Sphinx have made a strong start to the season, and this game was predicted to be a stern test for Lee Attenborough’s men

With Kieran Preston unavailable for this one Belper United ‘keeper Joseph Fryatt was signed quickly and performed well in Preston’s absence.

The Nailers stood firm against early pressure from the hosts, but Sphinx looked vulnerable on the break and Belper went ahead after 14 minutes when a swift counterattack involving Wafula and Gratton set Fenton up for a classy finish inside the far post.

Fryatt had already come out of his goal to make an important intervention and excelled again with a reaction save at the near post from a shot by Downes

Bastos went close with a header that just missed the upright; the culmination of another good move on 31 minutes.

The Nailers defended plenty of corner kick and free kicks which tested the Belper defence, but only one brought any success for the hosts and that was when Reko capitalised on a loose ball on the edge of the six-yard area and prodded the ball home. Appeals for a foul on Fryatt during the build up fell on deaf ears.

The Nailers restored their lead in the 44th minute when a corner kick was nodded over the line by Evans.

Broadhead wasn’t too far away of extending Belper’s lead on 48 minutes, but the ball went straight to Woods in the Sphinx goal, then Fryatt was on form again when Shipman’s low drive was saved by the Belper ‘keeper.

The Nailers soaked up a lot of pressure in the second half but still found the opportunity to break away and cause the hosts problems.

Bastos was unlucky in the 65th minute when he found space for a long-range effort which cannoned back of the upright, then Wafula sent a cracking shot goal bound that Woods touched over the bar.

Carey was red carded for a second yellow card following a crunching tackle on Austin in the 75th minute, and as Sphinx’s threat waned Nailers’ skipper Broadhead met the same fate by getting a second yellow in added time.

Austin nearly crowned his substitute appearance with a blistering drive from twenty-five yards that had Woods stretching to push over the bar.

A very satisfying result then against tough opposition and one that sees the Nailers go back to the top of the table and remain unbeaten.

Coventry Sphinx: Woods, Nicholson, Hayward, Downes, Burke (Monger 90), Shorrock (Kelly 83), Bowman (O’Sullivan 77), Woodward, Shipman (Smith 68), Carey, Reka. Unused sub: Zito

Belper Town: Fryatt, Rhodes, Keenen, Fankwe, Broadhead, Evans, Bastos (Austin 69), Burrows, Wafula, Gratton, Fenton (Tague 85), Subs unused: Tsolakis, Edwards, Munns.

Referee: Callum Johnson

Att: 129