Shepshed Dynamo 3-0 Coventry Sphinx
Stuart Guest
Coventry Sphinx dropped themselves right into the thick of the Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division relegation battle with a second-half display at Shepshed Dynamo that left a lot to be desired.
Sphinx were already looking over their shoulders but their poor record against teams around them at the bottom of the league table is starting to become a real problem. They added another defeat in the last game before Christmas, collapsing in the second half to lose 3-0 at the Dovecote Stadium.
Joint managers John Woodward and Shaun Thomas were boosted by the arrival of a new signing. Striker Harry Wakefield went straight into the starting eleven with Jordan Hayward and Kyle Carey playing either side.
But they were forced into a late change at the back yet again. Jamie Draper picked up an injury in the warm-up and was replaced at centre back by Patrick Zito, who stepped in alongside Louis Guest in front of goalkeeper Charlie Woods.
Joe Pursey and Finlay Shorrock continued in the full back positions, while captain Callum Woodward was joined in midfield by Kyle Burke and Jack Downes.
The visitors made a good start with the wind whipping around the ground but Shepshed fought back and Woods had to make the first save, albeit a very easy gather from a tame header.
Shepshed squandered a golden chance in the 20th minute as they enjoyed a spell of control in the middle of the half. Eventually, the game became one of sharp attacking play from both teams but very few openings at the end of it, a decent scrap in increasingly difficult conditions.
The away team’s first real look at goal came in the 37th minute. Carey and Shorrock combined well on the left wing and Carey’s cross bent in towards the back post. Hayward was there, battling to get a touch, but could only poke the ball over the crossbar.
An injury to referee David Constable on the stroke of half time led to a long delay, after which the official was taken to hospital with our best wishes and replaced by one of his assistants for the remainder of the first half and the entirety of the second.
Sphinx had three chances in quick succession in the 18th minute of first-half stoppage time and were left to rue their inability to apply the finishing touch.
Hayward carved out a shot for himself and forced a save from Shepshed goalkeeper Daniel Wallis, who then reacted superbly to keep out Wakefield’s follow-up. In the next phase of play, Wallis had to save again from Carey to take the game into the break goalless.
The second half couldn’t have got off to a worse start for the visitors and it never really improved after a Louis Samuels header put them 1-0 down in the first minute of the period.
Sphinx initially reacted positively and called Wallis into action once more, this time to keep out a Wakefield shot on the turn, but the killer goal made it 2-0 in the fifth minute of the second half.
Callum Burkey’s corner from the Shepshed left was an in-swinger and swung in all the way, curling inside the far post to double the home team’s lead.
Woodward and Thomas turned to the bench immediately. Roan Newey replaced Hayward and Alex Lock came on for Callum Woodward, but Sphinx’s ability to get out of their own half improved only marginally. Woods made a big save on the hour to keep the difference down to two goals.
Sphinx finally made something happen. Lock’s smart turn just outside the box opened up a chance to shoot but his effort was dragged wide. That it was the high point of a dreadful half from a Sphinx point of view is a significant concern.
Woods saved again in the 77th minute but the ball was quickly in the Sphinx net again. Tristan Dunkley was the player who put it there to make it 3-0 and condemn the visitors to a dismal defeat.
Carey’s dipping drive moved in the air with two minutes remaining but Wallis parried it to safety and Sphinx’s misery was complete.
Losing in this manner was the worst possible way to head into Christmas, putting pressure on the upcoming festive fixtures.
But Sphinx had chances to go ahead in the first half at Shepshed and often looked useful on the ball before the delayed break. Conceding two sloppy goals in the first five minutes of the second half put them in a bad spot but the response simply has to be better.
Sphinx’s next fixture will be at home against Racing Club Warwick on Boxing Day and they’ll be hoping to play in front of a good crowd in a 12.30pm kick-off before Coventry City play at home in the afternoon.
After that, it’s off to the Oval on New Year’s Day to take on Bedworth United for the second time in the 2024/25 season. Picking up points over Christmas is a must.
Sphinx team
Woods, Pursey (Fuseini), Shorrock (Kelly), Burke, Zito, Guest, Hayward (Newey), Downes, Wakefield, Carey, Woodward (Lock). Unused sub: Draper