Long Eaton United 1-1 Coventry Sphinx – 22/11/2025
Northern Premier League – Midlands Division
Grange Park, Long Eaton, Derbyshire
Long Eaton United drew 1-1 with Coventry Sphinx on Saturday afternoon at Grange Park in the Northern Premier League – Midlands Division.
It was the visitors who took the lead on a damp afternoon at the Family Only Stadium as Sphinx’s striker Jamal Adams redirected a cross/shot into the back of The Blues net.
Evan Garnett’s headed finish into the bottom left corner in the 73rd minute ensured that Long Eaton United walked away with a point.
Brad Munn made four changes to the side that were defeated away to Lichfield City last Saturday. Gianluca Bucci returned from his two-match suspension and replaced Jamie Hanson who started on the bench. Coden Duncan, Tristan Thompson-Matthews and Dexter Walters came into the starting XI in place of George Atwal, Cieron Keane and Connor Pace.
Long Eaton United started the brighter of the two sides with a chance early on in the second minute. Jahvan Davidson-Miller sent a low cross into the box from the right but Evan Garnett’s flick at the front post went wide of the left post.
James Taylor kept testing Charlie Woods in the Sphinx net with shots from outside of the box throughout the first half. Taylor’s first effort on target troubled Woods, however the goalkeeper managed to palm the ball away from danger.
Taylor hit another shot from outside of the box in the 29th minute and again it forced Woods into a low smart save and looked to panic the Sphinx keeper.
In the 35th minute, The Blues had their best chance of the match so far. Davidson-Miller had two shots from inside of the box blocked and charged down by Coventry Sphinx defenders. You just thought that the ball would find itself in the back of the net.
Dexter Walters delivered a high cross into the box towards the final stages of the first half with the ball falling to Davidson-Miller at the back post. Failing to trap the ball and gain any real control, the chance looked like it had come to an end until a misplaced Sphinx clearance fell to Taylor on the edge of the box who again tested Woods. The result did not change however as the opposition’s keeper got down well again to keep the score level.
Coventry Sphinx went close just minutes after. Lewis King’s initial save from Finlay Shorrock’s long-range effort went high and behind The Blues captain but King managed to dive backwards and claw the ball off the goal line.
The game was level and goalless at the half-time break.
Sphinx came out of the blocks fast in the second-half and they went on to break the deadlock in the 49th minute. Jamal Adams was in the right place at the right time to redirect the ball with his right foot into the back of Long Eaton’s net after a low and pacey cross was delivered from the right.
Taylor had a deflected effort which was palmed around the post by Woods and Owen Betts came close after his darting run with the ball. The right-back cut inside onto his left foot and hit a shot from the edge of the box which was diverted away for a corner. Nothing came of it.
Brad Munn’s side deservedly equalised in the 73rd minute and it was Evan Garnett who scored his 11th goal of the season in all competitions. The centre forward headed the ball into the bottom left corner. The goal had been coming and it was justified by Long Eaton’s play throughout the match.
It was the visitors who came closest to grabbing a winner in the late stages however and King was called upon. Firstly to tip the ball over the bar after a powerful strike from Harvey Smith, minutes after, Kyle Carey was slipped through on goal and the skipper had to save with his feet in order to keep the scoreline even.
The match finished 1-1 and Long Eaton United get to put a point on the board.
Up next for The Blues is an away trip to Basford United next Saturday, as they look to go and grab all three points.