COVENTRY Sphinx twice surrendered the lead in an entertaining 2-2 draw away at Shepshed Dynamo to move three points clear of the relegation zone.
Sphinx led in either half through goals from Dylan Parker and Matty Shipman only for James Shaw and Dylan Reason to twice draw the home side level at the Dovecote Stadium.
The result means Sphinx sit 16th in the Northern Premier League Midlands table.
Sphinx had a couple of early chances as Shepshed goalkeeper Brandon Ganley denied Jack Downes before the same player saw a shot deflected into the keeper’s arms.
And the visitors took the lead on 20 minutes when Parker turned the ball past Ganley from goalkeeper Keelan Fallows’ long kick upfield.
However, Shepshed equalised on 38 minutes as Shaw finished well when off balance at the near post moments after Fallows made an excellent low save to keep out a deflected effort.
Sphinx reclaimed the lead just three minutes into the second period as Shipman drilled home from the penalty spot after Parker rolled his marker and drew a foul in the box from Elwalid Elhaghany.
The visitors went close to a third goal as Callum Whiteside’s header hit the inside of the post and somehow stayed out with Ganley just able to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
And Shepshed equalised for a second time on 72 minutes when substitute Reason headed home from a poorly defended corner.
The home side searched for a winning goal thereafter as Fallows tipped a goalbound free-kick over the bar before Jack Downes headed another shot off the line from the resulting corner.
At the other end, Shipman saw a speculative curling shot tipped wide before Shepshed went close to a winner at the death as Shaquille Master’s chip came back off the crossbar.
Sphinx are next in action at home to Coleshill Town on Saturday, October 21 with kick-off at 3pm at Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena.
