COVENTRY Sphinx were knocked out of the FA Cup in the extra preliminary round following a 2-0 defeat at Stourport Swifts in their first game of the season.
Sphinx failed to recover from the concession of two first-half goals as a Lee Chilton free-kick and an Aaron Birch header settled the cup tie at Walshes Meadow.
Despite playing one step above Midland Football League Premier side Stourport, Coventry were unable to find a way through a stubborn Swifts defence.
The defeat marks a third consecutive FA Cup exit at the extra preliminary round stage for Sphinx.
Sphinx made a good start as Max Johnson’s powerful shot deflected wide only for Swifts to take the lead on four minutes when Chilton picked out the bottom left corner with an excellent free-kick from 20-yards out.
The visitors responded well to the setback as Johnson tried his luck again with a free-kick from distance which forced Stourport keeper Jamie Emery into his first meaningful save.
However, Swifts doubled their lead on 35 minutes when Birch rose highest to power home Drew Canavan’s corner and leave Sphinx with a mountain to climb at the break.
Sphinx searched for a route back into the game after the break and went closest to a goal through a Matty Shipman snapshot which Emery did well to keep out.
The visitors struggled to create another clear opening in the remaining minutes as Sphinx now look ahead to their first ever season as a step four club.
Coventry begin their league campaign with a home game against Quorn on Saturday, August 12 with kick-off at 3pm at the Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena.
