RACING CLUB WARWICK 1-0 MARCH TOWN UNITED: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT, PLUS A FEW IMAGES...

 Racers Edge Out The Hares…

Racing Club Warwick 1-0 March Town United

THE TOSS...

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

This competitive game really could have gone either way but it was won for Warwick by Josh Parsons’ clinical second period finish, courtesy of a turnover and then a clever releasing pass by the industrious James Hancocks.

Even then, two very late free-kicks by the Hares might have regained parity but Daniel Emmington’s effort from downtown was smartly tipped over the crossbar by home gloveman Brad Catlow, then with the final play of the encounter, influential March midfielder Declan Rogers drove a fine set-piece shot only just over the crossbeam…

Certainly Catlow had made more difficult saves than his counterpart Jonah Gill and although RCW hogged much of the possession until the latter stages, their infiltration was often lacking and the ball was patiently and regularly recycled backwards. Jamie Ashmore was the deep creator in midfield for the hosts and he enjoyed a lot of possession, whilst Cam Ebbutt was the high velocity workhorse, leaving him nursing knocks on a number of occasions.

THE UNIMPRESSED GREEN & GILLIES QUESTION THE MAIN OFFICIAL...

March’s Hares were well served by the insistent Rogers, the playmaker, who was often well supported by the elusive Jack Saunders and the persistent Sam Green. Despite occasional threats however, the neat Vitor Vaz in attack alongside the physical Matt Foy generally failed to get the better of strong home defenders Kyle Barnett and skipper Cal Templeton. 

TEMPLETON & FOY: SOME LUSTY CHALLENGES BETWEEN THE PAIR...

The contest was on a knife-edge until the end but ultimately Parsons’ low strike proved decisive…

The Hares on offense…

Before the break, some enterprising movement by the guests allowed Vaz to fire too high, before Green’s close range header from skipper Craig Gillies’ assist was well saved diving left by Catlow. Vaz shot to Catlow, Saunders flicked a right-side delivery too high at the near post and Catlow plunged left to keep out a decent 24 yard free-kick by Rogers. 

After half-time and indeed after going a goal behind, the visitors certainly upped their game and after Catlow fell on the ball as Rogers lurked, the same Hare shot straight to the home custodian.

Replacement Emmington drove in a shot from 20 yards which was easy for Catlow to collect, before the substitute’s 27 yard free-kick was tipped away by the tall Racers’ goalie. Emmington’s long throws caused some anxiety for RCW but they survived those, only for replacement T’ai Williams to fall under a challenge by Archie Hamp as time ran out. This was the final act of an untidy second period but Rogers’ fine free-kick from 20 yards flew just too high. 

WARWICK CONCEDE A LATE FREE-KICK...

The sometimes complicated Racers’ attacking play… 

Ebbutt struck an early shot low to ‘keeper Jonah Gill, then the often underused striker Jon Letford had a shot blocked and his rebound effort from an angle on the left was pushed aside by the falling ‘keeper. After Hancocks drove too high and Gillies did well to block a Ryan Quinn drive with a brave header, Parsons fired a free-kick into the Hares’ defensive wall. Parsons fired too high from an angle before the recess, following a Warwick free-kick, which had been taken short and seemed to be going nowhere until Parsons managed to free himself.

BRUMBY (4) & GILLIES (5) MARSHALL LETFORD (9), WHO WAS STARVED OF SERVICE FOR MUCH OF THE GAME...

After half-time the hosts managed to dominate fairly well for a while, Hancocks shooting wide from 18 yards, Parsons and Letford having successive shots blocked by the impressive March defender Adam Brumby, who complemented Gillies well. Ebbutt shot too high before the winning goal was scored by Parsons. The Hares’ Dan Bucciero had cleared the danger towards half-way but as the pacy Stefano Cavozzi attempted to flick the ball inside to Saunders, he was mugged by Ashmore and the ball fell to Hancocks near the left touchline.

Hancocks’ pass forward was astute and Parsons’ run was well timed, allowing the forward to take the ball smartly on his chest and plant the ball past the helpless, advancing Gill and into the bottom right corner of the net.

RACERS 1-0 HARES...

The offense stuttered somewhat after that and with the game’s flow interrupted by substitutions, only a low Hamp shot bothered Gill before Parsons got clear again onto another clever Hancocks pass, only for Gill to advance and deflect the ball towards Letford, whose subsequent decent volley flew by the left upright from 16 yards. 

The Hares became desperate to regain parity after that, as RCW appeared to be holding onto their slender lead but March simply couldn’t score the goal which they surely felt they deserved…

The final words…

The match was a decent contest but marred by some inconsistent refereeing, resulting in frustrated players and staff from both clubs frothing with exasperation. Several players were cautioned, others got away with similar offences but overall, the contest’s tension was palpable.

HANDSHAKES AT THE END...

Thanks again to RCW for the fine welcome afforded me…

TEMPLETON AUDITIONS FOR THE PART OF JULIUS CAESAR AT THE LOCAL THEATRE, DISPLAYING HIS ABILITY TO CONVINCE AN AUDIENCE THAT HE HAS SEVERAL STAB WOUNDS...
(ONLY JOKING, BUT HE DID SMILE WHEN HE STOOD UP...)