MIDLAND FOOTBALL ALLIANCE
PREMIER DIVISION

Coventry Sphinx 3 West Midlands Police 1

Two goals from West Mids Policeman, Tom Thacker, helped Coventry Sphinx to complete a league double over his former club.

Thacker's opening goal came on 7 minutes when he rose to power home a close range header from Paul Wood's free kick. A minute later, West Mids went close to equalising when a deep cross from a Richard Adams free kick sent Mark Bellingham clear but home keeper Ian Brookes pulled of a superb save and the ball was quickly cleared upfield and played through to Thacker who slotted home his second goal.
West Mids went close to pulling a goal back on 16 minutes, when Martin Brown ran through and set up Tom Smith who's fierce shot forced Brookes into another brilliant save to deny a goal. On 41 minutes, a Bellingham free kick outside the box had Brookes at full stretch to tip the ball onto the bar and over. From the resultant corner, taken by Bellingham, Gavin Smith who was unmarked in front of goal, headed wide from close range.

In the second half Sphinx added a third goal on 78 minutes when Wayne Fulford scored from close range following a deep cross.

West Mids scored a consolation goal when the Sphinx defence failed to clear a corner and Richard Frost pounced to fire home from 12 yards out.