Although they suffered their first competitive defeat within 90 minutes this season at the weekend, the Phoenix Sports juggernaut rolls on in the Southern Counties East League with a 4-1 win at Martin Grove.

Phoenix had to overcome a spirited first half performance from Lordswood, who were deservedly level at the interval, but the home side couldn’t maintain this in the second half.

Ricky Freeman completed a composed run and finish to open the scoring for Sports on 38, but right back Craig Maguire curled a freekick into the top left corner, leaving Steve Phillips grasping at thin air to leve on 43. Louis Valencia deceived Matt Byott with a shot just two minutes into the second half to restore the league leaders’ advantage, and as Lordswood pressed for a second equaliser, goals from Yacine Gnahore on 77 and substitute Brima Daramy in stoppage time gave a lop-sided look to the scoreboard.

Lordswood started the game brightly, putting a number of dangerous crosses into the Phoenix area, but Steve Phillips was relatively untroubled in claiming the high balls. Gradually Phoenix began to get a foothold in the game, forcing the home side back, and Michael Jenner released Yacine Gnahore into the area, only for Matt Byott to block the chance away for a corner.

The direct running of Harrison Carnegie set up a header for Gnahore, which looped over the bar, and Ricky Freeman was finding space through the inside-left channel to whip a shot across goal, but wide. In reply, Byott’s long clearance was flicked onto Sam Hallett, who poked the ball past Phillips, but Chris Hill was on hand to hook the rolling ball away.

The visitors took the lead on 38 as Freeman was granted the freedom of the pitch to run onto Jenner’s throughball. The Phoenix marksman drove into the area and, as Byott tried to close the angle, Freeman clipped the ball under the keeper’s body into the net.

Lordswood were competing all over the pitch to stay in the match, and their efforts were rewarded on 43, as Scott Whibley was penalised for foul on Charlie Smith. Craig Maguire stepped up to curl his freekick over the wall and inside the left hand post, with Phillips unable to reach the shot.

Within two minutes of the restart, Phoenix hit the front again, and although fingers would be pointed at Matt Byott in the Lordswood goal, there was little the keeper could do about Louis Valencia’s shot. The winger picked up the ball in the centre circle and was allowed to run forward unchallenged. As he reached 25 yards out, Valencia hit a shot that swerved and dipped away from Byott at the last moment.

Smith had a half chance on the turn from the edge of the box, but try as they might, Lordswood couldn’t put together any concerted pressure on the Phoenix defence. Scott Whibley had a shot blocked by Grant McIlheron, but Phoenix put the game to bed on 77.

A long crossfield ball from Carnegie found Valencia on the left corner of the area. The winger cut inside Maguire and fired a shot across goal. Byott flung himself full-length to his right to stop the initial shot, but Gnahore was on hand to tap the rebound into the empty net.

Then in stoppage time, poor defending from Lordswood allowed substitute Brima Daramy to waltz past 2 defenders and force a low shot inside the right upright to complete a one-sided half.

Phoenix remain as the only unbeaten side in the top NINE levels of English football, and on this clinical performance, who can stop them?

LORDSWOOD: Matt Byott, Craig Maguire, Imran Englefield, Daniel Wells, Brady Lillis, Gary Cook (Ryan Restall 85), Tom Wooldridge (Shane Uings 65), Peter Huggens, Charlie Smith, Grant McIlheron, Sam Hallett (Stephen Munn 73).

Sub not used: Mark Murison.

Goal: Craig Maguire 43.

Booking: Tom Wooldridge 18.

PHOENIX SPORTS: Steve Phillips, Myles Kiezer-Burrows, Lewis Mingle, Russell Bedford (Jason Goodchild 78), Scott Whibley, Chris Hill, Harrison Carnegie (Alistair Gordon 85), Michael Jenner, Ricky Freeman (Brima Daramy 81), Yacine Gnahore, Louis Valencia.

Subs not used: Ryan Andrews, Carl Cornell.

Goals: Ricky Freeman 38, Louis Valencia 47, Yacine Gnahore 77, Brima Daramy 90.

Referee: Mr K Dempster
Assistants: Mr D MacLeod and Mr B Woodhouse