FOOTBALL: A LATE goal in the final minute of the match denied Coventry Sphinx a sixth away win of the season at Westfields in the Midland League Premier Division on Saturday.
A brace from Callum Woodward had put Sphinx 2-1 in front heading into the 89th minute, but substitute Richard Greaves rescued a point for the home side as Stuart Dutton’s side were denied three points on the road for the second time in two weeks.
Westfields are a top four side who have lost just one league game at Allpay Park this season but it was Sphinx who made a positive start and they were ahead with nine minutes on the clock.
Woodward burst through the middle and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net to get the visitors off the mark.
The centre back partnership of Lavery and Eggleton were dealing with the Westfields attacks but it was Sphinx who could have doubled their lead when Towers thundered the bar with a long range effort.
Westfields emerged from the interval early and looked like a team intent on getting back on level terms at the very least.
They immediately began to exert pressure on Sphinx and Scott Dutton was soon called into action to save with his legs after a foray down the left.
Westfields got the equaliser on 63 minutes when a misjudgement at the back allowed Christopher Ham to make it 1-1.
Sphinx were playing more on the counter attack now as Westfields were having more of the game and the hosts looked certain to take the lead for the first time in the match but substitute Greaves saw his header come back off the post.
The Sphinx response was emphatic with Kieran McCalla producing a peach of a cross which Woodward met at the far post to head in off the post.
Westfields continued to play with confidence as they were now looking for an equaliser again. The 82nd minute was the time for Scott Dutton to come up with arguably his save of the season.
A left wing cross came in and a powerful driving header from Grant looked certain to nestle in the back of the Sphinx net but Dutton produced a combination of instant reactions and a strong hand to beat away the effort.
Westfields were not finished though and as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, Greaves was on hand to score from close range.
After the goal both Darren Eggleton and Westfields skipper Phil Glover were shown red cards for a heated incident and the referee blew his full-time whistle moments later.
Sphinx are next in action on Tuesday night away at Brocton and next Saturday they travel to FA Vase quarter-finalists Sporting Khalsa.