PREMIER DIVISION
TWO late Ilkeston Town goals brought a premature end to Coventry Sphinx’s FA Cup qualification hopes on Tuesday night.
Action from Coventry Sphinx’s defeat to Ilkeston Town. Picture by Samuel Williams/SamCov94 Photography.
The Midland League Premier Division hosts were rocked by two goals in the final ten minutes of the game from their Northern Premier League opponents, in a tightly-contested contest that could have gone either way.
Substitute Mason Lee’s 80th-minute strike broke the deadlock at Sphinx Drive, before Jack Thomas’ sumptuous chip from range beat Tom Cross to seal the Robins’ progression to the second qualifying round.
Sphinx now aim to get a foothold in the league, having only played one game to date, when hosting Racing Club Warwick on Saturday (3pm), before visiting Worcester City on Wednesday (7.45pm).
Meanwhile, fellow Premier Division side Coventry United will return to the pitch in their home encounter with Tividale on Saturday (3pm), having been out of action for two weeks due to playing and coaching staff displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
As a result of the setback, last weekend’s league clash with Long Eaton United was postponed, adding to the disappointment of having to withdraw from this season’s FA Cup preliminary round tie with Evesham United.
Terry Anderson’s side then visit Romulus on Monday (7.45pm), hoping to put their early-season troubles behind them.
DIVISION ONE
Tuesday night’s Division One derby between victors Coventry Copsewood and GNP Sports was decided by Eden Mukenge’s penalty in a slender 1-0 victory at Allard Way.
The Copsewood forward dispatched his spot-kick low into the bottom-left corner, beyond the despairing dive of Taylor Davis, to win it early in the second half.
It gives manager Darren Dickson a first win back in the Copsewood dugout, ahead of big away games against lower-half rivals Rocester and Heath Hayes on Saturday (3pm) and Tuesday (7.45pm) respectively.
GNP Sports, meanwhile, are winless in four games after their opening league win – a record they aim to change in Saturday’s visit to Stapenhill (3pm), ahead of a home clash with Chelmsley Town on Wednesday (7.45pm).
DIVISION TWO
In Division Two, Redditch Borough were too strong for hosts Coventry Alvis in their 3-1 reverse at Green Lane last weekend.
Tyrike Richards, left, and goalscorer Matthew Shepherd, right, sandwich a Redditch Borough player. Picture by Jeff Bennett.
James Mudie’s dipping volley provided an excellent opener for the visitors, putting them in good stead to double their lead through Dan McCarthy’s stabbed finish that hit the underside of the bar before going in.
With a 2-0 deficit to claw back, a penalty miss from Adam Bourn before the break failed to stoke the flames of salvation for Coventry.
And so their misery was compounded in the second half, when McCarthy struck his second to wrap things up for Redditch – in spite of Matthew Shephard’s late consolation.
Jamie Burkacki’s men now head to high-flying FC Stratford on Saturday (3pm).
DIVISION THREE
Rivals Coventrians and Kenilworth Sporting are enjoying life in Division Three at the moment, with three wins from three ensuring they are both sitting pretty near the top of the tree.
A Jeremie Agholor hat-trick guided Coventrians to a thumping 4-1 comeback win over Welland at Bennetts Road on Saturday, with Nathan McGarrity adding the other against his former club from the bench.
Kenilworth were also winners by the same scoreline, ousting Leamington Hibernian courtesy of braces from Matthew Boyle and Jason Evans at Gypsy Lane.
A trip to leaders Enville Athletic poses the toughest challenge to Arron Cheshire’s Coventrians side yet on Saturday, while Sporting aim to keep the ball rolling away to mid-table FC Shush (both 3pm).
