FIVE-STAR CITY

CITY put in a five-star display as we ran out comfortable 5-1 winners against Coventry Sphinx.
It was City who came out of the blocks with more purpose and Matt Birley went close with an effort within the opening three minutes.
The visitors’ back-line was put under plenty of early pressure as they looked to keep City at bay.
They survived loud penalty appeals before handball before succumbing to a deserved opener from Dave Reynolds as he headed home an inviting cross from Alex Tomkinson.
It gave us a deserved lead and that was soon doubled when skipper Birch fired home with confidence.
A great save from the Sphinx ‘keeper denied us a third goal when Mark Danks showed good skill to make room for a powerful strike.
There was disappointment on the quarter-hour mark when Birch was forced to leave the field through injury.
The visitors started to get into the game as the half went on but were restricted to half-chances, whilst City looked a threat every time we went forward.
Some neat play just past the half-hour mark ended with Sarmento getting in an effort that was pushed away by the ‘keeper.
We went into the second period well in control, two goals to the good and Sarmento went close soon after the restart with an acrobatic overhead-kick that crept narrowly wide.
After Danks went close, Sarmento finally made it 3-0 from the resulting corner as he capitalised upon some defensive hesitation to find the back of the net.
There was no let-up from City as Danks saw his effort deflected just wide before he was replaced by James Baldwin.
A great effort from distance by Nathan Hayward was deflected out for a corner, which was eventually scrambled away.
Sphinx suffered more woe when they had a player sent off for a reckless challenge on Griffiths, but despite being reduced to ten men they were able to reduce the arrears three minutes from time.
The goal only acted to wake City up from our cruise-control and within seconds Reynolds made it 4-1 with his second of the evening as he headed home Griffiths’ delicious cross.
There was still time for a fifth goal in stoppage time as substitute, Baldwin, got in on the act to complete a good night’s work for City.

CITY: Palmer, Fishwick, J. Smith (Griffiths), Albert, M. Smith, Hayward, Birley, Birch (Sarmento), Danks (Baldwin), Reynolds, Tomkinson. Subs not used: Gwynne, Chiwara.