There were goals aplenty at Sphinx Drive as Coventry Sphinx stopped their recent run of defeats with a 3-3 home draw against Heather St Johns in a Midland Alliance game.

Sphinx got off to a great start with only 53 seconds gone when Josh Rush made a surging run down the right and delightfully back heeled the ball into Tom Muldoon's path whose first time cross found  Ashley Jackson at the back post to flick home from close range.
 
Sphinx looked very comfortable and were controlling the game without really testing the Heather keeper. This was to change in the 20th minute when a long throw from Ruff found Jack Edwards whose header found the back of the net with the keeper in no mans land.

Jack Edwards airborn...

Credit must go to Heather who never let there heads drop and were now getting a foothold in the game, the signs were there for Sphinx when wellen headed over from a long Evans cross.
 
In the 32nd minute, a brilliant block by Jamie Mcateer gave Heather a corner and Troy Wellen got in front of Dion Barrett to head in, worst was to come for Sphinx for Heathers equaliser with a carbon copy second goal nine minutes later, David Yonwin rose unchallenged to meet a Lewis cross and Sphinx’s early good work was un-done.

Sphinx rallied to end the half positively with Adam Bilic's long range effort well saved by Brasington in the Heather goal.

Danny McSheffrey’s went in at half time at 2-2 after letting a two goal cushion slip. Sphinx came out in the second half with renewed vigour and set about looking for a third goal. Donaldson was put clear but his shot was well saved by Brasington.

It was a rare counter attack that saw Heather go in front in the 67^th minute, Ashley Jackson had a good effort that hit the post and a long range punt cleared the Sphinx defence and found three Heather players, who were according Sphinx and Heather supporters alike, 3 yards offside but this didnt bother David Yonwin who was able to chip the ball over the advancing Carl O’Neill.

Danny McSherreys made 3 quick substitutions and it was one of these in Junior Williams who went close with his first touch with a shot just going wide. Sphinx started to keep the ball and threaten the visitors defence as they had done earlier and were all out looking for an equaliser. A good run down the right by Donaldson  and a great near post cross was met by Williams who found the wrong side of the post.

In the 83^rd minute, they got their reward Donaldson laid the ball back for Bilic whose first time cross found Jack Edwards who got up from twelve yards out to head home to the delight the Sphinx support by finding the net with his firm header.

Sphinx might have had a penalty after the referee Andy Parker missed a blatant shove in the back, Donaldson was denied again by Brasington before Heather forward Lee Reynolds was sent off in the 90^th minute for a rash two footed challenge on Adam Bilic but they had to settle for a welcome one point instead of the three which they would have had on another day.

Sphinx: O'Neill, Barrett (Stevenson 66), Fraser (Saunders 77), Bilic, McAteer, Long, Muldoon (A.William 52), Edwards, Ruff, Donaldson, Jackson. Subs Kwemba-Kandu, Daffern

 

Heath Hayes: Brassington, Evans, Reddish (Robinson 51), Blaice, Mills, Lewis, Holmes, Missam (Fisher 77), Yonwin, Wallen, Reynolds. Subs  Taylor, Carline,  Waldrum
 
 

Attendance: 65

 

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