A RUN of six matches unbeaten in the Midland League Premier Division came to an abrupt end for Coventry Sphinx as they tastes back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.
Stuart Dutton’s side narrowly lost out 1-0 to the league’s new boys St Andrews on Saturday and they were unable to bounce back to winning ways on Monday evening after being thrashed by Sporting Khalsa at Sphinx Drive on Monday evening.
Manager Stuart Dutton was forced into changes on Saturday with defenders Liam Kay and Anton Astley unavailable but there was a welcome return for skipper Mitch Thomson.
Both teams started positively and there looked like there could be lots of goals in the game but it turned out to be a goalless opening 45 minutes.
Striker Ryan Harkin has Sphinx’s best chance of the half when he made room on the edge of the box for a shot but his effort was well saved.
Luke Downes was introduced at the break as Dutton went in search of all three points but it was the visitors who grew into the match.
St Andrews hit the post from a free kick and as chances became limited for both sides, it was the visitors who scored the only goal of the game on 67 minutes when Ashley Day finished well.
There was an immediate chance to bounce back on Monday evening but a hat-trick from Craig Bannister helped Sporting Khalsa on their way to a comfortable 5-0 win.
Bannister opened the scoring on 28 minutes and grabbed his second of the match 12 minutes later to put the visitors in control at the half-way point.
Four minutes after the break Luke Shearer got his name on the scoresheet and Bannister scored his third with 65 minutes on the clock.
Just two minutes later Dave Meese got in on the act as Khalsa romped their way to a five-goal victory.
