Spalding United 4-0 Coventry Sphinx
Stuart Guest
Coventry Sphinx suffered a comprehensive defeat on a difficult Saturday afternoon against a very strong Spalding United team.
As well as facing the highest quality Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands opposition to date, Sphinx had to contend with a late arrival, delayed kick-off and the unavailability of two thirds of the usual front three.
With goalkeeper Keelan Fallows also away, Zach Hedge continued to deputise. Louis Guest and Callum Whiteside started at the back with Joe Pursey, with Jordan Hayward and Callum Martin at wing back.
Jack Downes and Max Johnson played in the centre of midfield, while captain Callum Woodward was pushed forward to play off Dylan Parker with both Matty Shipman and Kyle Carey unable to travel. There was also a first start for Sam Ellis in midfield.
Hindered by imperfect preparation, it was obvious from the start that Sphinx would have their work cut out against a team who should expect to be competing at the top end of the Midlands division in 2023/24 just as they did last term.
Spalding were tidy and robust, extremely organised in possession, and quickly took control of a match that would remain in their grasp for the duration. Sphinx were under the cosh early on and a goal for the Tulips in the tenth minute made sure they weren’t able to withstand the pressure for long.
James Clifton fired the opening goal in off the crossbar from inside the penalty area after Hedge had initially made a decent save.
After more pressure from the home team, Sphinx managed to get on the ball much more in the middle of the first half. Spalding carried the threat, however, and a quiet spell was punctuated by another Hedge save, this time a fine tip over the crossbar to thwart a powerful effort from distance.
A couple of half chances later, Spalding doubled their lead. In the 35th minute Lewis Hilliard’s corner kick from the Tulips’ left curled beyond everyone in the box and found the far corner. It had all the hallmarks of a dangerous delivery but it’s not a type of goal managers like to concede. It left Sphinx with it all to do.
Hedge had to save again to keep the deficit at two with six minutes left in the first half, which ended with yellow cards for Woodward and Pursey. Spalding were good value for their 2-0 lead at the break, ahead on merit, but Sphinx had more to give.
Thomas and Woodward’s men made a much brighter start to the second half, culminating in a shot from Johnson that was blocked. The visitors had more possession after half time and, as usual, looked much more effective when they had a platform to play a bit.
Even in the good moments, Sphinx found it difficult to make chances at one end and limit them at the other. Hedge parried another driven effort just before the hour even as Sphinx – while there was always the sense they were being kept at arm’s length – continued to move the ball well.
Sphinx’s joint managers introduced three of their four substitutes with 25 minutes left on the clock. Luke Downes replaced Sam Ellis, who played 65 minutes on his first league start for the club. Dawid Peplinski came on for Martin, resulting in a shift from right to left for Hayward, and captain Woodward made way for Antonio Cristofaro.
Two minutes later Spalding made it 3-0 through a substitute of their own. Jordan Graham is a player of some pedigree and his left-footed drive into the top corner of Hedge’s net was unstoppable.
The second half was better than the first from a Sphinx point of view but Spalding added a fourth goal with five minutes remaining. Clifton, who started the scoring, ended it too. He pounced on a split-second lapse at the back and produced a neat finish to beat Hedge and roll the ball over the line.
Hayward had to leave the field injured in the final minute and Cristofaro drew a save from Spalding goalkeeper Tony Breeden with a 25-yard curling shot in the fifth minute of time added on, but the game was long gone.
It was ultimately a heavy defeat for Sphinx and there's no doubt the home team deserved a comfortable win, but the fourth goal added a dimension to the scoreline that wasn't quite in keeping with the match.
Sphinx were up against it with key forward players missing and their delayed preparation didn't help. The truth for promoted teams in any division is that they need to have an almost perfect day to get anything out of the top teams away from home. This day was anything but perfect.
The fourteen players who were on the pitch gave everything, as they are expected to at Coventry Sphinx. The step up in intensity was more evident than ever and it was a tough challenge that they embraced fully.
In the end, they were handsomely beaten by a quality side. Next up in the NPL Midlands is a home game against neighbours Bedworth United on Bank Holiday Monday.
Sphinx team
Hedge, Pursey, Martin (Peplinski), J. Downes, Guest, Whiteside, Hayward, Woodward (Cristofaro), Parker, Ellis (L. Downes), Johnson. Unused sub: Draper