Tividale FC

Report

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 25th January 2020
Tividale 0-0 Coventry Sphinx

Sphinx stalemate

Both sides have a little leeway over the bottom three coming into this game but they are both still having to look over their shoulder’s as both sides had only won one in their last 6 league games. Throw into the mix a heavy pitch and this was never going to be a classic and so it proved.

With Tom Hurdman and Matt Hunt absent and Lewis Probert transferred to Lye Town in midweek. New signing Samuel Prince started on the right side of midfield and the other new signing Ryan Boothe on the bench.

Sphinx had the better of the first half and their first chance on goal came in just the 6th minute when Lewis Noon blazed over the bar after good work from Liam Cairns. Minutes later and Noon was nearly in again when an Adam Harrison clearance hit him on the back and could have gone anywhere but thankfully it bounced harmlessly clear and the keeper was able to regain possession. Colin Smith was then denied by Harrison at his near post. Smith then went on a mazy run on 15 minutes but again he hit his shot high and wide.

Tividale’s first chance on goal came on 26 minutes when Darragh Bustin got free but although his shot beat keeper Tom Cross it also went wide of his far post. Colin Smith then had another great chance when a neat Callum Woodward chip was headed wide by the forward. Smith turned provider in the 37th minute when he out muscled the Tividale defence played the ball into Noon but Harrison pulled of a brilliant save to deny him.

The half ended with the two number 10’s Noon and Bustin having speculative long range shots. But both were comfortably saved by Harrison and Cross respectively.

Half Time:-Tividale 0-0 Coventry Sphinx

Sphinx’s Smith had the first chance of the second period but his 47th minute shot lacked the power to trouble Harrison. Two minutes later and Tividale’s Dan Smith headed a Brad Welding free kick wide.

It was not until the 67th minute that the next decent effort on goal arrived and once again it was Harrison on hand to turn a Woodward shot over the bar. Cross then foiled Bustin at his near post. Harrison then saved a Scott Hammond shot with his legs.

Tividale had the final chance of the game when a Luke Carter header from a Bustin free kick sailed wide of Cross’s post.

Full Time:-Tividale 0-0 Coventry Sphinx