The following article appeared in the programme for Racing Club Warwick v Romulus on 15th October 2005.
Tuesday August 23rd and we went into our second home game of the season with some trepidation. Our previous three games in league and cup had seen three defeats and with Westfields, a truly difficult nut to crack, next on the fixture list and, with the squad looking a little on the thin side with injuries and suspensions (and it’s still only August!), morale, at least among the supporters, was not high to put it mildly. The previous two seasons had seen home defeats to Westfields and by half-time we found ourselves 1-2 down despite taking an early lead via a fine first goal for the club scored by the impressive looking Seb Rockliffe. That half-time was perhaps a mini-turning point for the club however. Racing Club emerged in the second half in a more determined mood and, within minutes were level courtesy of a fine goal from Marcus King. Warwick continued to take the game to their visitors throughout the course of the second half and three or four good chances went agonisingly close, none closer than Ollie hitting the post in the 84th minute. The winner sadly didn’t come but, looking on the bright side, we were off the mark with our first point of the season. On a slightly less bright note Racing were now eight points behind that club from Whitnash who ran out 3-1 winners away to another local club (the one that’s soon to be based in Tiddington). OK Racers, that’s enough of a head start. They’re suitably lulled into a false sense of security! Let’s get it on!
Saturday August 27th brought Tipton Town to Hampton Road in a hastily rearranged game following Racing Club’s FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round exit to Oldbury Town the previous Saturday. Early season games against newly promoted sides are always problematic. Tipton, the West Midland League Champions last season, were still finding their feet at the higher level but then again, they knew no fear assuming that their form would carry on into the Midland Alliance. An evenly matched first half saw Warwick with their noses in front at half time following a goal by Darren Beckett just before the break. The second half was another story entirely as Racing Club went up several gears and gave Tipton a lesson in life at the higher level. Four-one to the boys and our first win of the season. The corner had well and truly been turned.
Success against Tipton was swiftly followed up with victories away against Studley on August Bank Holiday Monday and at home versus Cradley Town on the day of the Wales v. England international. Three wins out of three and ten points out of a possible twelve. This was more like it! Certainly this was the form that we were all hoping for before the season kicked off. Next up came a huge test. A visit to Sutton Park, home of early season form side Quorn managed by non-league football legend Dougie Keast. Sutton Park has to be the best ground in the Midland Football Alliance following last season’s relegation of Ludlow Town. The pitch is like a billiard table and simply begs teams to get the ball down and pass it. Couple this with ample parking and a well appointed club house and you get the picture. Well worth a visit. Warwick’s last two visits to Quorn resulted in two defeats: 4-0 in 2003/4 and 3-1 in 2004/5. The trend was set. This time it was going to be 2-2 wasn’t it?
After 8 minutes Quorn took the lead. It wasn’t even against the run of play as they looked dangerous from the off. Quorn’s pass and move on their perfect pitch was a pleasure to watch except that it was exposing Warwick’s back line again and again. We were looking doomed when, suddenly and improbably, Paul White turned sharply on the edge of the box and pin pointed his shot just inside the post and it was in. We were level and feeling fortunate when, four minutes later, lightning struck for a second time as Ollie outpaced his opponent and rifled a sweet strike into the net. Twenty-five minutes gone and how could we be leading in this one-sided contest? As Quorn created a number of chances in the remainder of the first half one other painful event occurred which could have a longer-lasting effect on our season: poor Aaron Shanahan twisted and fell awkwardly. Instantly we could see from his agony that this was serious. He was stretchered off after what seemed like an age and spent the rest of the half on a pool table that doubled as a makeshift bed in the clubhouse (plenty of cushions I suppose!). The diagnosis was a double fracture of his lower leg and the curse on Warwick’s first teamers continues. Get well soon Aaron and we’ll see you in Racing Club colours again before the season’s out.
I recall saying at half-time that I thought that the second-half was going to be one of the longest ever. The first half had felt a bit like the defence of the Alamo. Could we keep Quorn out for another 45 minutes? Had we been offered my 2-2 pre-match prediction at that point I for one would have taken it. We came out and looked somewhat more composed in the second-half. Quorn did create a few chances that they contrived to fritter away through a combination of heroic defending and sheer wastefulness. Racing Club had chances of their own as Quorn became more and more anxious in their search for an equaliser. After what seemed like an eternity the referee blew for full-time and we had done it. Our first ever win at Quorn thanks to opportunist goal-getting, well organised and resolute defending and that little rub of the green that all sides need. Four wins on the bounce and up to sixth place. Only thirty-five more and the title would be ours!
The following Saturday heralded the arrival of Biddulph Victoria. Racing Club have, until now, had a terrible habit of raising their game against top of the table opposition and then struggling to get to grips with the strugglers. Fear not! The cavalry had arrived. Jason Burnham, signed from Banbury United, slotted in at full back and Gavin (Plenty) O’Toole returned to Hampton Road from last season’s promotion adventure at Evesham United to provide a bit of class. On a foul day Warwick ground out a two-nil home win that was never pretty but which yielded as many points as had been secured the previous Tuesday night against Quorn. Goalless at half time, sharpshooter Paul White struck twice in the second half to become our top-scorer for the season so far. So that’s five wins out of five. Sixteen points out of eighteen. Up to fifth in the table, one point ahead of that team from Whitnash (OK so they had games in hand!) and within one win of top spot. We’re in dreamland. Don’t wake me up until May!
Keep the faith!
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