A Game of Two Halves as Sphinx Snatch Share of Spoils

On a windswept and wet night at Sphinx Drive, Brakes took a giant step towards landing the Midland Combination Premiership with a valuable point against their Coventry rivals. Two first half goals by former youth team striker Ryan Howell had set up victory, but in the end a draw was a good result as the home side took the second period honours to square the match.

With water lying in the centre circle and along the touchline, conditions were far from ideal and the pitch deteriorated as the evening wore on. Full marks, therefore, to both sides for producing a match which ebbed and flowed and was never less than exciting. Brakes were smartly out of the starting blocks with Josh Blake from a free kick and Richard Adams both having chances in the first five minutes. However, the visiting fans were given plenty to think about with a succession of Sphinx corners, one of which needed an acrobatic save from Andy Harper (starting for the fourth consecutive match) to keep Brakes in contention.

However, the goals did come and it was young Howell who came away with something to show for an evening of endeavour. The first came in the 28th minute courtesy of a Blake free-kick on the left which was helped on by Richard Adams and Howell rose to head home after rookie Sphinx 'keeper Rob Newman had failed to collect, 0-1. Nine minutes later in the 37th, Richard Adams went on one of his darting runs down the right and, after beating two defenders, put a precision cross to Howell's feet for the second, 0-2.

Sphinx needed to strike early after the interval and it took only two minutes for them to pull one back. A free kick from the right was not cleared by the Brakes defence and Paul Gibbons was on hand to head home, 1-2 in the 47th. The visitors came back and a cross from Leon Morgan was headed just over by Blake. Newman then saved well at close range from Howell but one felt that another Sphinx goal was just around the corner. So it proved in the 58th minute when Harper failed to gather a cross and McSheffrey stepped in to score, 2-2.

Sphinx should have wrapped things up with five minutes to go when substitute Chris Harris had a golden opportunity to score but, with the goal at his mercy, shot wide. So a draw it was in the end and few amongst the crowd of 340 had cause to complain. Brakes certainly missed the craft of Jon Adams in midfield and his groin injury is hopefully only going to keep him out for two weeks.

There were bookings for Jamie Towers (for a foul on Andy Gregory) and Danny McSheffrey (for dissent), the latter earning a large cheer from the visiting supporters crowded into the stand.

This was Brakes' 27th match and the first draw of the season. Manager Jason Cadden was well satisfied saying "although I am disappointed to have let the two goal lead slip, a point apiece was probably a fair result. We remain on track and, with only seven matches left at home, I would like our supporters to turn out in force and get behind the team to help see the job through."

Leamington: Andy Harper; Ben Adams; Darran Tank; Steve Smith: Andy Gregory; Chris Hanrahan; Leon Morgan (Darren Timms 88); Stuart Herlihy; Richard Adams; Ryan Howell (Paul Nicholls 71); Josh Blake [Capt]
Sub(s) Not Used: Tom Sidwell

Coventry Sphinx: Rob Newman; Jamie Towers; Adam Knibbs; Danny Sharples; Terry Ward; Paul Gibbons; Danny McSheffrey [Capt] (James Halton 90); Paul John; Paul Woods; Rob Stevenson (John Woodhouse 69); Wayne Pulford (Chris Harris 62)

Team News: Jon Adams has a groin strain and is likely to miss two weeks.