COVENTRY Sphinx booked their place in the next round of the MFL League Cup with a 3-0 victory over Leicester Road.
Manager Lee Knibbs fielded a strong line-up for Tuesday night’s cup clash against MFL Division One outfit Leicester Road and his decision paid off with the game as good as over by half-time.
Sam Jackson was one of the two players given an opportunity from the start and he grabbed it with both hands by opening the scoring in the fourth minute.
Ryan Harkin then came up with two typical finishes to take the game away from the visitors before half-time.
Sphinx had a strong bench they could utilise and quality players such as Scott Lower and Lewis Hudson never even made it onto the pitch as the home side cruised to victory.
Coventry Sphinx got off to a dream start with the opening goal coming just minutes into the game.
Ryan Harkin was the provider on this occasion with Jackson the man to finish the move with a calm finish from close range.
Sphinx were looking good value for their lead and it didn’t take long for the second goal to come.
The hosts produced some great football to create the opening for Leigh Phillips to burst through into the penalty area and he made a great decision to square it across goal to give Harkin the chance to finish well and double the Sphinx lead.
Leicester Road were still having a go and Sphinx had to stay sharp in defence but the two-goal lead allowed them to play with a real confidence.
Minutes before half-time Demitirus Smikle did well to slip a ball through for Harkin and although he still had plenty to do, he did it style with a smart finish past the keeper.
The game appeared over with Sphinx three goals up but Leicester Road hadn’t given up and it was important Sphinx didn’t give them any encouragement.
There were some moments when the Sphinx goal was threatened in the second period but overall it was a reasonably comfortable win in the end.
Jamie Towers, Charlie Faulkner and Callum Woodward all joined the action during the second half but despite the frequent forays from Phillips in particular, Sphinx did not add to their tally.
Sphinx return to Midland League Premier Division action on Saturday when they play host to Quorn followed by a trip to Shepshed Dynamo on Tuesday night.
