COVENTRY SPHINX 1 - 1 WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON (1 - 3 PENS)

 

F.A. VASE   FIFTH ROUND

Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena, Sphinx Drive, Coventry, CV3 1WA

11th February 2023    3:00 pm Kick-Off

Today sees the 5th Round of the FA Vase, taking place and although I am a bit reluctant to take on a 3pm kick-off at this time of year, the tie at Coventry Sphinx, a ground I haven't visited for many a year is too good to miss. They are taking on the Manchester team, West Didsbury & Chorlton who play in the North West Counties League, Premier Division.

Coventry Sphinx these days are playing in the United Counties League, Premier Division South, where they currently lie in 3rd place with games in hand over the top two. Their best finish in this cup competition was a quarter-final place in 2008, so they will be striving to at least equal this achievement this time around.

Sphinx are one of 3 Midland clubs looking to progress to the Quarter-Finals, AFC Wulfrunians and Atherstone Town being the others.

I make the rail journey to Coventry without any hitches and it's nice to see that all the changes to this rail station are now complete, especially at the forecourt, which was always a scene of confusion.

I have a look around the city centre and have an all-day breakfast at a cafe in the Indoor Market which is served up by not too friendly staff members. The food is OK though.

I get the No.13 bus from near the Coventry Transport Museum and get off at a stop on the Binley Road and take a 10 minute walk to the Sphinx Drive entrance to the ground. Match tickets are being sold at a table just inside the entrance and in the club house too. There are 3 coaches from Manchester parked in the car park so there will be a sizeable contingent of 'West' supporters today.

I buy a cup of tea in the club house and there are plenty of people in here today. I'm liking the cup tie atmosphere already.

Armed with my match day ticket I gain entry to the football ground itself with the stand on the opposite side with the team dug-outs situated there in front of it. The football club is part of the Coventry Sphinx Sports and Social club, which also has a bowls club and a rugby club too.

The teams come out with the home side attired in their usual colours of light blue & white striped shirts, white shorts & light blue socks. The visitors are in their away colours of navy blue & pink.

This tie is being played at a fast pace and Sphinx take the lead after 16 minutes when No.9 Matty Shipman sees his shot from the right hit the far post and rebound into the net. 

I find I am standing next to another photographer and he turns out to be one of the two photographers for West Didsbury. His colleague is covering the action on the other side of the pitch.

His side are the next team to feature when in the 25th minute, they have an attack down the left and a cross comes over for their No.7, Billy Matthews, to go close with a header.

After 32 minutes, the home side have the ball in the net again but it's ruled out for offside. A few minutes later sees West Didsbury's No.9, Ben Elliott break free but shoots straight at the keeper, followed soon after with Billy Matthews seeing his close range shot being blocked by Sphinx keeper, Scott Martin.

So after an even first half, Coventry Sphinx have the advantage but I feel this is going to be a very close contest.

These cup games seem to attract groundhoppers and today is no exception. Standing next to me are 3 friends who have travelled all the way from Norwich. Every so often they are checking the score at the Bristol City v Norwich City game with the bad news that Bristol are currently leading 1-0. We exchange a few stories of grounds we have visited and recollect the great occasion when Norwich City back in the day beat the mighty Bayern Munich in a home European tie. 

The teams troop back on to the pitch for the second half and on the hour sees a good attack by Sphinx down the left, with a cross to their No. 11 who heads straight at the 'West' keeper, Andrew Jones.

Three minutes later and the scores are all square when West Didsbury's No.3, Tom Westall, shoots home in to the right hand corner of the net.

This is greeted enthusiastically by the increasingly excited away support from Manchester, who are displaying a variety of banners today.

Although both teams are striving to get the winning goal, with Coventry Sphinx No.11, Leo Stone seeing his shot saved right near the end of normal time and even with an extra 10 minutes of injury time, there is no further score.

So now it's down to the dreaded penalty shoot-out to decide the winners of this tie.

The first 2 penalties sees the sides tied at 1-1 but two successive misses by the home side following 2 successful penalties by West Didsbury is enough to see the visitors going into the hat for the 6th Round draw. They are later rewarded with a home tie v Ascot United next month.

I'm glad I came to this game and although I am a bit disappointed to see Coventry Sphinx go out of the competition, I was very impressed by the West Didsbury & Chorlton supporters who really got behind their team today.

Sphinx can now concentrate on their title chase in the Premier Division South of the United Counties League, while West Didsbury continue in their quest for cup glory.

Match Attendance:                  388

               Entrance Fee:                £8 (£6 concession)

     Match Programme:            £1.50p     

         Entertainment Value:        8/10