COVENTRY Sphinx suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat at home to Long Eaton United as Evan Garnett scored all of the visitors goals.
Sphinx briefly drew level courtesy of Jordan Hayward’s strike only for Garnett to run riot after debutant Sam Lockley saw red late in the first half for the home side at the Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena.
The result means Coventry sit 10th in the Northern Premier League Midlands table.
Sphinx struggled in the opening exchanges as Jamie Draper cleared a shot off the line after Liam Loughlan’s initial header hit the post.
Long Eaton eventually made their pressure count on 15 minutes when Garnett tapped home after Keelan Fallows tipped his initial effort onto the crossbar.
Coventry equalised on 32 minutes as substitute Hayward made an immediate impact with a finish into the bottom corner with his first touch.
However, on the stroke of half time Sphinx striker Lockley clashed with Long Eaton defender Gianluca Bucci and was shown a straight red card.
And Long Eaton made the most of the extra man six minutes into first-half injury time as Garnett scored his second of the game from close range.
The visitors stretched their lead after the break on 56 minutes when Garnett volleyed home to leave Fallows with no chance and complete his hat-trick.
Garnett scored his fourth of the game on the hour mark despite Sphinx’s Ryley Nicholson being on the ground with a head injury.
And Garnett completed the scoring on 89 minutes with his fifth goal on a memorable afternoon for the Long Eaton striker.
Coventry are next in action away at Quorn on Saturday, September 21 with kick-off at 3pm at Farley Way.
