Coventry Sphinx took top spot in the League with a five goal defeat of Sutton Coldfield Town on Thursday night. A David Obeng double followed by a Dan Kelly hat-trick did the damage at the Ryona Engineering Supplies Stadium.

Sphinx were quick to go in front with an excellent goal inside four minutes. Cameron Welch weaved his way to the by-line with some tremendous wing play from full back and David OBENG was left with a simple finish from the Welch cross. An ideal start got even better after 18 minutes and this goal was all about the power and skill of David OBENG. He initially dropped deep to take the ball and drove forward to breech the visitors defence. Once in the penalty area with the keeper to beat, he thumped his finish into the back of the net. The next goal soon came on 23 minutes and this goal started from the back with fine play from Draper and Tellyn setting up Dan Kelly. Initially, Jamie Draper stepped out of defence in possession and took his opportunity to stride forward. He then went on to pick out the intelligent run of Zac Tellyn who did really well to provide the assist to a grateful Dan KELLY. A three goal opening spell in the opening quarter of the game had given Sphinx control of the game but just after the half hour mark the visitors got some encouragement with a well taken penalty reducing the deficit to 3-1.

Sphinx made substitutions at half time and while Sutton Coldfield improved in the second half, Sphinx keeper Jude O’Connor remained largely untested. Sphinx struck again in the 73rd minute which effectively put the result to bed. Dan KELLY was released into the penalty area and after cheekily rounding the keeper he passed the ball into the net to make it four. Harry Wilson had been performing well on his return and he came up with an excellent assist to help complete the scoring. He received the ball on the right and showed power and awareness to deliver the ball into the box to allow Dan KELLY to complete his hat-trick.

COVENTRY SPHINX TEAM: O’CONNOR, CONVERY, WELCH, BURKE, DRAPER, WHITEHOUSE, ASCROFT, BILLING ©, KELLY, OBENG, TELLYN
SUBS: ARCHER, MORRIS, ROSE, WILSON

COVENTRY SPHINX MAN OF THE MATCH: CAMERON WELCH
David Obeng and Dan Kelly scored some good goals and they will rightly catch the eye for that but most of the goals came as a result of good team play. Harvey Billing and Sean Burke were excellent in the Sphinx midfield and the defence deserve credit for restricting the visitors to no more than a penalty. The left side of the Sphinx team again impressed and the combination play between Tellyn and Welch was exceptional. Welch was the instigator of

the first goal and was a constant threat from full back. Defensively he hardly put a foot wrong and therefore gets my Man of the Match.