A crunch match for both sides ended with the visitors taking the points with a late brace from substitute Holdcroft. Both sides put in a stern performance but Khalsa done enough to take the points and maintain their aspirations of taking the league title. Sphinx could ultimately have few complaints with the result with Khalsa having the better of the game and finding the winning goals in quick succession towards the end.

Lee Knibbs had a boost before kick off with the returning Callum Woodward taking a place on the substitute’s bench alongside Ryan Harkin who continued on his road back from injury. That was counteracted by an ill Josh O’Grady missing the match.

There was an early scare for Sphinx with a Khalsa goal ruled offside and Khalsa went on to have further glimpses of goal. Sphinx also had their moments but the frantic pace of the match and solid defending ensured the match remained without score. Khalsa had the better of the first half but the tight contest started to open up a touch in the second half with both sides looking for the all important victory.

Sphinx started to put together a decent spell in the early stages of the second half and a nimble bit of footwork from Liam Cairns got him into a good position in the box but his near post effort crashed into the side netting. On the hour, Rich Blythe broke forward from midfield and his well placed shot was superbly kept out by Khalsa keeper Arnold. Khalsa then responded with a shot against the Sphinx cross bar. The Khalsa substitutions swung the game the visitors way and it was a long throw that undone Sphinx and Holdcroft was left to finish at the near post. 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.

Sphinx had come up against a good side today and Khalsa had a little more quality when it mattered. A fair result in the end but Sphinx certainly made Khalsa work for their win and they were competitive right until the end.
FULL TIME: COVENTRY SPHINX 0-2 SPORTING KHALSA

COVENTRY SPHINX MAN OF THE MATCH: Rich Blythe
A tough game against a strong well organised defence was going to need a spark to get a breakthrough and Charlie Faulkner always looked the most likely. Rich Blythe covered a lot of ground in the Sphinx midfield, both defensively and offensively and he went the closest to scoring with a fine effort.

COVENTRY SPHINX TEAM: CROSS, LOWER © (Harkin 54 mins), KAY, CAIRNS (Kelly 79 mins), QUIRKE, GUEST, BLYTHE, FAULKNER, GRANDISON, GARDNER (Woodward 68 min), HUDSON. Unused subs: Phillips and Stringfellow.

Coventry Sphinx are back in action on Saturday 23rd February when they welcome Romulus to Sphinx Drive.

By Martin Sutton