Coventry Sphinx were dumped out of the FA Vase by an in form Causeway United this afternoon.

Sphinx, who travelled in relative style on the Coventry City FC team coach, were delayed en route to the War Memorial Ground in Stourbridge by traffic but had two early chances on a sunny afternoon when a twenty yarder from Gary Mead flew narrowly wide and a seventh minute Donaldson free kick was met by the head of Terry Ward but home 'keeper Joel Skeldon saved.

In the 12th minute Sphinx, led by Lynton Wilkinson who was in charge as the in touch manager Danny McSheffrey was in Cyprus at midfielder Adie Fisher's wedding, went a goal down when Matty Gardener scored after a header from former Sphinx winger Carl Hind was knocked into his path.

With Jerome Murdock marked by two men, there were few outlets for Wilkinson's side and it was the home side who started to have most of the play.

Terry Ward denied Gardener in the 21st minute when he hooked off the line but four minutes later Causeway's leading scorer was adding to his tally as when he curled a free kick high into the net.

Matty Gardener completed his hat-trick in the 28th minute when he raced clear before finishing with a low left footed drive.

If being three goals down was not bad enough, a 38th minute accidental collision left Kyle Rhodes needing hospital treatment for a gashed head.

The riot act was truly read at the interval and Sphinx were a lot better in the second half. They closed down the midfield and with Gardener being contained, Craig Goodbody, Kelvin Phillips and Aaron Donaldson all had chances to get Sphinx back in the match before the hour mark.

Nothing came of it and with two minutes remaining, a stunning strike from substitute Duncan Willetts flew into the net from twenty yards to compound a miserable afternoon for Sphinx and their supporters.

On Tuesday, Sphinx are back to Midland Alliance action with a home game against Studley. Kick off at Sphinx Drive is at 7.45pm. With cups having been to the fore recently and league form somewhat patchy then Sphinx must capitalise on their dominant home form to add three points to the tally before being distracted by the visit of Blue Square North Stafford Rangers at the weekend and Zamaretto Premier Nuneaton Town the week after,

------------

Sphinx: O'Neill, Goodbody (Ruff 56), Holmes, Rhodes (McAteer 40), Ward, Kay, Donaldson, Mead, Phillips, Murdock, Muldoon. sub not used: Daffern.

 

Causeway: Skeldon, Jones, Beasley, Cox, Aston, Field, Gardener, Stretton, Plinston, Drakeley, Hind. subs used: Jones, How, Willietts.

 

Attendance: 108

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photos copyright and courtesy of Mick Evans @ KORU Digital

In the Press: