Bedworth United 0-2 Coventry Sphinx
Stuart Guest
After picking up a terrific Boxing Day win to end 2024 on a high, Coventry Sphinx carried their momentum into 2025 with a 2-0 win at Bedworth United to complete the double over their neighbours without conceding a goal.
It was in the end a comfortable win in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division. Sphinx's goals against the Greenbacks were scored in the second half by Kyle Carey and Harry Wakefield.
Bedworth rarely threatened and Sphinx goalkeeper Charlie Woods kept out their best attempt with a magnificent save at 1-0.
Joint managers John Woodward and Shaun Thomas named an unchanged side from Boxing Day, meaning another start at the back for Kyle Burke and Jamie Draper either side of Louis Guest.
Jordan Hayward and Joe Pursey operated as wing backs outside Jack Downes and captain Callum Woodward in midfield, with Alex Lock joining Carey and Wakefield in a dynamic front three.
The visitors started well and controlled most of the opening quarter of an hour. The first chance of the match saw them go close with 16 minutes played. Wakefield got himself free in the left channel and his cross was cleared back to him. Lock took over and curled a shot wide of the far post.
Four minutes later a ricochet sent Pursey in behind on the right. The ball was bouncing and running away from him but he managed to get a venomous strike away despite being under pressure from a Bedworth defender. His shot dipped just over Dom Rogerro’s crossbar.
Sphinx showed their attacking threat in the first half but chances were few and far between. They were even more scarce for Bedworth, who found themselves up against a team with tactical discipline and a good shape off the ball. The away team were superior all over the pitch even before they took the game away from the Greenbacks.
Hayward was the first player to give either goalkeeper essential work to do. He outpaced a marker and hit a powerful drive from 25 yards but Rogerro was well positioned to field the shot without overdue concern.
After the break, Sphinx took the game by the scruff of the neck. Three minutes in, Woodward’s free kick from 30 yards out picked out Guest in space after losing his man on the edge of the box.
Guest headed in but the assistant referee raised his flag and the goal was disallowed for an offside that was extremely tight and looked upon review to have been just onside rather than just off. Sphinx weren’t deterred.
Two chances just before the hour served notice on the hosts. Superb play from the right by Carey and Woodward demonstrated quick feet by both the top scorer and his skipper to create an opportunity for Woodward, which was dragged just wide.
A minute later, Lock fed Carey and Rogerro stood up big to keep out his shot from close range. Sphinx were putting attacks together more freely in the second half than the first. By the time their first goal arrived it had been in the post for some time.
The same combination paid off in the 64th minute. Lock slipped a perfect pass through the Bedworth defensive line for Carey, who saw the whites of Rogerro’s eyes and clipped the ball over the shoulder of the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net. For the second time this season, Sphinx led Bedworth by a single goal.
Historically, that’s often been enough to win this fixture – usually for the Greenbacks. The home side had more of the ball for a spell after the goal but had precious little to show for it. Sphinx took the sting out of it by keeping their foot down in attack but one of the key moments of the match was a duel at the other end.
Bedworth’s Charlie Dowd got himself into a great position in the Sphinx box and would have scored the equaliser were it not for Woods, whose brilliant save pushed the ball onto the crossbar.
Sphinx had to do some sustained defending for the first time in the game and, while the home team couldn’t create much in the way of meaningful shots on goal, they did hit the woodwork again with seven minutes remaining.
A corner from the Bedworth right was swung in towards the near post where substitute Iddriss Fuseini used whatever he needed to – namely his head and his own goalpost – to keep it out. Dowd shot high and wide on the follow-up.
The visitors were the more dangerous side and Rogerro had to make a double save. Carey’s pass split the defence to give Hayward a chance, but the goalkeeper parried his effort. Fuseini arrived to head the loose ball back towards goal but didn’t get the purchase he wanted on his effort and Rogerro was back up to grab the ball and keep the deficit down to one goal.
Three minutes from time, one goal became two. Having replaced Lock just a few minutes earlier, substitute Finlay Shorrock whipped in an outstanding free kick from the Sphinx left. It was a nightmare for defenders but a real tempter for strikers.
Wakefield couldn’t resist. He deftly volleyed in with the outside of his boot to make it two goals for Sphinx on the day as well as two goals for the new signing in his last two games.
Sphinx were excellent value for the win and claimed their first back-to-back wins since victories over AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Rugby Town in September 2023.
They have now matched their total number of wins from last season as they acclimatise to life as an eighth-tier football club. A pair of fantastic festive performances has put them back on track in 2024/25.
After a big win on the road, Sphinx are scheduled for consecutive Saturday home fixtures against Sutton Coldfield Town and Rugby Town. Having won twice with room to spare, they'll be eager to show they can mix it with two sides they haven't yet beaten this season.
Sphinx team
Woods, Draper, Hayward (Zito), Downes, Guest, Burke, Pursey, Woodward (Fuseini), Wakefield (Shearer), Carey, Lock (Shorrock). Unused sub: Kelly