RACING CLUB WARWICK 2-2 CADBURY ATHLETIC: MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

Resolute Athletic Stable The Racers

Racing Club Warwick 2-2 Cadbury Athletic

Having lost prolific forward Trea Bertie to Alvechurch at the end of last week and being without striker Ben Mackey for this match too, RCW looked rather lethargic at times. Possibly with thoughts of Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Malvern in mind, Warwick benched an experienced replacement line-up, including Martin Slevin, Alex Price, Henry Leaver and Wade Malley, whilst Rich Powell played as the number 9. In truth though, this low key encounter lacked excitement, as the grim Racers stuttered through the match, whilst their guests managed the game with stout defence and energetic midfield play. In front through a deflected Luke Cole shot from close range, Athletic’s first actual shot on goal went in near the interval: a free-kick by central defender Dan Dineen, to leave the clubs tied at the break.

THE REFEREE ATTEMPTS TO STEAL SCOTT TURNER'S WATCH...

A second Cadbury goal, contested by RCW because I believe they thought that effective right-back Marc Passey had been shoved in the back by Deon Colstock, who then set up midfielder Lewan Tobin for a 10 yard finish, resulted in the Racers suddenly increasing their pace and utilising not only Leaver, but Slevin and Malley too. Indeed, forthwith, Slevin was the main protagonist, taking the game by the scruff of the neck and forcing his team forward. Malley did equalise but in a more interesting finale, both Gerard McGahey and Slevin smashed shots off target to ensure that the Chocmen left Townsend Meadow with a point.

"DON'T POKE AT THE BALL, THERE'S A GOOD CHAP..."

PARSONS: HELPFULLY VOCIFEROUS...

BANNISTER: HAD AN ISSUE WITH ONE LINESMAN'S FLAG...

Before RCW filched the opening goal, both Passey, with a cross-shot, then Ross Quartermane with a skied finish from Powell’s assist, missed the target but Powell himself then managed a touch to McGahey’s feed and the ball looped upwards but dropped just over the crossbeam. The compact, nippy McGahey showed fine skills on occasions and his ability on the ball, left flank, provided the opening goal, although midfielder Sam Beasley gained the assist. A right-boot centre, a nod down towards Cole, an off balance 8 yard shot by the Racer and a slight deviation off visiting skipper Sam Delaney, left Choc goalie Stuart Parsons helpless as the ball crept into the right corner of the net.

McGAHEY: QUICK FEET...

1-0 & LUKE COLE CELEBRATES WITH HIS UNIQUE ZOMBIE STANCE...

...GHOULISH BOOTS TOO...

There were three Stuarts in the Cadbury team and yet strangely nobody called James. There was a Butcher and there were two Bakers but sadly there was no Candlestick-maker… There was a Cooke though…However, Cole was unable to capitalise upon two assists by Powell, the first after the bearded one had dispossessed Delaney but both times Cole’s stretches failed to connect properly. So when the guests won a 23 yard free-kick, Delaney deserved an assist for standing on the defensive left edge of the protective RCW wall. This gave Dineen an opening, for when he moved to take the kick, Delaney, with his back to his colleague, simply moved out of the way and Dineen’s low drive went through the gap to beat goalkeeper Charlie Bannister at his left upright. Clever…  

FREE-KICK FOR CADBURY & A GOAL IS COMING...

DINEEN HAS SCORED WITH HIS LEFT BOOT AND SO APOLOGISES TO HIS RIGHT...

Bannister was forced to parry an angled effort by Chocman Brett Lloyd just before half-time and he was fortunate that the ricochet flew wide off John Baker. The hosts had fashioned only two other goal attempts before the players left the field for a mug of Bovril and a fig biscuit but both were inaccurate. A left-wing flag-kick bounced off Quartermane for a goal-kick and when Lloyd and Delaney lost possession between them for Athletic, Powell made a run and fed McGahey but his subsequent drive was way too high.

2ND PERIOD...

After half-time and either side of Cadbury’s second goal, both Racer central defenders were close to scoring with headers and Beasley was cautioned for let’s say, a rash foul on Colstock, who was eventually forced to leave the field hurt. McGahey’s left-side free-kick was headed powerfully goalwards by Sean Castleton but Parsons did well to beat the ball away like he was desperately saving match point in a beach volleyball match but home skipper Scott Turner had to watch Bannister’s long kick go over his shoulder and thus could find no power or direction with his header which dropped wide of the left stick.

"HE'S BEEN NAUGHTY, YOU'RE HIS HOUSE CAPTAIN, SO SORT HIM OUT..."

That second Cadbury goal was gleefully shot in from 10 yards by the grafting Tobin but RCW were very unhappy with the apparent shove on Passey by the feeder Colstock. The referee annoyed the hosts again when Parsons punched a free-kick clear, the Racers regained possession but the official whistled because a Choc defender had gone down holding his head, yet the player had shot straight up to his feet again as the ref’ blew… Oops… Sprightly visiting winger Alex Tesfom shot low to Bannister, who was constantly urging the young referee’s assistant in front of me to “Wave your flag, lino…” Malley though was able to salvage parity and much credit must go to Leaver for the assist.

THIS IS NOT A DISCO MOVE BY TURNER AND COLE...
THEY ARE PROTESTING ABOUT TOBIN'S GOAL BEING ALLOWED TO STAND...

BEASLEY'S BEASTLY CHALLENGE... 

THE KIDS RUSH INTO THE PLAYGROUND...

THEY DISCUSS THE TIMES CROSSWORD...

...AND WAIT FOR THE BELL TO RING FOR THE NEXT LESSON...

In fact, Athletic were attacking but substitute Owen Osbourne was dispossessed, Leaver took over and sent a fine through pass into the inside-right channel. Malley took possession, raced forth and his low angled drive beat Parsons and flew into the left corner of the net.

LOOKS LIKE ELVIS PRESLEY HAS EQUALISED FOR RCW...

Tom Baker was cautioned (did he admit to being Dr Who?) for yanking Slevin over by the head, something which the Racer didn’t react to, unusually but all that the hosts could achieve offensively until the final moments of the contest were a toe-poked effort by Malley which was blocked, a Ryan Billington centre which dropped onto the roof of the net, a McGahey delivery across the face of goal, a far post header by Slevin which Parsons caught and a wild drive by the frustrated Quartermane, which swerved well off target. And then, in the final seconds, Slevin so nearly snatched the three points for Warwick when he was fed neatly by McGahey but powered his 21 yard drive past the left angle of crossbar and upright.  

"DO THAT AGAIN AND YOU'RE CONFINED TO YOUR TARDIS..."

Apologies to both McGahey and Slevin for getting their identities wrong for the two hard shots mentioned above in my video commentary. It was quite dark, they were both at the far end of the ground from me and both were of similar stature… Sorry guys…

Not the most enthralling of encounters then but there were four goals and certainly Dineen stood out for the stubborn guests, whilst John Baker worked so hard in attack, often alone and he never shirked his responsibilities. Delaney and Dineen were tough to break down as a pair in all fairness, as were Castleton and Turner for the Racers but Passey always seems to impress for Warwick at right-back and he did so again. Cole, despite some really classy moaning on one occasion, after being penalised for a tussle with Delaney, was decent for the hosts and Slevin was prominent as a replacement. Powell had done OK for his team but was substituted during the second period and it remains to be seen how RCW will address their dearth of strikers before the FA Cup visit to Malvern… 

TEAMS:

RACING CLUB WARWICK:

CHARLIE BANNISTER, MARC PASSEY, RYAN BILLINGTON, SEAN CASTLETON, SCOTT TURNER (CAPT), LUKE COLE, MICHAEL ELLIS, SAM BEASLEY, RICH POWELL, GERARD McGAHEY, ROSS QUARTERMANE.

SUBS:

HENRY LEAVER, ALEX PRICE, MARTIN SLEVIN, JOSEPH SMITH, WADE MALLEY.

CADBURY ATHLETIC:

STUART PARSONS, STUART COOKE, BRETT LLOYD, DAN DINEEN, SAM DELANEY (CAPT), LEWAN TOBIN, ALEX TESFOM, TOM BAKER, JOHN BAKER, STUART BUTCHER, DEON COLSTOCK.

SUBS:

LEWIS COSGROVE, KENNIE ROBERTS, OWEN OSBOURNE, RITCHIE OLUSANYA, DAN THOMPSON.