COVENTRY Sphinx slipped to a 3-1 home defeat against high-flying Anstey Nomads as Patrick Zito’s second-half red card proved costly.
Sphinx trailed to goals from Liam Murphy and Courey Grantham at the break at the Cameron Slater Arena.
And Zito then saw red for a late challenge early in the second period before Henry Bestwick all but sealed the points for the visitors.
Sphinx grabbed a late consolation courtesy of Damian Kelly’s strike but the goal proved too little too late.
The result means Coventry sit seventh in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, two points outside of the play-off places.
Anstey broke the deadlock on 29 minutes when Murphy turned home Oscar Tonge’s low ball in from the left.
And the visitors doubled their lead in first-half injury time as Grantham tapped home after Danny Gordon’s free-kick deflected into the scorer’s path.
Sphinx then had Zito sent off just one minute into the second half after he made a late challenge on Anstey’s Tobias Liversidge.
And the visitors made the most of the extra man on 52 minutes as Bestwick headed in a corner.
Sphinx reduced the deficit six minutes from time when Kelly found the net to deny the Anstey a clean sheet.
Coventry are next in action against Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday, November 8 with kick-off at 3pm at the Dovecote Stadium.
