Phoenix 1-1 AFC Greenwich Borough
Phoenix earn hard-fought draw against impressive Greenwich Borough side.
Phoenix Sports earned a hard-fought point against AFC Greenwich Borough at the Christopher Russell Stadium on Tuesday night, with Ricardo Thompson’s early goal cancelled out by Joshua Shonibare shortly after half-time.
The visitors controlled much of the game and kept Phoenix under sustained pressure, but Jake Goodman’s side worked tirelessly off the ball, defended their penalty area well and stayed in the contest. Goalkeeper Damian Niemczycki also played a decisive part, saving a first-half penalty and making several important stops after the break.
Phoenix made a bright start. Jamarie Brissett cut in from the right in the seventh minute and tried his luck with the outside of his foot, but sent his shot wide. Three minutes later, the hosts were ahead. Lyle Della Verde swung in a corner and Thompson thumped a header home to give Phoenix an early lead.
Greenwich Borough responded by taking control of possession and pushing Phoenix back. The hosts had to spend long spells defending, with players working hard to close down space and protect their lead. For all the visitors’ pressure, clear chances were limited during much of the first half.
That changed in stoppage time when Thompson was adjudged to have committed a foul in the area. Stefan Payne stepped up to take the resulting penalty, but Niemczycki flung himself to his right and tipped the effort away. It was a vital save that sent Phoenix into the interval 1–0 up.
Greenwich Borough carried their momentum into the second half and equalised five minutes after the restart. Shonibare fired through Ahkeem Belford’s legs and into the corner to make it 1–1.
The visitors continued to have the better of the play. Phoenix struggled at times to get out of their own half, but maintained their discipline and kept working for one another. Niemczycki made further excellent saves as Greenwich Borough looked for a second goal.
Goodman introduced Khayrie Harris and Harry Barnes for Louie Downey and Steve Townsend in the 68th minute. Despite spending much of the half under pressure, Phoenix found a way to threaten in the closing stages and created two chances to take all three points.
Substitute Antuel Shquti broke clear in the 81st minute, only for Greenwich Borough goalkeeper Peter Balogun to tip his effort wide. Six minutes later, Balogun’s attempt to play out went straight to Brissett. The Phoenix forward fired at goal, but the goalkeeper recovered to make the save.
Deep into stoppage time, Isaac Hadlow skipped down the right and delivered a cross that Balogun dealt with.
Phoenix looked more dangerous in the final ten minutes, but it was Greenwich Borough who had dictated most of the evening.
Given the amount of pressure they faced, Phoenix will likely be the happier of the two sides with a point. Their defending and work rate gave them a platform to withstand long spells without the ball, while Niemczycki’s performance in the Phoenix goal proved crucial to the result.
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