RACING CLUB WARWICK 3-1 HEATH HAYES: FULL MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

Racers Hold Tight On Tom Bawcock’s Eve

Racing Club Warwick 3-1 Heath Hayes

Tom Bawcock, a legendary 16th century fisherman from Mousehole in Cornwall was reputed to have braved awful storms to get out into Mount’s Bay and catch fish to feed the villagers. These days, ‘Tom Bawcock’s Eve’ is celebrated on 23rd December and ‘Stargazey Pie’ is cooked at the Ship Inn for diners which shows fish-heads above the pastry… The Racers duly held on for a victory on this auspicious day, despite the plucky efforts of the Heathens. Despite being without starters O’Grady, leading scorer Kavanagh, defenders Taylor, Passey and Billington, as well as striker Blake and midfielder Josh Cole, the Racers comfortably led 2-0 before a defensive error allowed Hayes back into the contest prior to half-time. A killer third goal by replacement Joe Carter wrecked the Heathens’ hopes however, although the visitors still pushed hard for some reward.  

POWELL KICKS OFF WITHOUT BENDING A LEG...

A predatory brace by Luke Cole had given the hosts a strong start during which only the lively pace of Heathen Jack Weldon, the effective wing-play of James McGrady and the bullish midfield play of Andrew Davis had caused any real harassment to the Racers’ defence. Indeed, visiting ‘keeper Tony Allsopp had made a couple of decent saves to keep his team within reach, to be fair. Later in the game, Brad Rolston made some quick rushes for Hayes and with Warwick having lost some of their offensive prowess, the second period was far more even. In the early stages though, RCW pushed forward well and the steely Martin Slevin began it with a pass left to Lewis Hudson, whose one-two with Rich Powell led to a shot by Hudson which Allsopp dived to save and only an offside flag spoiled the efforts of Cole and Luke Church who were squabbling over the rebound like two crows over a dead squirrel.  

HUDSON ON OFFENSE...

Weldon got beneath his header from a fine near post centre by the rampaging McGrady, who caused home right-back Michael Ellis some real trauma before the interval but the striker’s effort was off target and Warwick certainly responded in kind. Church’s low byeline centre flew behind Cole and Powell, Henry Leaver fed Slevin for a 25 yard strike which Allsopp dived right for and managed to fist away superbly, then a long throw by home skipper Alex Price was nudged on at the near upright by both Cole and Powell but the Heathens scrambled the ball clear. This incident led to the opening goal in fact and when Allsopp received a back-pass, his low kick away was collected by Leaver, who moved right and crossed into the 6 yard box where the hungry scavenger Cole leaned, reached and made the ball his, thrusting his smooth pate at it over visiting skipper Jack Arrowsmith’s jump and the Racer’s header dropped into the left corner of the net.

1-0...

GOAL FOR COLE...

Church rose like a spire from a cathedral roof to nod a Price corner too high and thus far all that Hayes could muster was another McGrady run but his low centre was out of reach for Rolston at the far stick. Leaver then slipped Powell clear at inside-right but although the bearded fellow’s low shot evaded Allsopp, there was no pace on it and Josh Small the tall appeared to clear the danger. The second goal was nabbed after a throw on the right and it was Price’s right-side delivery which led to Powell’s touch, Slevin’s miscued shot and a deflection off Powell which the lurking Cole rapped into the net from 6 yards, with no offside flag waving to redeem the Heathens.

2-0...

A BRACE FOR COLE...

Cole was hammered by Small when flicking the ball on for Church to race clear at inside-right and Church was baulked by Arrowsmith but remained on his feet, only to be denied by the advancing Allsopp’s brave save. A low left-side centre by McGrady for Hayes was knocked out for a corner by home goalie Tom Cross, who got a glove to the flag-kick by Weldon but the referee adjudged that the ‘keeper had been fouled. A Martin Hutchcox volley from 25 yards drifted way off target, Davis shot low at Cross, Hayes striker Regan Smith, hitherto rarely seen, fouled Ellis late, Hutchcox rescued his team with a timely tackle and then Smith was cautioned for his second rough challenge.

POWELL THE SMALLER, SMALL THE TALLER...

SLEVIN (7) DOESN'T NEED A MICROPHONE...

And then, out of the blue really, the visitors reduced the arrears. Small broke up a Warwick attack and made ground before launching a long kick through the inside-right channel which Rolston chased. He got the better of Jamie Coleman and then the hesitation between the Racers’ defender and his goalie allowed Rolston to poke the ball past the distressed and ever so cross Cross and into the net from an acute angle. Shock… And in truth, the goal plainly affected RCW, who didn’t really look as comfortable in possession again until the third goal went in during the second period. 

SMITH HAS FELLED ELLIS...

2-1...

NUMBER 7 ROLSTON HAS SCORED...

Hard work by the impressive Price allowed Cole to fire too high from 20 yards, Hayes threatened when McGrady beat Ellis but Cross beat out the winger’s centre, although visiting midfielder Connor Haddaway was unable to get in a shot from the rebound at 18 yards. A fine Powell flick sent Cole scurrying towards the left flank but his aspirational clipped shot from the wing with Allsopp out from his goal drifted too far wide. The half drew to a close after Price had won the ball from Arrowsmith and this allowed Leaver to run towards the 18 yard box in traffic and his low shot rolled only just wide of the right stick. A low shot by Heathen Smith was wide of the left upright and immediately the main official ended the opening period.

WE LIKES THIS...

Price had been so influential for the hosts, well backed by Leaver and Slevin, who had won his fair share of headers too. Cole and Powell, supported by Church had looked dangerous on occasions and Hudson had made a few useful sorties forward on the left. Coleman and Hutchcox had been stretched only rarely, mostly when McGrady had breached Ellis’ defence but Allsopp had made a trio of decent saves, Chris Horton had looked solid enough at right-back, Davis had bolstered midfield and Small had combined with skipper Arrowsmith to defend effectively at times.

HEATH HAYES KICK OFF WAVING A WARWICK FLAG...

The players returned as slight mist settled over the racecourse nearby and Coleman soon gave away a free-kick, 19 yards out, centrally positioned which Haddaway struck against the Warwick defensive wall and fair play to Hutchcox as he threw himself at the rebound shot to deny Hayes again. A couple of Slevin headers set up Church for a shot from 25 yards which subsequently veered wide of the right angle of crossbar and upright, Slevin and Powell combined to offer Cole a quick 9 yard shot which Allsopp dropped right to save smartly, before the injured Arrowsmith was replaced by Heathen Dan Evans, with Davis taking the skipper’s armband.

HUTCHCOX HAS JUST ASKED HIS TEAM-MATES TO VOTE FOR HIM AS MAN OF THE MATCH...
THEY LOOK OVERJOYED.

CAUTION FOR ELLIS...

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD HAS APPEARED BUT ONLY CROSS SHOWS DUE DEFERENCE...

Leaver was replaced by Racer Carter, Ellis jumped in at an opponent to earn a caution, Carter rapped a low shot from Powell’s flick straight at Allsopp, before Cross punched a Hayes cross away but Davis shot well wide from 18 yards from the rebound. Ben Derbyshire replaced the willing and speedy Weldon, Cross fell left to gather a McGrady shot, then the hosts scored to effectively settle the outcome of a match which was becoming more and more scrappy and tense. A right-wing Slevin corner passed both Church and Cole and landed at Carter’s feet 10 yards out, left of centre and he fired a rasping, rising drive into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

3-1...

COOL CARTER THE SCORER...

Cole was relieved by substitute Paul Holland, Smith headed straight at Cross for the guests, a low Holland shot, which was going wide anyway, took a deflection for an unproductive Warwick corner and at the opposite end, McGrady was involved as Hayes threatened again but he shot too high after Cross had touched away a centre. Cross dived to make his best save of the match from a shot by Haddaway, both  Slevin and Luke Holmes were booked for a playground spat, Derbyshire headed McGrady’s right-side delivery straight to Cross and Alex Baird replaced the hurt Slevin for the Racers. As the game ebbed away, Carter fed Powell who drove wide from a good position 16 yards out then Church’s near post header from Price’s corner flew straight into Allsopp’s gloves before the referee called a halt to the proceedings. 

SCRAP...

SLEVIN TALKS TO HIS SHIN GUARD, AS NO-ONE ELSE WILL LISTEN TO HIM...

And thus the skipper, Alex Price, directed his motley crew, harangued them and berated them until they hauled in their three-point catch. Slevin had been demanding of his shipmates whilst proving as docile as a bull terrier with a bad mood on. Church and Leaver leapt about like salmon moving up-river whilst Powell was always threatening alongside the glaring, frowning, biting and glabrous Cole, who was simply a pain in the groin to the Hayes defenders. An opposition coach called him “Baldy…” on one occasion which left Cole looking bemused, for the solid Heathen coach had, er, no hair either…

CROSS: ISOLATED NEAR THE END...

Hutchcox, who probably voted himself  ‘Man of the Match’ as usual, was generally calm, Coleman often displayed his glum expression but in truth, Ellis managed McGrady much better after the break. Heath Hayes always seem to impress me with their guile and gall. The pace of Weldon and Rolston, the industry of Davis and the artistry of McGrady were all in evidence at Warwick, whereas Horton, Small, Arrowsmith and Holmes, along with gloveman Allsopp kept their team in striking distance of the Racers until, that is, Carter struck…

DAVIS CHOOSES A FINE TIME TO PEE...

The players all disappeared to enjoy their post-match food: the delightful sardines from Tom Bawcock’s catch in a fine ‘stargazey pie’…

STARGAZEY PIE...

Me? Chicken casserole and raspberries…

COLE THE BRACEMAN...

TEAMS:

RACING CLUB WARWICK:

TOM CROSS, MICHAEL ELLIS, LEWIS HUDSON, MARTIN HUTCHCOX, JAMIE COLEMAN, ALEX PRICE (CAPT), MARTIN SLEVIN, LUKE CHURCH, LUKE COLE, HENRY LEAVER, RICH POWELL.

SUBS:

JOE CARTER, PAUL HOLLAND, ALEX BAIRD.

HEATH HAYES:

TONY ALLSOPP, CHRIS HORTON, LUKE HOLMES, JOSH SMALL, CONNOR HADDAWAY, JACK ARROWSMITH (CAPT), BRAD ROLSTON, ANDREW DAVIS, REGAN SMITH, JACK WELDON, JAMES McGRADY.

SUBS:

DAN EVANS, BEN DERBYSHIRE.