ROCESTER 1-2 COVENTRY SPHINX
Sphinx: O'Neill, Sullivan, Hill, Dyke (Bilic 68), Fowler, Fletcher, Slinn (Galdings 55), Bannister, Wilks, Rhodes, Jackson (Webb 75). Subs Sockett, Wright
Rocester: Froggatt, Beardsley, Hayes, Spencer, Grice, Daly (Jones 70), Lawrence, Johnson, Gough (Cooper-Richard 56), Dillons, McAdams. Subs Skidmore, Smith.
Ref:L.Sinclair Ass T.Ahearn, R.Scott-Mullen
HT RFC 0-1 CSFC
FT RFC 1-2 CSFC
Goals Ashley Wilks 39, Matt Bannister 66, Aaron Dillon 76
Booked Sullivan, Slinn, Johnson, Galdings, Wilks
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Coventry Sphinx recorded their first Midland Alliance win of the season with a 2-1 win at Rocester.
In their new home kit sponsored by Piher, Luke Hopkins slightly tinkered with his starting line up from the team which had been beaten at Boldmere on Tuesday night.
The Sphinx defence which included former Coventry City youngster Ricky Fletcher, cleared a third minute corner.
Kyle Rhodes (Pictured above) drew out of Richard Froggatt in goal for a side beaten 7-0 at home by AFC Wulfrunians on Tuesday night at Hillsfield, close to the JCB factory Rocester is famous for, and Ash Wilks did the same inside the first ten minutes.
In the fifteenth minute, Colby McAdams got into a good position but a great block from Ricky Hill conceded a corner.
Sphinx won a corner in the 23rd minute which sailed just over the bar and four minutes later, Wilks fired across the goal.
Matty Bannister was next to have a go with a shot from the edge of the area which was deflected for a corner before Wilks fired another long ranger onto the roof of the net.
The chances continued with Rhodes firing over, Bannister having a shot blocked by Froggatt for a corner and Slinn again firing over.
The pressure deserved a goal and in the 39th minute. Ashley Wilks attacked down the left. Froggatt came out and Wilk lobbed the ball over the keeper and into the net.
A forty yard effort from Bannister went not far wide and a Wilks goal was ruled out for offside as the half ended.
Ryan Slinn and Kyle Rhodes had chances early in the second half as did Errol Johnson.
Tackles started to fly in so both managers made changes with Kiam Galdiings coming on for Sphinx in place of Ryan Slinn, who was still smarting over a yellow card.
Rocester after winning a 56th minute corner twice hit O'Neill's right hand post. O'Neill then saved from Cooper-Richards before Fowler had to clear the danger a yard off his own goal line from a Johnson shot.
In the 66th minute, a Sphinx attack saw the ball hit Froggatt's left hand post and there was Matty Bannister to bundle the ball home and increase Sphinx's lead.
Ten minutes later and seconds after Ash Jackson who had worked hard for Luke Hopkins side, Arron Dillon broke and slipped the ball into the far corner of the net to reduce the arrears in what was an entertaining game.
Simeon Lawrence hooked wide with six minutes to go and O'Neil had to make a late grab but Sphinx stepped up their effort with every player able to be proud of their contribution and got their first win of the season.