Heath Hayes 0-2 Coventry Sphinx
Sphinx: O'Neill, Ritson, Jackson, Bannister (Dyke 89), Guest, Hill, Galdings (Johal 95), Rhodes, White, Cutting (Edmund 73), McNally.Subs: Muldoon, Holmes.
Heath Hayes: Bowen, Maddox, Littler, Simpson (Marklew 73), Phillips, Baggott, Colison (Wallis 73), Smith, Green, Waple, Deguille-Cross (Deakin off 50). Subs McNulty, Dunlevy,
HT HHFC 0-1 CSFC
FT HHFC 0-2 CSFC
Goals Kiam Galdings 33, Louis Guest 54
--------------------------
Super Coventry Sphinx put in an excellent team performance to win 2-0 at at Heath Hayes tonight.
At the Coppice Ground on a cold night, the home side were on the attack early with a corner after ninety seconds and a Deguille-Cross curler going just over.
In the 12th minute, Louis Guest played Sphinx, who had former Tamworth player Josh Johal on the bench, out of trouble. Kiam Galdings picked out McNally whose shot across the goal went not far wide.
Simpson and Smith both fired wide as did Matt Bannister, who along with the likes of White, McNally and Galdings were making some good runs and putting pressure on the home defence.
On the half hour mark, O'Neil made a great save with his feet to deny Waple. But Sphinx got the ball back and in the 33rd minute, Kiam Galdings created space and sank a left footed shot into the bottom corner of the net, delighting the travelling support.
Sphinx continued to have the better of the play but in the 40th minute, they were grateful to keeper Carl O'Neill blocking from Smith and then punching away the resulting corner.
Luke Hopkins side were straight at Heath Hayes as the second period resumed with a corner and a McNally shot which the keeper fumbled before it was cleared.
A corner followed in the 54th minute. Kyle Rhodes knocked it back to Louis Guest who made it 2-0 with a drive from the edge of the area.
Ten minutes later, Sphinx had the ball in the net for a third time when Cutting stroked into an empty net. Unfortunately, the goal was ruled out for offside.
it did not deter Sphinx who stuck to their task. Sphinx were able to defend when required and Ricky Hill made a great clearance off the line in the 71st minute to stop Green.
Sphinx, were always looking for a third goal and responded with a number of chances including two for substitute Danny Edmund and one in the 86th minute which saw Harry White unlucky with a low drive which the keeper somehow scrambled away for a corner.
Five minutes of stoppage time was added on but Sphinx, who face Banbury United in a Birmingham Senior Cup Quarter-Final at Sphinx Drive on Thursday, remained firm, ensuring that covering tackles were made and left with a well deserved victory.