MATTY Shipman’s late goal secured a come-from-behind 2-1 win for Coventry Sphinx in a fiery local derby against Rugby Town as both teams finished the game with 10-men.
Sphinx fell behind to Luke English’s first-half goal only for Coventry captain Callum Woodward to level from the penalty spot after the break at Butlin Road.
And Rugby’s debutant goalkeeper Nykah Liburd-Hines then saw red in the aftermath of the spot kick for tripping goalscorer Woodward.
With no substitute goalkeeper on the bench Valley defender English took the gloves before Coventry’s Jack Downes saw red for a second bookable offence.
However, Sphinx striker Shipman scored the winner with 12 minutes left to play to help Coventry claim back-to-back victories in the league for the first time this season.
The result means Sphinx sit 14th in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, three points clear of the relegation zone.
Valley broke the deadlock on 33 minutes when English’s close range shot looped over the line despite the best efforts of a Sphinx defender to hook the ball clear.
However, Coventry won a penalty just past the hour mark when Loyiso Recci committed a foul on Jac Redhead in the box as Woodward confidently converted the resulting spot kick into the left corner of the goal on 62 minutes.
As Woodward went to retrieve the ball, Rugby keeper Liburd-Hines tripped the scorer with the referee deeming the offence worthy of a straight red card.
And the referee brandished another red card just two minutes later after Downes caught Ryan Sahota on the ankle having already received a yellow card earlier in the contest.
However, Sphinx completed the turnaround on 78 minutes when Shipman’s fine low volley found the bottom left corner after Dylan Parker flicked on James Bryson’s long throw from the right.
Coventry are next in action at home to Corby Town on Saturday, October 7 with kick-off at 3pm at Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena.
