AFC WULFRUNIANS 1-3 COVENTRY SPHINX
Sphinx: O'Neill, Sullivan., Fowler, Wilks, Fletcher, Jackson, Cain (Dainty 80), Cutting (J.Downes 88). Williams, Downie (Dyke 72), L. Downes. Subs: Hindmarsh.
AFC W: Tipton, Perks, Burd, Palmer, Skedgel (Rose-Laing 58), Ashbury, Webb, Howells (Lawley 65), Thompson, Stevenson, Robinson (Jackson 65). Subs: Golding, Haycock.
HT AFC W 1-2 CSFC FT AFC W 1-3 CSFC
Ref Paul Tyler. Ass B.Heath, J.Nelson
Goals Luke Williams 14 & 83, Scott Stevenson 25, Ashley Cain 26.
Booked Fowler, Downie, Fletcher, Palmer,
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Coventry Sphinx worked hard and were rewarded with a superb 3-1 victory at AFC Wulfrunians in a Midland Alliance fixture.
Luke Hopkins fielded the same team that had won at Dunkirk for this re-arranged game at Castlecroft in Wolverhampton.
Sphinx were under pressure early conceding a corner after 23 seconds and Carl O'Neill pushing away a Stevenson free kick for a corner but took the lead in the fourteen minute when Ashley Cain sent over a free kick and Luke Williams was first in a crowded penalty area to bundle to ball into the net.
Thompson missed when clean through in the 18th minute but just over five minutes later, AFC Wulfrunians who are in their first season in the Midland Alliance were level when a Sphinx corner was cleared upfield. Webb delivered a cross from the right, right into the mixer and Scott Stevenson tapped in at the far post from close range.
Parity was only restored for just over a minute, as Sphinx went straight down the other end through Ashley Cain. The former Coventry City got the ball and hit a shot which went over Tipton in the home goal. It looked like it was going over the bar but at the last second, the ball dipped into the top of the net to delight the Sphinx travelling support.
With Adam Sullivan and Matty Fowler in superb form, the Sphinx defence were able to hold the attacks from Thompson and Stevenson and help the midfield led by captain Ashley Jackson keep a grip on the home side.
The Sphinx defence was breached four minutes into the second half when the move of the match so far saw Andy Thompson dive to head a cross from the left onto Carl O’Neill’s right hand post.
Sphinx were always looking to create chances and in the 59th minute, Rickie Cutting was sent on his way but saw his shot saved by Tipton at the second attempt.
Wulfrunians boss Steve Palmer made a double change but Sphinx just upped their resolve and and limited the home side to a Thompson header and an 80th minute corner after Sphinx boss Luke Hopkins had replaced Ashley Cain with Giovanni Dainty.
In the 84th minute, Dainty got his first touch when he collected a ball after a Wulfrunians attack had broken down. Dainty got past a marker and picked out Luke Williams with a slide rule pass. Williams advanced on goal, got the ball on his right and lobbed it over Tipton and into the far corner of the net.
The home side had a brief spell of pressure late on with Ashley Wilks having to clear a Webb shot off the line and Carl O’Neill make some decisive punches but Sphinx were able to weather the storm and enjoy the rewards of an excellent team performance.