FOOTBALL: A SECOND half strike from Ryan Harkin rescued a point for Coventry Sphinx in their first Midland Football League Premier Division clash against Haughmond on Saturday.
Sphinx were set a stiff first task for their new campaign with high flying Haughmond playing on the back of a promotion winning season last year.
After losing out to Boldmere St Michaels in the FA Cup, Sphinx welcomed back several key players and made five changes to last week’s team.
Skipper Scott Lower returned to take his usual right back position while Aaron Stringfellow came in at left back with Matty Burt and Michael Quirke completing the back four.
There were also changes in midfield with Liam Cairns and Luke Downes coming into the side.
Sphinx started well enough though neither side made an early impression on goal in the early stages.
Sphinx’s first chance of the game came on 15 minutes when Sterling did well to turn and get a shot away that went just wide of Haughmond’s goal.
An immediate response from the home side though saw Scott Dutton forced into a smart save down to his left to keep the scores level.
Chances came and went for both teams before Haughmond broke the deadlock on 39 minutes when a quick forward move saw Joe Parry take advantage of a loose ball to put the home side ahead.
Haughmond held their lead throughout the start of the second half as Sphinx made changes.
Curvin Ellis was introduced and within a minute Sphinx were level.
Harkin found himself through on goal with only the keeper to beat. A poor first touch seemed to have spoiled the opportunity, but he recovered well to bring Sphinx level.
The tiring home defence struggled to deal with Harkin in the closing stages, but the game ended in a draw – a fair result.
Sphinx are next in action at Sphinx Drive on Wednesday with Shepshed Dynamo the visitors to Coventry.
