ASHBY IVANHOE 0-2 COVENTRY SPHINX FC BY KEV MONKS
Coventry Sphinx will meet Causeway United in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Vase after a 2-0 win at Ashby Ivanhoe.
Sphinx boss Danny McSheffrey was forced to change the team which had won so well at Stourport Swifts for this fixture at Hood Park against a team two divisions below when James Holmes suffered an ankle problem before the match.
A strong Sphinx contingent were all applauding within five minutes of the start when Arron Donaldon used his left foot to steady himself before drilling home a right footed shot from the edge of the area.
The support may have been delighted but in the 11th minute, they were fuming when a penalty claim following Jerome Murdock being hauled down by the Ivanhoe keeper John Noon.
Murdock was cautioned and a number of further decisions made by referee Mr Hunt from Mansfield had the Sphinx bench and support fuming.
Ashby were in no mood to role over and die and it was only a brilliant save from Carl O'Neill who dived to his right in the 33rd minute that stopped Richard Hanslow from scoring.
Five minutes before the break, the Sphinx support, were again demanding a penalty when Murdock was wrestled to the ground. No action ensued from Mr Hunt.
But ten minutes into the second half, Mr Hunt showed a yellow and then a red card to Adie Fisher. The Sphinx midfielder had been harshly booked a minute earlier and his tackle on Joe Brockley did not go down well with the referee.
A free kick was awarded and met by the head of Ashby's leading scorer Phil Gibson. The Ivanhoe players all celebrated but there was a flag on the far side and the goal was chalked off.
Gary Mead replaced Kelvin Phillips and a re-organised Sphinx side started to gain a momentum they have not had in the first half.
Again, Man Of The Match Terry Ward was not letting anything past him whilst Jamie McAteer worked well at left back.
After Mead had a shot pushed away for a corner, Jerome Murdock danced past his marker before striking the left hand post with a 66th minute shot.
Murdock twice was sent clear only to fire wide or at the keeper but in the 80th minute, he wrapped up the match when he scored from a very acute angle to lash the ball high into the net.
Marc Smith and Arron Donaldson were both sent clear in the dying minutes but Sphinx were through 2-0.
Sphinx
O'Neill, Muldoon, McAteer, Fisher (sent off 55), Ward, Kay, Donaldson, Rhodes, Phillips (Mead 59), Murdock (Smith 85), Ruff (Green 76) SNU Goodbody, Holmes
Ashby
Noon, Hollis, Poulton, Brown, King, Lock, Nettel, Brockley, Gibson, Bartram Subs Used Dowling, Hemming, Bott.
Referee David Hunt (Mansfield)