Greenwich Borough 3-2 Phoenix

Depleted Phoenix bow out of the SCEFL Challenge Cup

AFC Greenwich Borough ©

It was a disappointing evening for a depleted Phoenix Sports side, who were left to rue costly mistakes and lapses in concentration as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat away to AFC Greenwich Borough and exited the SCEFL Challenge Cup.

Phoenix were without the cup-tied quartet of Taylor Fisher, Tyller Davis Whitlock, Kieron McCann and Khayrie Harris while Jake Goodman and Jahmal Hector Ingram were unavailable due to injury.

The tone was set early on. With just seven minutes played, a defensive error allowed Oghosa Williams to get in behind and beat Ryan McCourt to the ball, sliding into an empty net to hand the hosts a 1-0 lead. It was a sloppy start that immediately put Phoenix on the back foot.

Phoenix attempted to respond. Lyle Della Verde showed intent on 22 minutes, beating his man before curling an effort wide from distance.

Three minutes later came a huge chance to level. Paul Lee intercepted a short back pass and won a 50/50 with the Borough goalkeeper. Lee opted to pass to Jamarie Brissett, but the recovering ‘keeper denied his attempted to loft comfortably.

At the other end, further uncertainty at the back forced McCourt into a big save on 26 minutes after a mistake from Louie Downey threatened to make matters worse.

The equaliser did arrive on 33 minutes. Della Verde’s corner was flicked on and Ahkeem Belford reacted quickest to poke home from close range to make it 1-1. His fifth of the season and for a spell, Phoenix looked the stronger side.

They should have gone ahead before the break. A dreadful free-kick from the Borough goalkeeper Javern Pitterson, who looked unsure with his feet all night, dropped kindly for Brissett. The forward squared for Della Verde, but he fired over with the goal at his mercy. Brissett then dragged another effort just wide as Phoenix pressed.

But just as it seemed momentum had swung, Phoenix were punished again. On 44 minutes, caught out on the counter-attack, Nathan Godziemski slid the ball into an empty net to restore the hosts’ lead against the run of play.

The start to the second-half was fairly flat with neither side grabbing hold of the game, but Phoenix found a route back into it on 61 minutes.

Another poor clearance from Borough goalkeeper Javern Pitterson was seized upon by Della Verde, who took a touch and calmly slotted home to make it 2-2.

However, the turning point came on 72 minutes and it proved self-inflicted.

Belford became involved in a flare-up with Williams on the touchline and was shown a straight red card for raising a knee towards the forward’s chest. Williams received a yellow card for his part in the altercation and was promptly substituted.

Reduced to ten men, Phoenix handed the initiative firmly to the hosts.

The numerical disadvantage soon told. On 77 minutes, space opened up in the Phoenix backline and Tom McNamee was left unmarked to head home a floated cross and put Greenwich Borough 3-2 ahead.

From there, Phoenix struggled to mount a meaningful response and the earlier mistakes and missed chances had already taken their toll.

There was at least one positive note late on, as U18s player Obi Egege was introduced to make his senior debut - a proud personal milestone for the forward and for the club.

Ultimately, it was a game Phoenix will feel they contributed too heavily to losing. Defensive errors, missed opportunities and a costly red card combined to ensure they exited the SCEFL Challenge Cup at the Quarter-Final stage.