COVENTRY SPHINX 5-1 BANBURY UNITED
Sphinx: O’Neill, Ritson, Hill (K.Johal 73), Bilic, Atkins, Guest, Galdings (Dyke 79), Rhodes, White, Cutting (Edmund 71), Jackson. SNU J.Johal, Connolly
Banbury; Fordam, Cray, Plowright, Rose (Locker 71), Bailey, Agyemang-Prempe, Stelling (sent off 43), Martin, Jalabi (Poppiatt 79), Dumbleton, Hopkins. SNU Howerds, Stickley
HT CSFC 1-1 BUFC FT CSFC 5-1 BUFC
ATT 53
Goals Stefan Bailey (12), Harry White (16 & 51), Ricky Cutting (67), Kiam Galdings (73), Kwame Fordam (og 78)
Booked Jackson Sent off Stelling 43
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Coventry Sphinx are through to their first ever Birmingham Senior Cup Semi-Final after a 5-1 home victory over a ten man Banbury United side.
Both sides had 2-0 victories in their league fixtures on Tuesday night and Luke Hopkins made a couple of changes, one enforced due to the injury to Matthew Bannister whilst the Puritans fielded a team of reserves plus a few first teamers.
It was a bitterly cold night at Sphinx Drive but there was plenty going on the pitch with a chance for both sides inside the opening sixty seconds.
As we reached the eleventh minute, referee Kevin Andrews pulled up and required treatment to his right leg. Play was delayed for ten minutes and with Mr Andrews suffering from what appeared to be a cartilage injury, he was replaced by Paul Hands with Sphinx Deputy Secretary Shaun Bivens taking over the assistant refereeing duties.
When play resumed, the Puritans took the lead when Stefan Bailey hooked home from a corner.
However, their lead was only to last four minutes as an attack down the left saw the ball sent over for Harry White who fired home at the far post to restore parity.
Banbury might have had a penalty in the 22nd minute for a foul on Ryan Plowright but two minutes before the interval, the Puritans were reduced to ten men when Sean Stelling was red carded for a dangerous tackle on Ashley Jackson.
Harsh it may have been but the visitors were down to ten men and a Sphinx side, who were playing some good football made their numerical advantage count in the second half.
Six minutes after the restart, Luke Hopkins side took the lead when Harry White steered a telling shot on the right past Fordam to delight the frozen Sphinx support.
Sphinx, who had swapped the hard working Ricky Hill for Kyran Johal, kept creating chances and in the 67th minute, it was 3-1 when Ricky Cutting was sent away and flashed the ball past the keeper.
Cutting could have had another when he flicked just over before being replaced after a good night’s work in the 71st minute.
Two minutes later and a fourth goal for Sphinx duly arrived. This time, it was courtesy of Kiam Galdings, who brilliantly volleyed in from ten yards.
Kwame Fordam denied White with his feet but in the 78th minute, Banbury were well and truly caught napping when the visiting keeper could only push a Jackson corner into his own net.
There could have been more goals with chances for Man Of The Match Harry White and substitute Danny Edmund as super Sphinx ran out worthy winners and booked a home semi-final with Hednesford Town.
Source: Coventry MAD
Source: FOOTYMAD
