Coventry Sphinx v West

� Saturday 11th February, 3pm
� FA Vase Fifth Round
� Sphinx Drive, Coventry, CV3 1WA
� £8 / £6 / 12-16yo £3 / Under 11s free
� Coventry (1.9 miles)
� Penalty shoot-out if level after 90 minutes
� Live commentary on Westlive Radio

Chris Rowley says West fans can once again provide a vital boost as his side look to book their place in the last eight of the FA Vase.

Following last month’s Fourth Round win against Horden Community Welfare, West head to the West Midlands to take on Coventry Sphinx in the Fifth Round.

The home side, currently second in the United Counties Premier Division South, promise to pose a stringent test of West’s Vase credentials. But Rowley is counting on the travelling West support to help his team replicate their last away assignment in this competition, when they eliminated four-time winners Whitley Bay.

“The support has been phenomenal all season and makes such a difference to the lads. Whitley Bay was a special occasion, and with the fans behind us again, hopefully we can keep the journey going.”

West come into this tie on the back of two consecutive NWCFL Premier Division wins, scoring six goals in the process. Rowley was given a huge boost in the closing stages of last weekend’s win at home to Burscough, with top scorer Ben Elliott making his return from injury.

Centre-back Keil O’Brien, who made his West debut against the Linnets, is set to feature again in place of the absent Ben Hampson.

Coventry Sphinx secured their place in the Fifth Round with a comprehensive 5-1 win at Biggleswade United, in a Fourth Round tie that was postponed twice due to a waterlogged and then frozen pitch. That followed wins against Belper United and Eccleshall, with Sphinx given a bye to this season’s Second Round due to their run to the Fifth Round last season.

Shaun Thomas and John Woodward’s side are also well-placed for promotion to step 4 this season, trailing Rugby Town by four points with four games in hand. They did suffer a stoppage-time defeat at Newport Pagnell Town – last year’s FA Vase winners – last weekend, but that was just one of three defeats in 18 league games and ended a ten-match winning run in all competitions.

If you’re not able to make the journey to Coventry, you can follow the match in full on our new online radio station Westlive – click here for more details.

Other FA Vase Fifth Round ties

North section
Eccleshill United v Atherstone Town
AFC Wulfrunians v Congleton Town
Tring Athletic v Bury AFC

South section
Newport Pagnell Town v Jersey Bulls
Harefield United v Peacehaven & Telscombe
Corsham Town v Brixham AFC
Bridgwater United v Ascot United