WORCESTER City returned to winning ways with a routine 2-0 victory against struggling Coventry Sphinx.
Goals either side of half time from Felix Miles, who scored from the penalty spot, and Liam Lockett settled the game at Claines Lane.
The result means Worcester sit fourth in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, six points clear of the chasing pack in the race for a play-off spot.
Sphinx looked a threat on the counter attack early on as Hayden Reeves timed his challenge to perfection to prevent Harry Wakefield from running through on goal.
At the other end, City created the game’s first chance of note as Jordan Lymn jinked his way into the penalty area only to blaze well over the crossbar from 12-yards out.
And the home side failed to trouble Charlie Woods in the Coventry goal again later in the half as Adam Mace dragged a shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.
However, City won a penalty on 22 minutes when Jordan Hayward kicked through Logan Stoddart as he attempted to clear the ball in the box.
And Miles kept his cool from the spot to score the resulting penalty via the aid of the left-hand post despite Woods guessing the right way.
Worcester almost doubled their lead soon after as Miles shifted the ball onto his right foot and curled a shot inches past the post from 20-yards out.
Sphinx almost drew level moments later as Wakefield lashed a shot against the crossbar from a tight angle in the penalty area only for the ball to bounce to safety.
City responded with a chance of their own as Woods pushed Lockett’s low curling effort behind for a corner.
And the home side missed a glorious chance to double their lead just before the break as Sopuruchukwu Obieri controlled Miles’ cross only to stab the ball over the bar from close range.
City picked up where they left off after the break as Miles curled a precise shot inches over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.
And Worcester eventually doubled their lead on the hour mark when Lockett cut in from the left and curled a shot into the right corner of the goal.
The hosts looked to extend their lead as Woods smothered substitute Zac Guinan’s effort following a scramble in the box at a corner.
And Woods then denied Miles after the Worcester playmaker showed great footwork to evade a number of challenges in the box.
The visitors spurned a golden chance to halve the deficit as Dan Moore denied Sphinx substitute Roan Newey when one-on-one before Charlie Wise cleared the looping ball to safety.
Worcester are next in action against Boldmere St Michaels on Saturday, March 22 with kick-off at 3pm at Church Road.
