SCORELINES don’t often tell the whole story of a match and Worcester City’s FA Cup triumph over Coventry Sphinx proved the point.

In the end, this was a fairly routine victory for Carl Heeley’s side as they reached the third qualifying round for the second year running.

In truth, that was all that could be asked of them against a side three leagues below them and with nothing to lose.

But it was far from comfortable and the margin of defeat was tough on a Sphinx outfit who defied their Midland Alliance status.

As against Telford United last Tuesday, it was a case of City riding their luck with the visitors twice rattling the post through speedster Jerome Murdock.

When Kyle Baxter’s drive was tipped over by Jose Veiga fans may have been fearing a repeat of the early exit at Godalming two years ago.

Even when Richard Taundry drilled them ahead against the run of play on 29 minutes, the Skrill North club struggled to get into their stride.

But the game turned following a straight red card shown to Baxter for a studs-up challenge on Taundry a minute prior to the hour and from there City cruised with three goals in the last 10 minutes.

By the end, Coventry’s resistance had gone the same way as Gornal’s at the same stage 12 months ago. On-loan Torquay United winger Niall Campbell terrorised the Sphinx defence and he cut inside from the left to crack home a stinging drive to double the advantage.

Daniel Nti also opened his box of tricks to spin his marker on the edge of the box before firing across keeper Carl O’Neill for number three.

There was even time for academy striker James Lemon, wearing the number 18 shirt on his 18th birthday, to add a fourth on the counter attack two minutes after coming on as a late substitute.

The sort of stuff FA Cup dreams are made of.

For the second week running, City had scored four goals without reply and have now kept a clean-sheet in four of their last five matches.

The performance was not vintage but that won’t bother them, particularly with a place in the next round and a cheque for £4,500 safely secured.

Heeley’s side also had to overcome several changes, not least the absence of midfielder Phil Trainer, who was denied permission to play by parent club Nuneaton.

Exodus Geohaghon was also missing due to an Achilles injury with the City boss refuting suggestions the giant centre-half had asked to be rested in order to avoid being cup tied.

But Taundry returned from a groin injury and the former Walsall skipper did a sterling job in the holding role, capping his afternoon with an arrow-like drive from the apex of the area to get City off the mark.

Despite Coventry’s efforts, it was a lead they never relinquished.