COVENTRY SPHINX 4-0 HIGHGATE UNITED BY KEV MONKS
Sphinx
Daffern, Goodbody, Kay, Fisher (Halton 76), Ward, Hayward, Muldoon, Woodward, Kinder (Phillips 65), Ruff (Doherty 69), Donaldson
Highgate
Banton, Giddings, Gibson, Turner, Edwards, Joseph, Reynolds, Bloxwich, Swane, Brown, Overton Subs Used Deemings, Salmon, Sammons
HT CSFC 1-0 HUFC FT CSFC 4-0 HUFC
GOALS) Adam Kinder (39), Arron Donaldson (54), Kelvin Phillips (66 & 90)
Coventry Sphinx maintained their unbeaten home record with a 4-0 victory against Highgate United.
On a blustery afternoon at Sphinx Drive, there was a minute's silence to remember those who lost their lives in the Coventy Blitz 69 years ago today before the match. which saw both sides wearing black armbands to mark the passing of Paul Gibbons who played for both sides.
Highgate lie second bottom of the Midland Alliance table but they were the first to attack.
Jake Brown fired into the side netting from a seventh minute corner and four minutes later, Adam Overton went into the area and went down under a challenge from Terry Ward. The Sphinx players were fuming when a penalty was awarded by Mr Smith.
Gordon Swane took the spot kick but veteran keeper Chris Daffern dived to his right to make a superb double save and keep the score level.
When the deadlock was broken in the 39th minute, it was the visiting fans who were fuming when Adam Kinder scored from six yards after a Tom Muldoon right wing cross. There were claims for offside from some of the Highate players and fans but the goal stood.
With Highgate's stranglehold on the game broken, Sphinx controlled the match in the second half. An organised midfield without Kevin Thornton who had phoned in sick, worked hard to create chances for the forwards.
In the 54th minute, one lead to a corner which was met by Arron Donaldson who lashed the ball into the net from close range for Sphinx's second goal.
Sphinx, also defended well and were only troubled once in the 59th minute when substitute Richard Deeming thumped the crossbar with a 25 yard shot with his first touch.
In the 66th minute, Manager Danny McSheffrey made a change bringing on Kelvin Phillips for Adam Kinder. Phillips had only been on the pitch for 14 seconds when he hit Sphinx's third after getting to Terry Ward's cross-goal header from a Callum Woodward free kick.
Both sides forced corners but in stoppage time, Kelvin Phillips wrapped up a good performance from Sphinx when Banton failed to control the ball and the striker made no mistake from close range.
Sphinx are back in Midland Alliance action on Tuesday night with a home game against Malvern Town. Kick off at Sphinx Drive is at 7.45pm.