Racers Pinch Late Win, As Saints’ Resolve Is Broken…
Racing Club Warwick 2-1 St Neots Town
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| EBBUTT PREPARES TO START THE GAME... |
The Mowdog’s thoughts…
Three of Warwick’s five goal chances pre-half-time stemmed from quick counter attacks and all of them fell to lively forward Josh Parsons who saw a low drive from inside-left well saved by Saints’ James Goff, and two diving headers from about six yards skid by the right post, following assists by Archie Hamp and Callum Carsley.
I guess it was no surprise then that it was the head of Parsons which won the game for the Racers near the end, when he rose to glance a smart Carsley left-flank centre past the helpless Goff.
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| PARSONS HAS SCORED BUT HANCOCKS HAS A SMILE... |
A goal behind at the break, courtesy of Saints’ Jordan Brown who had capitalised upon an error in the home defence, the hosts benefitted from the sin-binning of the goalscorer which had occurred immediately before the recess and of course continued through the opening stages of the second period. During that time, a corner on the right by the well involved Parsons was met with a firm header beyond the far stick by Racer 9, Louis Monaghan and his effort flew into the net, as Goff’s attempt to save it shook the goal-frame. I thought that Storm James had suddenly affected Townsend Meadow with a low-level earthquake…
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| ANDREWS SEEMS LIKE HE IS CELEBRATING MONAGHAN'S GOAL BY POLE-DANCING, MINUS THE POLE OF COURSE... |
Jordan Brown (as opposed to Saints’ combative midfielder Josh Brown) had opened St Neots’ account during a strong start by the visitors, when home defender Jamie Ashmore couldn’t get the ball clear and Jordan Brown pounced, veered right, avoided a sliding intervention by home skipper Cal Templeton then fired a low drive across home ‘keeper Brad Catlow and into the far left bottom corner of the net.
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| THE SAINTS FIND A NICHE TO CELEBRATE IN... |
Despite a late rally by Saints, a point which they likely felt they deserved proved beyond them, although it is likely they would point to challenges on Harvey Williams and then Jordan Brown before the interval which on another day might have been seen as penalties. Warwick, of course would think otherwise…
The Racers…
It was interesting that the hosts threatened more with rare quick penetrative attacks, rather than through their patient, possession-based offense, as indicated by the trio of Parsons goal-attempts before half-time. He also drove off target from downtown, after a Hamp shot had been blocked by the effective Nathan George and the ball had been hustled away by the guests.
Monaghan’s overhead attempt flew too high but in truth little else really bothered Goff too much in the St Neots goal until after the turn-round, when he was first beaten by Monaghan’s header and then before Parsons’ winner, he was involved in three goalmouth melees.
First, George nodded Templeton’s header from the goal-line, then a Carsley centre deflected off Saints’ industrious skipper Kyle Lincoln and forced Goff to arch backwards and tip the ball onto his crossbar. The ball then dropped onto the top of the horizontal beam and in the ensuing scramble, Monaghan drove it across the face of goal.
After Parsons’ next header had flown straight at the goalminder, Goff punched another delivery upwards and was subsequently forced to turn the falling ball over his crossbar and to safety. However, Parsons’ goal then shoved the hosts ahead…
The plucky Saints…
James Hatch proved to be a useful attacker for Saints and he was denied an early goal when put clear at inside-left, only for Templeton’s fine sliding tackle to deny him a shot. He was useful aerially too but the only other real attempt at goal by the visitors came from the right boot of midfielder Magloire Muyembe, after he had already sliced a shot from distance well off target. He curled a fine effort from 25 yards towards the top right corner of goal before the break but Catlow leapt smartly to turn the ball away for a corner.
Following the restart, Hatch nodded straight at the ‘keeper, both George and Lincoln threatened at a set-pice, Muyembe drove another shot wildly too high but in the closing stages, despite some domination, the only real chance fell to replacement Nathan Frater, who pushed a shot wide of the right stick from the left corner of the 6 yard box.
As the game lingered on until nearly 16.55 hours, ‘keeper Goff joined the attack for a last-gasp free-kick situation but the delivery was too short and easily headed away by the grateful Racers.
The final words…
The match was well contested and a draw might have been a just reward for Saints, although RCW would point to Templeton’s header and the crazy moments when the ball bounced twice onto the crossbar, as evidence for deserving their narrow victory.
Before injury, Williams had been speedy on the left-flank for Saints which gave Hamp a fair contest and Jordan Brown looked eager throughout, despite not receiving the kind of service that his speed and movement deserved.
For the Racers, the industry of midfielders Ryan Quinn, the vociferous James Hancocks and the inimitable Cam Ebbutt could not be denied, bolstered by Ryan Andrews’ efforts but it was clear that when the offense was doused with quickness and directness, rather than being reliant upon the thoughtful, patient, if admirable possession style, shooting opportunities would result.
I left the stadium confused by the reaction to a question asked of a linesperson, after I had watched Hamp take a throw-in on the far side of the pitch with one leg raised rather high behind him. The inquisitive spectator was given the impression that it didn’t matter much in reality.
Ah, well… Another situation which is regularly affected by the inconsistency of officials…
Images...
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| YELLOW CARD FOR AJANA, I BELIEVE... |
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| LINCOLN, MONAGHAN & GEORGE. NO, NOT A FIRM OF ESTATE AGENTS BUT THESE THREE WERE FULLY COMMITTED TO THE GAME... |
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| "I WAS ONLY TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE MATERIAL OF JORDAN BROWN'S SHIRT, REF, HONEST..." |
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| DAMN, JAMES HANCOCKS IS FACING THE WRONG WAY & I CAN'T SEE HIS EXPRESSION... |
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| JORDAN BROWN, LEFT, LEAVES THE FIELD FULL OF SIN, APPARENTLY. HE WAS NOT HAPPY... |
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| WORDS FOR MAGLOIRE MUYEMBE... |
