CAUSEWAY UNITED 4-2 COVENTRY SPHINX
Sphinx: O'Neill, Wilks, Dainty, Sullivan, Fletcher, Baxter, Galdins (Moore 77), Cutting, Williams, Downie, Downs. Subs Jackson, Dyke.
Causeway: Turner, T. Evans, Cowley, Witley, Wollacott, Beasley (Thomas-Robinson 51), Shivlock, B.Evans, Lloyd, Rock, Tibbetts. Subs: Priest, Sproston, Gleadow, Gardener.
HT CUFC 2-1 CSFC
FT CUFC 4-2 CSFC
Ref D.Parkes. Assts: P.Aston & M.Halford
Goals Aaron Lloyd 2 & 73 & 88, Rickie Cutting 11, Sam Rock 39, Luke Williams 61
Booked Baxter, Wollacott.
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Coventry Sphinx went down to a 4-2 defeat at Causeway United.
Sphinx, were without a couple of players for this game played at Halesowen Town FC on a pitch which passed a morning inspection, thanks to hard work from their ground staff and were a goal down after two minutes when Aaron Lloyd got through and beat Carl O'Neill with a low drive from the edge of the area.
O'Neill and Sullivan cleared an attack in the tenth minute. Sphinx countered and the ball came over to Rckie Cutting who lashed a stunning twenty yard volley high into the net.
Wilks, who came in for Ashley Jackson who was injured in the warm up, headed a Causeway corner away and Ben Evans blasted over in the 28th minute as both sides continued to look for an opening.
Sam Beasley fired wide in the 32nd minute for a Causeway team who were having the better of the chances.
In the 39th minute, the Sphinx players and support were left fuming when Sam Rock fired into the net from six yards. There was no celebration from Rock, who had handled the ball to bring in it under control, as everyone in the ground thought it was offside. However, there was no flag and the referee gave the goal and then had words with O'Neill who was leading the protests.
Luke Downs helped Sphinx win the first of two corners in the 50th minute and then played in Jackson Downie who held off his marker to curl a shot inches wide of Turner's left hand post on what was now a reasonable afternoon.
The Sphinx defence led by the excellent Sullivan and Fletcher cleared a 56th minute corner which led to a free kick that saw Luke Williams get in a header but impede his marker.
In the 61st minute, Sphinx drew level when Wollacott fouled and gave Luke Hopkins side a free kick some twenty five yards out from the goal. Luke Williams stepped up and delivered a kick which sent the ball high into the net.
Wilks headed wide and O'Neill made a great save at the other end with Fletcher clearing the loose ball away.
Galdins dug in a low shot. Sphinx attacked again through Cutting and although his 71st minute lob went over the keeper, Darren Whitley cleared off the line.
Causeway broke and won a corner. O'Neill made a brilliant save to push away an Aaron Lloyd shot but the ball rebounded to Lloyd who smashed the ball into the net with aplomb.
With two minutes left, Lloyd completed his hat-trick when he tapped into an empty net to send Sphinx to a defeat.
Match report in memory of Guy Mellors, who died four years ago today, serving his country.