COVENTRY Sphinx went down 2-0 to Sporting Khalsa at Sphinx Drive on Saturday, missing the chance to go above their rivals.
A three-minute double from Jay Holdcroft in the final 15 minutes of the game decided the contest, Khalsa proving deserved victors for their efforts.
Khalsa had the ball in the net in the opening minutes, although it would be ruled offside, but the linesman’s ruling would only serve to spur the visitors on to have further attempts at goal.
Both sides shut each other out in a tight first-half contest, although Sphinx began to impose themselves more after the break.
Liam Cairns found himself in a promising position, but his shot at the near post crashed into the side netting.
Rich Blythe fired at goal, forcing Khalsa keeper Sam Arnold into a superb stop, before Khalsa responded by rattling the crossbar.
The opening goal would arrive via a long-throw into Holdcroft – allowing him to nudge the ball home at the near post.
Coventry were only just coming to terms with going behind when Holdcroft flicked a near-post header into the net to kill off the game.
And while youth team striker Dan Kelly made his bow, he nor Sphinx could find a route back into the game.
A blow for Sphinx that was added to swiftly with Holdcroft steering an excellent header in at the near post to effectively seal the points. Youth team striker Dan Kelly got a brief opportunity but Sphinx could find no way back against a determined Khalsa who saw the game out and took the three points away from Sphinx Drive.
Coventry Sphinx will hope to return to form when they host 17th placed Romulus on Saturday (3pm).
