COVENTRY SPHINX 3-1 STRATFORD TOWN BY KEV MONKS
Sphinx
O'Neill, Goodbody, Doherty, Rhodes, Haywood, McAteer, Halton (Rickhuss 70), Woodward, Kinder (Jardim 90) , Philliips, Ruff (C.Wilson King 65) SNU A.Wilson-King, Daffern
Stratford
Jay, Spittle, Master, McHale, Pearce, Softley, Alsop, Faulds, O'Garro, Gardner, Griffiths Subs Used Hardie, Judd, Smith
HT CSFC 1-1 STFC FT CSFC 3-1 STFC Att 124
Referee P.Reade
Booked Smith, Woodward
GOALS Matt Gardner (23), Adam Kinder (44& 49), Tom Haywood (57)
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Coventry Sphinx recorded their first ever victory against Stratford Town in the Midland Alliance with a 3-1 win at Sphinx Drive this afternoon.
Again, injuries and unavailabilities meant changes for Danny McSheffrey's side but with keen competition for places at Sphinx Drive, a strong side was fielded against Rod Brown's team.
Sphinx were first to show with a twenty yarder from Adam Kinder who was a thorn in the Stratford side all afternoon, quickly followed by his fellow strike partner Kelvin Phillips glancing a header over in the third minute.
The first time that the ball was in the net was in the 18th minute and saw Phillips flick a header from Kinder into the net. Unfortunately, for the Sphinx players and supporters, the assistant referee on the Willie Knibbs Stand side had his flag up and the goal was ruled out.
Five minutes later, it was the Assistant Referee who was in the correct position to see that a shot from Matt Gardner, currently at his fourth club this season, after the ball had bounced off Carl O'Neill's chest had crossed the line to put the visitors ahead.
O'Neill then made a good save to prevent a flick from Arron Griffiths before former Coventry City youngster Aza O'Garro managed to get find a way through and centre but could only find Craig Goodbody who cleared the danger.
The rain was coming down but this just made Sphinx even more determined to put on a show for their supporters and in the 44th minute, Phillips headed the ball into the path of the advancing Adam Kinder who rounded the keeper before firing into an empty net.
Four minutes into the second half, Adam Kinder got the ball on the right of the area and delighted the Sphinx support when he drove it low into the net.
Stratford's heads dropped and Sphinx led by a rampaging Callum Woodward went for the jugular.
A 55th minute corner lead to the Stratford defence scrambling the ball off the goal line. Sphinx attacked again. This time, the ball fell to Tom Haywood on the edge of the area and his low drive took a deflection before finding its way into the net.
Jay saved from Josh Ruff before Carl O'Neill saved with his legs to deny O'Garro before diving to catch a header some six minutes later.
Phillips directed a header over late on as Sphinx ran out very comfortable winners.