The Hampton Roar (Part 4)

The following article appeared in the programme for Racing Club Warwick v Causeway United on 8th September 2007.

Welcome to today’s match and the latest instalment of the season’s diary by your favourite Racing Club correspondent.

Saturday 25th August – Racing Club Warwick v Friar Lane & Epworth, Midland Alliance

Somewhat belatedly, for me at least, the waiting is over and the new season is here. I managed to miss the first three games of the season on account of my being on holiday in the US but, dedicated supporter that I am, I did keep in touch with the results courtesy of the MFA website whilst stateside. Viewed from afar the first three results were a right mixed bunch. An opening day home defeat to Biddulph has to be regarded as disappointing no matter that they may be stronger this season. But then to go to Cradley and repeat last season’s astonishing 5-0 last gasp away win was much more like it and I understand that it could easily have been a few goals more. And then finally, having got the league campaign up and running, we fell at the first hurdle in the FA Cup (as usual) due to having our a penalty saved and a couple of good chances cleared off the line. So at least today I get the chance to see for myself.

I remember last season’s tussles against FL&E with mixed emotions following the injury time own goal fiasco that led to a heart-wrenching 4-4 draw at their place followed by a comprehensive 1-4 stuffing by FL&E at our place. So, with something of a score to settle, we kicked off in blistering temperatures more suited to the Med than the Mid(land Alliance)! The game was competitive but was one of few chances with both sides looking solid. Overall there were far too many long balls attempts played by our boys and, in my humble opinion, FL&E looked the better side but were never allowed to lord it. Sadly, just before half time, the referee awarded FL&E a generous free kick in a nasty position and the ball was launched into the danger area where it proceeded to ping around before nestling in the bottom left hand corner courtesy of unlucky keeper Brookes. It was just about what FLAE’s play had deserved although our boys should consider themselves to be very unlucky with the manner of the goal itself. During the second half Warwick strove to create chances but they were few and far between and it was no surprise when one of FL&E’s substitutes rounded our keeper Brookes to score the conclusive goal in the last 10 minutes. So that makes it two home games and two home defeats so far. Not so good? Well perhaps not, but my view of this performance was that the side looks generally more solid than last season and the signs look promising for a less nerve wracking finish than last time around

Monday 27th August – Coventry Sphinx v Racing Club Warwick, Midland Alliance

Bank holiday Monday and a brand new derby game for Racing Club followers to enjoy. It must be something of a rarity to have local rivals that you’ve never actually met before but due to Sphinx’s successful Midland Combination campaign last time around we find ourselves in the same division as our near neighbours for the first time ever. There are links between our two clubs as you might expect including Willie Knibbs having managed Sphinx for two separate spells and Marcus Law having managed Spinx for nine months. Former Racer (and every other club in the region) Tom Cudworth now turns out for Sphinx as does Danny McSheffrey, Paul John, Casey Gaggini, and PJ Gordon amongst others. But why are they called “Sphinx”? Although they play down Sphinx Drive I think that the Drive is named after the club and not vice versa. Well as members of the Non-League Pyramid you’d expect Sphinx to feel at home! And if you don’t get that awful joke just have to ask your Mummy to explain it to you.

Sphinx Drive isn’t the easiest place to find in Coventry but with my trusty navigator Martin on board we were soon sitting in the Club’s spacious clubhouse. The football club doesn’t appear to have it all their own way at their ground – it’s a multi purpose sports ground accommodating cricket, lawn tennis and bowls - I guess this explains why the game is Sphinx’s first home league game at the higher level –the football club have been waiting for the cricket side to vacate the pitch. If you keep your eye on the Midland Alliance table you may notice that Causeway are suffering from the same phenomenon now that they are ground sharing at Stourbridge whose ground is also a cricket and football joint affair. Nonetheless the football pitch looks to be in good nick and the ground is tidy albeit a little bit wind-blown for my liking – we all agree that we wouldn’t fancy visiting in February given how chilly it is in August.

Initially Racing Club gave as good as we got from our hosts and although we fell behind I felt that Sphinx looked at little shaky before Tom Leaver took a tricky opportunity after half an hour. Our hopes of going in at half-time all square were dashed due to sloppy defending on 45 minutes as Sphinx’s Dave Drennan restored the lead of our hosts. Worse was to come in the second half as Sphinx became increasingly self-assured and began to put in dangerous deep crosses to unmarked players at the far post. Such was the manner of Craig Martin’s goal to put Sphinx 3-1 up and, in truth, they missed a number of excellent chances to have run out even more comfortable winners before Dave Drennan got his second and Sphinx’s fourth to complete the 4-1 rout. Boss Bobby was quoted in the local paper as having been happier with this performance than the defeat against FL&E two days earlier but I felt that it was difficult to choose between a side that created few chances (Saturday) and one that defended poorly (Monday). Certainly this defeat dumped us into that achingly familiar fourth from bottom spot where we finished last time around. But then again it’s early doors isn’t it? The only way is up! Or am I (drum roll please for my last Egyptology pun at the expense of Sphinx) simply in de-Nile? (Hey this is good stuff isn’t it?)

Keep the faith!