Sphinx turned on the style on Sunday as they ruthlessly despatched visitors Beacon Colts 5 – 1. In an exhilarating first half Sphinx were simply too good for their opponents as they ran in four unanswered goals. And despite the second half being a more equal affair only one result ever looked on the cards.

After a relatively quiet opening the game sprang to life in the fifth minute as James Gallagher fed Noah Rose but his should was blocked. From the resulting Archie Ascroft corner Ben Dallaywaters found William Bapaga and his shot was pushed away only for Rose to tap in to make it 1 – 0.

Clearly buoyed by the early goal Sphinx tore at their opponents as a neat Rose cross field ball found Ascroft who in turn whipped over a great cross only for Bapaga’s header to be brilliantly tipped over the bar. Soon after it was roles reversed as this time Bapaga put Ascroft in but he could only find the side netting. But with the wing wizard turning on the style there was no mistake on nine minutes as his bullet cross was volleyed over the line by Bapaga to make it 2 – 0.

Beacon were on the ropes and as Sphinx went for the kill it became an exhibition as the midfield of Rose, Harvey Wells and Beckham Whalley turned up the pressure with some fine one touch football. And with full backs Gallagher and Cameron Welch pressing high up the field wingers Ascroft and Gabriel Smith continued to torment the Beacon back line.

So it was no real surprise that the lead was increased on twenty three minutes as once more Ascroft turned his marker inside out to again find Bapaga who took one touch before slotting home.

Three minutes later it was four as another fine Rose ball picked out Ascroft who this time hung up an inch perfect cross which Bapaga nodded home to claim his hat-trick and Sphinx’s fourth.

Game over and with Lewis Walker and sweeper Jamie Draper yet to be tested Matty Boyle, Arlie Greet, Ollie Winder and Sean Burke were all introduced. And with Boyle and Winder immediately linking up well Beacon must have been relieved to hear the half time whistle.

Walker was finally called upon to make his first save on forty minutes and with Sphinx perhaps guilty of relaxing a little Cameron Welch made two important blocks as Beacon began to push forward. Soon after Boyle put through Gallagher who fired wide before Greet did well to find Ascroft but his cross was hooked away.

But with Beacon failing to find any inroads the game became a little stale until two more efforts from Boyle and Rose forced further saves. And with the clock ticking down and no more goals looking likely Sean Burke won the ball in midfield before threading a fine pass to Bapaga who once more shook off his marker to make it 5 – 0.

With normal time now up it was left to keeper Walker to have the final say as first he expertly spread himself to deny a certain Beacon goal before inexplicably letting a long range free kick through his hands to make the final score 5 – 1.

So with Sphinx still sitting top of the pile Bren Wilkin was suitably impressed as he spoke to the website after the game. “Some of the football played in the first fifteen minutes was a pleasure to watch” he began. ”Archie and William were electric and with Noah, Harvey and Beckham supplying the ammunition it was just a case of how many would we score. It really was fantastic stuff and credit to all of the boys as everyone who came on did their bit as well. When we play like that it seems a shame to pick out just one player for an award but William was simply superb today and at times he was unplayable so well done to him for man of the match. But I have to stress it was a real team effort so all of the lads can hold their heads up high.”

It’s back to Birmingham next week as the lads take on the interestingly named Ulverley Hawks. As ever your support will be more than welcomed.

Sphinx – Walker, Gallagher, Welch, Dallaywaters, Draper, Rose (capt), Wells, Whalley, Ascroft, Bapaga, Smith, Boyle, Winder, Whalley & Burke

Goals – Bapaga (4) & Rose

Assists – Ascroft (3) & Burke

Man of the match - Bapaga