COVENTRY Sphinx saw their three-game unbeaten run come to an end following a 3-0 defeat away at Corby Town.
Sphinx trailed by two goals at the break as Tristan Thompson-Matthews and Joe Butterworth put Corby in command before Reuben Marshall completed the scoring at Steel Park.
The result means Sphinx sit 17th in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, seven points above the relegation zone.
Corby made a quick start and forced Sphinx goalkeeper Keelan Fallows into an early save before the visitors cleared the ball off the line from the resulting corner.
However, the home side broke the deadlock on 29 minutes when Thompson-Matthews slid in to finish on the rebound after Fallows made a fine initial save.
And Corby doubled their lead five minutes later as Butterworth thumped home via the aid of the post from 25-yards out.
The hosts almost added a third goal after the break as Fallows made a superb reaction save before Luke Downes saw his effort from distance at the other end deflect narrowly over the crossbar.
However, Corby sealed the points on 75 minutes when Marshall smashed an effort in off the crossbar with the assistant referee confirming the ball had the crossed the line.
Corby appeared to handle the ball in midfield in the build up to the goal with Sphinx joint manager Shaun Thomas sent from the dugout in the aftermath.
The home side hit the post through Connor Tomlinson late on before Fallows made an excellent save at the death.
Coventry are next in action at home to Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday, March 2 with kick-off at 3pm at the Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena.
