COVENTRY Sphinx assistant manager Shaun Thomas said his side were rewarded for digging deep in the 3-2 victory over Worcester City last weekend.
Thomas is currently sharing managerial duties with fellow assistant John Woodward, following the recent departure of Lee Knibbs from the Sphinx Drive hot-seat.
The pair guided Sphinx to all three points in the club’s first match in the Midland Football League Premier Division in almost a month, and the first since the change at the top, which was enough to move Coventry out of the relegation places.
Thomas admits it was good to finally turn attentions back to matters on the pitch, commenting: “It has been a busy few days and we were pleased to be able to fully focus on a football match today.
“I thought we were fantastic in the first half and were good value for the lead. In the second half the whole team dug in for each other in difficult conditions and we managed the game well.
“We now look forward and we will be working hard in training to ensure we are fully prepared for our next fixture.”
Sphinx were tasked with a visit to a Worcester side who were undefeated at home prior to last weekend’s encounter, but were aided by returning forward Joel Grandison and Barwell loanee Reece Ford in the starting line-up.
Worcester’s run looked set to continue when Sean Brain rounded Coventry keeper Tom Cross to finish on 15 minutes.
But the goal was wiped out just ten minutes later when Scott Hammond thrashed his header home via the underside of the crossbar from a Lewis Noon set-piece.
A similar delivery presented Sphinx with their second of the afternoon, again whipped in by Noon, this time finished by Charlie Faulkner from Lawrence Rawlings’ flick on.
The rapid turnaround was a precursor to a third Sphinx goal to put the visitors in control before half time, provided by Faulkner who smashed home his second from close range.
Worcester expectedly came out fighting after the restart and reduced the deficit to one on the stroke of the hour mark through Marco Adaggio.
It was as good as it would get for the hosts though, as Sphinx held firm to keep hold of the points.
Coventry are 17th and visit bottom side Gresley on Saturday (3pm).
FELLOW Premier Division side Coventry United thumped visitors Newark Flowserve 4-1 to go fourth.
Chris Camwell and Matt Gardner fired the hosts two goals in front inside the opening ten minutes, while Newark had a man sent off moments after halving the deficit before the break.
The result remained in the balance right until the very end, until a late brace from substitute Tyler Haddow confirmed a ninth win of the season for United.
Next up is an FA Vase tie at Butts Park Arena against Grimsby Borough in the third round of the competition on Sunday (4pm) – with a place in the last 32 on the line for the winner.
SEAN Kavanagh’s opener was in vain for GNP Sports, who went down 3-1 at ten-man Brocton in Division One.
It means the Staffordshire club have done the double over Shamir Alam’s men this season, following a win by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture in August.
GNP took an eighth-minute lead when Kavanagh capitalised on a defensive error by the hosts, following excellent pressuring by James Bryson, to fire into the net from close range.
The scores were level minutes later after Jack Partridge curled into the corner, allowing the hosts to dominate the game and go in front three minutes before the break – courtesy of Regan Smith.
Kenny Devoir was dismissed on the hour mark, causing the game to settle down before Brocton condemned the visitors to defeat following Cam Howkins’ stoppage-time goal.
The result leaves Sports in ninth, ahead of Saturday’s (3pm) visit to Cadbury Athletic.
ELSEWHERE in the division, Coventry Copsewood were beaten 2-1 by hosts Lichfield City.
Zidane Mistry levelled before the break for the visitors, following Kienan Palmer’s opener, before Max Black won the game for Lichfield in the second half.
Copsewood turn their attentions to the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup on Saturday (1.45pm) when visiting Triumph Athletic of the Coventry Alliance Football League Premier Division.
COVENTRY Alvis faced yet another postponement last weekend when their Presidents Cup tie at Earlswood Town was postponed.
The re-arranged tie, weather permitting, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday night (7.30pm), ahead of a return to Division Two action at home to Bolehall Swifts on Saturday (3pm).
If played, it will be the first time Alvis have played league action in seven weeks, having last appeared against FC Stratford on Saturday October 12 in a 1-1 draw.
