KYLE Carey scored a second-half brace as Coventry Sphinx started the league season with a 3-0 victory against Shepshed Dynamo.
Carey struck twice in the space of 11 minutes to seal the points for Sphinx after Callum Ballinger opened the scoring at the Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena.
The result means Coventry sit third in the Northern Premier League Midlands table after one match.
Sphinx made a fast start as Carey’s direct run into the box forced Shepshed goalkeeper Alex Akers to make a smart block before Ballinger sent the follow-up over the crossbar.
The home side remained on top as Shay Willock squeezed a short just wide while Carey forced Akers into a save soon after.
However, Shepshed almost took the lead against the run of play when James Shaw crashed an effort against the base of the post from 25-yards out.
Sphinx responded with the opening goal on 29 minutes as Ballinger fired a fine effort across Akers into the top corner from outside of the penalty area from Stanley Dube’s pass.
The chances continued to flow as Willock went close on three separate occasions as he forced Akers into another save, blasted a shot wide from distance and saw an effort deflected behind for a corner.
And the home side picked up where they left off after the break as Carey doubled Sphinx’s lead on 54 minutes with a drilled effort into the bottom corner from another Dube assist.
Carey sealed the points with his second goal on 65 minutes with a superb free-kick into the top corner after Willock drew a foul on the edge of the penalty area.
Coventry are next in action away at Sutton Coldfield Town on Tuesday, August 13 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Coles Lane.
