Josh Stirman scored the only goal as Corinthian claimed the spoils in a hard fought derby at Phoenix Sports.

However, the player to whom the visitors were most indebted was goalkeeper Aiden Prall who pulled off a string of saves. 

Steve O’Boyle’s Phoenix came out with high energy and Prall was soon called into action when producing a brilliant save to deny Josh Dorling. Chaka Barnett twice tried his luck from tight angles.

First he won possession from a long throw by Thomas Cousins but was unable to hit the target, then he drew a save out of Prall at the near post.

In the eighth minute the visitors created their first opportunity and went ahead. Jack Mahoney’s corner fell to Stirman and he rifled it into the top corner giving Steve Phillips no chance in the Phoenix goal.

The next thirty seven minutes were tightly fought with chances few and far between. The best were when Oscar Housego headed wide for Corinthian and Malaki Toussaint’s first time side-foot volley flew just over for the hosts.

After the interval Phoenix again came out the more positive. Andre Thompson-Fearon fired over before Toib Adeyemi held it up for Toussaint but he couldn’t keep his shot down. Lee Bird then met a near post corner with a first time shot that flashed wide of the near post.

Toussaint crossed and an attempted clearance struck Byron Walker but flew narrowly wide then Thompson-Fearon cut in but shot over from well out.

However it was not all one way traffic and Frankie Morgan picked out Mahoney who met it with a firm header but Phillips made a fantastic save and got up quickly to claim the loose ball.

Wade Odedoyin had a golden opportunity to mark his debut with a goal when he got in behind, but Prall made a great block and James Billings got back to clear his follow-up shot off the line. Odedoyin then had a header saved by Prall.

An excellent sweeping move by Corinthian ended with the ball in the net but Harvey Smith was fractionally offside and his celebrations were cut short. 

By this stage Adeyemi was playing as an additional forward and spun but shot wide, then Prall made an outstanding diving save from Alfie Evans’ free kick. Barnett was thwarted by Prall before Thompson-Fearon found Odedoyin but the Corinthian goalkeeper made yet another fine save.

As the game moved into stoppage time Prall completed his match winning performance with one more great save from Odedoyin’s header.                        

Phoenix Sports: Phillips, Douglas, Cousins, Bird, Adeyemi, Dorling, Barnett, Toussaint, Odedoyin, Thompson-Fearon, Walker (Evans 79).

Sub not used: Whitelock, Tabima-Alvira, Allechi, Martin.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards:  Adeyemi, Odedoyin, O’Boyle (manager), Dorling

Corinthian: Prall, Lashley, Morgan, Holland, Billings, Sawyer, James (Miller 77), Mahoney, Clarke (Smith 67), Housego, Stirman.

Unused subs: Bath, Johnson, Edmundson.  

Goalscorers: Stirman (8)

Yellow cards: Holland

Referee: Dan Doyle

Assistants: Piotr Zachwieja and Steve Goldup

Attendance: 178