On a cold Sunday morning, Phoenix were finally going to play the first league game for nearly two months. Due to the long break and other teams around them playing Phoenix now found themselves at the bottom of the league, but they do have games in hand over the teams around them, but it meant today was a very important game and game where Phoenix needed take some points.
There were a few changes to the team that faced Newbridge many weeks ago. Ste was back and slotted in at right back. In Grahams absence Daz moved from left back to centre back and Craig dropped in at left back. The five n midfield were made up of Adam on the right Rich and Chris in the centre, Dave sat in front of the defence and Dan played on the left. Gibbo was up front on his own.
Coven were on a good run, sitting 2nd in the league and were very strong at home. However the last time Phoenix met Coven, Phoenix ran out 2-1 winners.
Phoenix got the game under way and were straight out of the blocks. Inside the first 2 minutes of the game the first chance fell to Phoenix. The ball was worked out to the left hand side with Dan, who played the ball back accross goal where Rich was free too shoot from 6 yards out, but with his weaker left foot he could only put the ball over, but a promising start for Phoenix.
Coven began to take a strong hold in the game and had long periods of possession, despite this they had very few clear cut chances,mainly down to the hard working midfield and defence who were closing everything out and restricting Coven to long range efforts that Ade comfortably dealt with. Despite Phoenix's quick start they were struggling to get the ball down and play the ball forward, there was not alot for Gibbo to run onto or get a hold of, but he was at least winning some headers and getting the flick ons for people to run onto.
Despite all of Coven's possession it was Phoenix who went ahead on 40 minutes. A Booth corner came in, which evaded everyone at the near post. Adam never gave it up at the back and played the ball back accross goal, where Dan was left unmarked to put the ball into the back of the net. Phoenix would take this lead into the half time break.
Coven got the second half under way and were quick to try and get back into as quickly as they could. 5 minutes of the half played and a rash tackle in the area by Craig gave Coven the chance they were looking for when the refferee pointed to the spot. There were no arguments and Phoenix were hoping Ade would keep it out. Their penalty taker stepped up and put the ball to Ade's right hand side and just out of his reach, the teams were now level.
This spurred Coven on and Phoenix seems to worry a little with some panick defending at times to get the ball clear. However on 60 minutes they could not and when their man in midfield picked the ball up on the edge of the area he had time to pick his spot and with a slight deflection the ball curled into the top right hand corner and Phoenix found themselves behind.
This seemed to wake phoenix up and they now started to get the ball forward more creating chances at least. Phoenix were awarded a free kick on the left hand side. Chris floated it in and Dave got above his marker to flick the ball into the path of Adam who managed to squeeze the ball home. Phoenix were not out of this and were hungry for more. Coven now started to look worried and it Phoenix were now pressuring high up the pitch forcing Coven into mistakes.
From another Phoenix set piece the ball was not cleared by Coven and Dave had to go through 2 players to get his foot too the ball and turn it towards an unguarded net and Phoenix in the space of a few minutes found themselves back in front, they now lead 3-2.
Coven switched to 3 at the back in an attempt to get men forward and try and get something out of this game, but as so often throughout the game Dave and the rest of the midfield and defense broke their play up and were able to clear. One clearance led to a counter attack by Phoenix when Adam found himself bearing down 1 on 1 with the Keeper who was good 20 yeards of his line. Adam went for the curling lob but it was straight into the arms of the keeper.
Phoenix were able to hold on and closed the game out to take all three points and enhance their position in the table. It was a hammer blow too Coven who now have Churchill Rovers breathing down their back after being in 2nd quite comfortably.
Phoenix's next game is against Hilltop Rangers back at home, where they will look to the double over them and push themselves into mid table.
