FOOTBALL: SPHINX’S gain was United’s loss as a crowd of 643 watched Lee Knibbs’ men record a 4-3 win against their city rivals in the Midland Football League Premier Division.
Sphinx are now five points short of table topping Coleshill while a bad run of form for Coventry United has seen them drop to 11th having secured 31 points from 20 games.
Within a minute of the game starting, Sphinx has stamped their authority on the game as Quirke played a loose ball into the box which Faulkner pounced upon – allowing Sterling to score from close range.
It got better for the home side when Harkin was brought down in the penalty area, Sterling made no mistake from 12 yards to double Sphinx’s lead.
United hit back with a marker of their own minutes later when McDonald nestled his shot into the bottom corner as the half ended finely balanced at 2-1.
Terry Anderson’s men could’ve been level had it not been for McDonald’s error when failing to convert a good opportunity at the start of the second half.
And he was soon punished when Michael Quirke lobbed United’s keeper to make it 3-1.
Former Coventry City man Lewis Rankin made it 3-2 before Jamie Towers nodded home Sphinx’s fourth to seemingly put the game beyond United’s reach.
The league’s newboys failed to back down though and were soon within a goal when a close range finish from McDonald made it 4-2.
Charlie Faulkner was then sent off – reducing Sphinx to ten men.
But, despite several late chances on goal, United failed to score a fourth as Sphinx claimed three big points.
Sphinx are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Shropshire to face Shawbury Utd while United face Shepshed Dynamo.
