RACING Club Warwick’s FA Vase hopes were ended as neighbours Coventry Sphinx earned a 3-1 victory on Saturday in front of a large crowd of 330 at Townsend Meadow.
Warwick went into the game following a recent upturn in form and results since the return of Scott Easterlow as manager but had striker Miracle Okafor injured and cup-tied players out to contend with.
A Josh O’Grady free-kick went narrowly wide for Warwick before Jamal Adams hit the side netting for UCL Premier South Sphinx in an even start to the game.
The opening goal went the Coventry side’s way on 15 minutes when a Lewis Noon shot was deflected by Charlie Jones onto the crossbar and Adams reacted quickly to tuck home.
Sphinx went close with a Noon free-kick well saved by Lewis Walker in the Warwick goal.
Warwick had some good possession play looking for the equaliser in the second half but without really troubling ex-Racer Tom Cross in the Sphinx goal.
Jones was robbed pushing into the Sphinx final third and Adams hit a sensational shot from 20 yards inside his own half to score probably the goal of the season and put Sphinx 2-1 ahead on 58 minutes.
Haaitbal Salami was then adjudged to have fouled Callum Stewart in what looked like a straight forward block of the ball and a penalty was inexplicably awarded. Stewart stepped up to convert the spot-kick to put the game out of Warwick’s reach.
Salami did pull one back late on but it was Sphinx who deservedly booked their place in the next round.
Warwick have no first-team this weekend but the Under-18s are in action tonight (Tuesday) when they welcome Hinckley LR to Townsend Meadow (7.45).
