gresley were massive and the team can be proud of how they’ve taken to the new level in the first couple of weeks of the season.
The first half against Gresley, in particular, was proof that they belong where they are. The boys were excellent before the break at the Moat Ground and deservedly led. They worked their socks off after half time. It’s all we can ask and it’s got us off to a solid start.
The next step is to turn one point into three and that task won’t get any easier. Sphinx will round out August with a home match against Sporting Khalsa and a Bank Holiday double-header against Spalding United (away) and Bedworth United (home).
Sphinx team
Fallows, Pursey, Martin, L. Downes, Guest, Whiteside, Parker (Peplinski), Woodward, Shipman, Carey, J. Downes. Unused subs: Johnson, Ellis, Jackson, Cristofaro