Monday 18th March - Sphinx Drive, Coventry
RESULT: Rugby Borough U18s 1-7 Coventry Sphinx U18s
GOALS:
11’ Alex Pearson (Coventry Sphinx)
26’ Jevon Fraser (Coventry Sphinx)
39’ Callum Mack (Coventry Sphinx)
45’ Alex Pearson (Coventry Sphinx)
47’ Mo Billy (Coventry Sphinx)
63’ Matty Boyle (Coventry Sphinx)
72’ (Rugby Borough)
89’ Callum Mack (Coventry Sphinx)
Coventry Sphinx Youth were in goal scoring form once again and last night’s seven goals took their 18 game league tally to an incredible 80.
The signs were there from the start with the hosts struggling to cope with the pace and skill of the Sphinx attack and Sphinx wasted little time in opening the scoring. Alex PEARSON was the one to score with an accurate long range drive proving too much for the keeper. Top scorer Dan Kelly had picked up a knock and was soon withdrawn but Sphinx were largely unaffected by losing their main goal scorer. Sphinx had to wait until the 26th minute to add their second and it was left back Jevon FRASER who hit the second after a flurry of shots had been kept out by the under pressure Rugby defence. The next goal came after striker Mo Billy unselfishly fed Callum MACK on the right of the penalty area and his fierce drive had too much pace to be stopped by the keeper. Mack was playing in an attacking midfield role and he was thriving on it by getting a number of shots away and regularly putting in dangerous balls at the first opportunity. On the stroke of half time Sphinx added a fourth and it was a tremendous finish from Alex PEARSON. Initially Mo Billy picked out Alex Pearson on the edge of the box and a great first touch was followed by a quick drop of the shoulder before he thumped in a cracker of a strike that went in off the underside of the cross bar.
The second half continued in the same style and Sphinx stretched their lead within two minutes of the restart. It was the classiest goal of the night with Mo BILLY producing an audacious chip from a tight angle. The rest of the substitutes soon started to be introduced and the likes of Alex Pearson and Callum Mack took a well earned rest. Substitute Matty Boyle came into the game fresh from a hat-trick for the Sphinx Under 16s at the weekend and he was soon in the goals tonight. BOYLE was through on goal and showed remarkable composure to round the keeper to slot in goal number 6.
Sphinx were now starting to ease off a touch and Rugby got a consolation with a perfectly struck free kick that left Sphinx keeper Kieran Hart with no chance. Sphinx were not quite finished yet and Callum Mack showed his attacking qualities again with a real strikers finish. MACK was through on goal and paused to draw the keeper and finish calmly past him to claim his second of the night.
A marvellous display from Sphinx with the squad really highlighting the depth of talent available to manager Dave Bull with four Under 16s again taking their chance to impress. Alex Pearson and Callum Mack have recently joined the first team squad and the confidence in their play is clear. They were both outstanding tonight and first team football can’t be far away for them both.
FULL TIME: RUGBY BOROUGH U18 1-7 COVENTRY SPHINX U18
COVENTRY SPHINX TEAM: HART, WHITEHOUSE, FRASER, HOWARD ©, BULL, TURRELL, MACK, BILLING, KELLY, PEARSON, GORMAN
Subs: SEMWANGA, CLAMP, BILLY, BOYLE, MOORE

The Coventry Sphinx Youth team are next in action on Thursday 4th April with a trip to Nottingham for their penultimate game of the season.