BIRMINGHAM SENIOR CUP ROUND 2
Coventry Sphinx battled away but went down to a 1-0 defeat against Bromsgrove Rovers in the Birmingham Senior Cup.
Bromsgrove boss Rod Brown fielded former Coventry City reserve teamer Chris Duggan in their starting line up and the right sided midfielder whipped in a third minute cross which Lee Allsop smashed onto the underside of the bar and then the post.
Paul Charnley's side were composed throughout and entertained their support with some good football. Another weapon in the Sphinx armoury was the long thrown of Jimmy Halton and one in 21st minute which Aron Gunnarsson would have been proud of,was steered inches wide by Robbie Stevenson from the edge of the area.
Sphinx lost skipper Dave Drennan to an injury just after the half hour mark but kept pressing.
In the 38th minute, Jerome Murdock rounded Jimmy Dormand. The home support gasped but the ball was cleared off the line.
Sphinx tried again, three minutes later and the ball fell to Callum Woodward, who hit a great shot only for Dormond to make an equally good stop with his feet.
Paul Chanrley's side did not need the half-time interval which gave Bromsgrove time to reassess things.
They had missed in the 49th minute when Kevin Banner somehow dragged wide with the goal at his mercy but two minutes later, a cross from the left got stuck under the foot of Kyle Rhodes who was unable to get the touch he wanted and the ball fell for Dean Curtis to lash into the net.
Tom Thacker should have equalised for Sphinx in the 63rd minute when he blasted over with only the keeper to beat before Dormand had to block and Duggan had to clear away.
In the 79th minute, Bromsgrove kept their lead intact thanks only to the post which stopped a Murdock shot that had been deflected.
That had the Sphinx support thinking that it was not to be their night and that thought was compounded as subsitute Jez Carpenter headed just wide as did a far post header from McAteer.
In the last seconds of stoppage time, Sphinx were awarded a free kick. Robbie Stevenson delivered the place kick but Dormand got down to push the ball onto the post and out for a corner.
There were plenty of positives to take from this performance for Sphinx who travel to Causeway United on Saturday.
Sphinx
O'Neill,McAteer,Holmes,Drennan (Rhodes 31),Ward,Kay,Woodward (Harri 74), Halton,Thacker (Carpenter 81),Stevenson,Murdock SNU Hopkins,Care
Bromsgrove
Dormand,Gill,Hamilton,Brady,McHale,Duggan,Carter,Allop,Reynolds (Styche 65),Curtis (Clarke 80),Banner (Birley 53) SNU Craven