PROMOTED!
Racers Return to Step Step 3 after 23 years
After a 23-year wait the club secured a return to Step 3 football in the most dramatic fashion, overcoming Belper Town in a 7–6 penalty shootout victory.
Full Report - By Andy Mitchell
Joint boss Jack Edwards hailed Racing Club Warwick’s historic promotion as a triumph of mind over matter after another penalty shootout success.
The Racers bagged Northern Premier League (NPL) Midlands play-off glory by winning 7-6 from the spot after a 1-1 draw after extra-time at Belper Town on Saturday.
Just like Tuesday’s semi-final at runners-up Carlton Town – 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes – Warwick had to hang tough at times but pocketed the quickest of equalisers through James Harding having conceded late in the first half.
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Goalkeeper Tom Allsopp had to find two heroic saves once the penalties went to sudden death, pushing away Danny South’s effort for Belper only for Racers defender Jasper Tetlow to be thwarted by Kieran Preston
Warwick's heroes grasp celebrate with their medals after sealing promotion at Belper Town
Tetlow, colossal alongside Kyle Barnett at the heart of defence, was bereft but he needn’t have been with Allsopp producing a Superman-style dive to his left to save from home captain Jack Broadhead.
It was a second chance that left-back Jordan Hayward, Warwick’s ninth taker, didn’t pass up with a clean strike that kissed the right post on its way in to seal the unlikeliest of promotions.
Racing had sat 11th with 10 NPL Midlands games to go and ninth before finishing with three straight league wins to sneak past county rivals Coleshill Town into the top five.
They made the cut despite finishing with the lowest points total – 65 –of any of the 32 play-off teams across eight divisions at Step 4.
Racing Club Warwick bagged Northern Premier League (NPL) Midlands play-off glory by winning 7-6 from the spot after a 1-1 draw after extra-time at Belper Town on Saturday.
“Before the game we said we knew we had a good group when we took over, talented individuals,” said Edwards.
“We had to be psychologically strong and they have shown in recent weeks that they are serial winners and psychologically better than the rest.
“Since Chris and I took over we have managed 21 points from 10 games, more than two per game, and we focused more on form heading into the play-offs. We have shown that counts. It was massive.”
An understandably frenetic start coupled with a tricky pitch led to neither team seizing control.
Preston comfortably dealt with early efforts from Reece Blackmore and Harding, while Belper’s midfield powerhouse Jonathan Wafula proved a menace. He almost benefitted from a couple of late forays into the box before heading against the underside of the bar from Louis Keenan’s swirling cross 27 minutes in.
Diego De Girolamo’s shot took a crucial nick off a white shirt to see it bounce wide as Belper upped the ante, taking the lead three minutes before half-time when Luke Shaw – who had briefly switched wings – drove inside and fed Kevin Bastos to squeeze in to Allsopp’s right. However, Warwick took a matter of seconds to hit back with Harding prodding in a low centre before the hosts could get themselves set, a lapse that Belper boss Lee Attenborough would later describe as "shocking".
The Racers gained more territory in the second half but might have trailed when Jacob Gratton and Shaw combined for the well-placed De Girolamo to scuff wide on the hour.
Belper built from there but tired legs crept in and efforts from both sides appeared to be hit more in hope than expectation.
Into extra-time and Barnett tried in vain to steer on target a header from a dropping ball, while Bastos and Liam Moran had shots charged down for Belper.
To penalties and Warwick rejoiced as Curtis Burrows fired Belper’s second over the bar but it was short lived as Connor Taylor hit the angle of post and bar with Racing’s third.
It got to 6-6 before the keepers took over with Ryan Andrews, James Hancocks, Cameron Ebbutt, Barnett, Hisham Chiha, Archie Hamp and Hayward all successful from 12 yards.
“My feeling was that there would be some missed,” said Edwards.
“The penalty area and pitch was terrible but I knew my keeper Tom would always pull us through. He has been unbelievable since coming in and is amazing when it comes to penalties and psyching out the opposition.”
Belper: Preston, Fankwe, Keenan, Wafula, Broadhead, Evans (South, h-t), Bastos, Burrows, De Girolamo (Eccleshall, 98), Gratton, Shaw (Moran, 73).
Unused subs: Austin, Rhodes.
Racers: Allsopp, Moore, Hayward, Blackmore (Andrews, 90+2), Barnett, Tetlow, Taylor, Hancocks, Harding (Chiha, 90+2), Opoku (Hamp, 78), Coyle (Ebbutt, 83).
Unused sub: Worley.
Referee: Kieran Chell.
Attendance: 1,702
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