Season 07-08 : FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Replay : Match Report

COVENTRY SPHINX  2  -  2  TEVERSAL (After extra-time) (Teversal won 6 - 5 on penalties) Prepared by Kevin Newton

COVENTRY SPHINX - Harrison, McGregor, Knibbs, Drennan, Ward, Winterbottom, Owen (Martin 54), Fisher (Rhodes 90), Pulford (Woodward 71), Stevenson, Murdock. Subs Not Used – Halton, Wilson I.

TEVERSAL - Wilson J., Tighe, Townroe (Foster 45), Holmes, Short G., Giles, Walker, Scott, Bettridge, Clarke (Atkins 90), Stokes (Pilmore 83). Subs Not Used – Hauton, Thacker.

REFEREE - Mr A.P. Barney from Coalville.

MAN OF MATCH - Teversal – Jonathan Wilson, Coventry Sphinx – Jerome Murdock

ATTENDANCE - 112

"TRUE FA CUP CLASSIC AGAIN!!" After a pulsating first game on Saturday, Coventry went into this game as favourites being the club from a higher level, playing at home and pegging Teversal back from a 2-0 lead in that first game offered them the psychological advantage. Add to that the old adage of the FA Cup is “if a giant killing is to be done, it’s done in the first game” So when Teversal took a 31 second lead it gave them the boost and belief that an upset just might be on. Danny Tighe hit a free kick that was deflected to Mickey Clarke who calmly took a touch before firing past the stranded Harrison in the Sphinx goal. However Sphinx should have been level only a minute al later, when a triple save by Wilson left you speechless when he first denied Pulford’s snap shot, then Fisher from close range and then again Pulford who’s crisp effort was parried to safety. The standard for the game was set and the remaining 118 minutes didn’t fail to disappoint, especially if you was a neutral not left fraught from the nights events. Coventry created opportunities but poor finishing, superb goalkeeping and solid defending by the defensive pair of Gavin Short and Sam Holmes kept the Tevie Boys lead intact. The visitors then hit the Sphinx boys with a second blow and again Mickey Clarke was the executor on 31 minutes, Tighe produced a telling ball into the space behind the home space and enough to entice Harrison to come of his line to try and cut out the danger, but Clarke reached the ball first before cleverly lobbing the Sphinx Custodian to make it 2-0 to the Northern Counties East League side. The lead was held to half time, but Sphinx still had the belief after the weekend’s come back, and it was justified, when on the hour mark the comeback began when Stevenson sent a searching pass that found Murdock who controlled and finished superbly to heighten the expectations of the home support. Five minutes later the guy who equalised in the first game, did so again when Stevenson’s near post corner was headed home by Pulford and again their belief that game was now there for the taking. Teversal though showed there spirit too and battled back into the game, with both sides creating opportunities, but the never say die attitude showed by both sides saw every loose ball, fiercely contested, every opening quickly closed and a true cup tie end to end battle pursued. But the deadlock wasn’t to be broke and extra was to follow. Again this continued in the same spirit and both sides had opportunities to win it, firstly Rhodes and Murdock went close for Sphinx, with Giles and Bettridge likewise for the Tevie Boys in the first period. The first chance and the best chance of the whole game was produced when Murdock rounded Wilson in the Tevie goal and because of the tight angle pulled back to Martin on the edge of the six yard box, but the substitute scuffed his effort and allowed Scott to clear of his line. Scott was then in the thick of the action at the other end when a neat Teversal move saw Walker cross to the far post for Scott to a fire a volley towards the top corner, but Harrison pulled of a stunning save to ensure this tie was going all the way to the lottery of a penalty short out. Having never been behind over the 210 minutes of open play, Teversal found themselves giving an early advantage to the home side when Scott fired the Tevie second penalty over the bar. With all the other penalties hitting the back of the net, Martin stepped up to take the pressure kick, but Wilson made an excellent save to take it into sudden death shoot out at 4-4. Both sides scored the first one, then Atkins stepped to fire over the bar, leaving Murdock the opportunity to finish it in favour of the home side, but again Wilson at full stretched saved again. Wilson then made is only error of the night when he took the next kick, only to his effort saved, however he redeemed himself by saving Wards well struck effort. Up stepped debutant 16 year old striker Chay Bettridge, who’s effort saw Harrison get an hand to the effort but there was to much power to prevent it hitting the net. So for the first time Sphinx had to score to stay in the penalty shoot out and tie, but Drennan opted for power and saw his effort clear the bar. A true epic that had everything, it is harsh that any side had to loose, but Sphinx go out with a lot of credit and respect. Teversal now look forward to a local derby in the next round when Rainworth MW visit Carnarvon Street. The FA Cup will now be put on the back burner until after Teversal’s next two games starting on Saturday 25-08-07 sees a return to league action with a trip to Leeds to face Yorkshire Amateurs, meeting at 12.00noon to leave 12.15pm from Carnarvon Street. Then Tadcaster Albion visit Carnarvon Street for a Wilkinson Sword Trophy tie on Tuesday 28-08-07 with a 7.45pm kick off.