U11 Orange - Coventry Sphinx

Today, we saw a battling display from Leamington Brakes as they took on Coventry Sphinx in the final match of this trophy fixture series at Newbold Comyn. The Brakes took an early lead 20 minutes into the first half when Camello made a clever run into the box and expertly finished, putting them 1-0 ahead.

However, the celebration was short-lived. After resetting from the centre, Coventry Sphinx responded with renewed energy. An attempted shot from outside the box struck Oleg’s arm, which the referee deemed a handball.🤷‍♀️ Sphinx capitalised on the penalty to level the score at 1-1. The visitors continued their offensive, challenging Freddie, who was forced to make several impressive saves to keep the score tied at halftime.

The second half began with Sphinx building on their growing confidence. They earned another penalty, but Freddie rose to the occasion with a remarkable save, diving low to deny the spot-kick. Leamington Brakes sought to regain control and attack, but in their push forward, they lost their defensive structure, leading to another last-ditch tackle that awarded Sphinx yet another penalty. It was truly a game defined by penalty decisions.

As for standout performances,

3) Freddie shone between the posts with several crucial saves and accurate goal kicks. Well done, Freddie 👍👍👍

2) Oscar delivered a powerful performance, effectively breaking up play and winning his duels. Well done, Oscar👍👍👍

1) However, it was Finlay Paget who earned the title of Man of the Match with his relentless work rate and consistent performances over recent weeks. Finlay's tireless effort and determination stood out, making him a crucial asset on the right wing.👍👍👍💪

Well done to all, in what was a challenging match defined by a critical moment by the referee.