Phoenix 2-2 Corinthian

Phoenix fight back to earn Corinthian point.

Lyle. Della Verde in action for Phoenix

Phoenix Sports and Corinthian served up an entertaining contest on Friday night, infront of the biggest crowd at the Christopher Russell Stadium in seven years. 

The 350 non-league fans in attendance were treated to an enthralling 90 minutes as Phoenix battled back from a two-goal deficit to earn a point. 

With the full force of Storm Amy at their backs, the visitors made an early statement as Phoenix keeper Sam Freeman was forced into action within the opening minutes, turning away a speculative 45-yard strike from Jack Billings.

Phoenix began to find their rhythm, and Will Efambe came close when his effort was deflected wide by a Corinthian defender. Moments later, Jerson Dos Santos broke in behind but dragged his shot across goal and just past the far post.

The breakthrough came in the 17th minute — albeit in unfortunate fashion for the hosts. A Billings corner to the near post caused chaos, and under pressure from Caleb Afoke, Jake Goodman inadvertently headed into his own net.

Things went from bad to worse just four minutes later. After Harry Barnes picked up a booking for a late challenge, Corinthian launched the resulting free-kick forward and Tom Mitcham beat Freeman to the ball to double the visitors’ lead.

Corinthian continued to threaten before the break, with Ross Obazee and Shawn Jewett-Ricketts both going close to extending the advantage, but the hosts held firm to reach half-time two goals down.

Phoenix needed a response after the interval, and Freeman kept them in the game with a superb reaction save from Obazee before tipping another effort over the bar from Fletcher Carnell-Davis.

At the other end, Lyle Della-Verde looked to spark his side into life, testing Toby Waller with a free-kick and later firing narrowly wide from distance.

With twelve minutes remaining, Phoenix found a lifeline. A Harry Smart corner was met powerfully by new captain Ahkeem Belford, whose header halved the deficit and gave the home fans hope of a comeback.

The momentum was now firmly with the Sports. Smart continued to cause problems, weaving through two tackles before firing wide, while Barnes also saw a shot blocked inside the box.

As the clock ticked into the 90th minute, Phoenix’s persistence finally paid off. After a flurry of brave Corinthian blocks, the ball fell kindly for Jensen Grant, who drove his shot low inside the far post to level the match at 2–2.

Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing moments — Corinthian’s Akash Santhosh saw his effort bounce kindly into Freeman’s gloves, before Ben Morrison headed over from a Tyler Anderson cross at the other end.

In the end, neither side could find a decisive third goal, and the points were shared after a thrilling, hard-fought encounter that showcased the resilience of Goodman’s men in testing conditions.