Racing Club Warwick dug deep to overcome a determined Copsewood after being reduced to ten men after 19 minutes when Jamie Coleman was red carded for a foul as last man. The afternoon started brightly with Warwick showing no signs of ring rust despite this being their first league game for several weeks. Rich Powell and Josh O'Grady put the hosts on the back foot several times in the opening 10 minutes and it was only a matter of time before the Racers scored. It was Powell who did superbly on the left before cutting back a ball for O'Grady to fire home on 13 minutes. It looked like this was going to be a very comfortable afternoon for Warwick when the referee, who all afternoon mainly had a shocker of game, got the decision right in showing the red card to Coleman. Luke Cole was dropped back into the middle with Alex Price sacrificed. Centre Half Joe Smith was introduced for his debut. The red card levelled out the game and Cross had to make a fine stop to his right when it seemed Copsewood had stolen an equaliser just before the break.

Second half and Warwick gave themselves some breathing space in a game where tiredness would surely be prevalent the longer the game progressed. Superb play from the effervescent Trea Bertie out on the right saw him put in a fine low cross that Powell controlled well before firing well past the keeper. With the referee giving out cards like confetti for nothing and ignoring obvious reasons to calm things down with a necessary card the game turned into a free for all with most in the ground agog with many decisions.

Fortunately for Warwick the reshuffled rearguard was well protected in the main by some dogged displays, particularly from Martin Slevin and debutant Joe Smith, who was a well deserved Man of the Match on his Warwick debut.

Copsewood scored a well worked goal on 68 minutes and had the major possession in the later stages as the ten men felt the pace but the final whistle was welcomed by the travelling fans and players alike.

Racing go into their rearranged Midweek Challenge Cup Quarter Final versus Tividale on Tuesday night in good spirits.

MOM Joe Smith

RACING CLUB WARWICK:
TOM CROSS, JACK TAYLOR, RYAN BILLINGTON, MARK PASSEY, JAMIE COLEMAN, MARTIN SLEVIN (CAPT), ALEX PRICE, LUKE COLE, JOSH O’GRADY, RICH POWELL.
SUBS:
SEAN KAVANAGH, JOE SMITH, LUKE CHURCH, LEWIS HUDSON