Boldmere St. Michaels Reserves 7 - 2 Coventry Sphinx
The Mikes reserves stretched their six pre-season unbeaten games run into this opening game of the season with an emphatic seven goal demolition over a very young and spirited Coventry Sphinx side. The game started evenly enough with both Mikes and Sphinx passing pleasing on the eye. Mikes started to gain more and more territorial advantage, but failed to take a couple of half chances before a delightful through ball by Andre Calder sent away Kieran Robinson to bury into the corner of the net to give the Mikes a deserved lead. Two minutes later a cracking move by Mikes involving several passes opened up the Sphinx defence for Robinson to drive the ball across the keeper, and into the far corner for his and Mike’s second goal of the game. Sphinx then showed commendable spirit in drawing level within two minutes, an unfortunate error by Paintaine in the Mikes goal spilled a ball from his body to leave a simple tap in for the hungry striker, and this was followed almost immediately by another defensive mistake that allowed Sphinx to get back on level terms with a clinical finish. Fortunately for Mikes, a superb individual effort from debutant striker Mark Mason, scored within a minute of the restart, restored Mike’s advantage, this goal seemed to deflate the visitors, with the home side running in two more goals before half time, both from well rehearsed set pieces, finished in style by Dave Wapple and a glorious strike from another debutant Simeon Tulloch.
Half Time – Boldmere 5-2 Coventry
The second half saw Sphinx take the early initiative and try to put the Mikes on the back foot, but a breakaway goal from hat-trick hero Robinson and a second of the game from the impressive Tulloch, wrapped up this opening three points for the reserves determined to go one better then last years runners up spot.
Mikes power and pace was the main difference between the sides, but Skipper Neal Hanlon was yet again the platform for the developing Mikes to spring board from. The Sphinx are in the same position of Mikes a few ago, and will need to show great patience and add a little more experience to some talented players they have at there disposal.
Next week the reserves are at home to Heanor, a new addition to the league from Leicestershire.
1
Lee Paintaine
2 4 5 3
Adam Swain Neil Hanlon Mat Black Pete Gould
7 GG 8 6 11 GGG
Simeon Tulloch Andre Calder Stuart McNaught Kieran Robinson
9 G 10 G
Mark Mason David Wapple
Subs – Dominic Colson (for 7) Joe Davies (for 9) Richard Walker (for 5) Declan Clarke (Not Used)
