Report

In a dramatic encounter at Townsend Meadow, Saints came back from two goals down at half-time to snatch a late winner and beat neighbours Racing Club Warwick, who had manager Lee Knight sent from the dug-out by the referee in the second half.

Saints boss Luke Fogarty named an attacking line-up in a bid to get back on the winning trail after defeat at Nuneaton Griff the week before, but he was forced into a late change when goalkeeper Jim Stott pulled a hamstring in the warm up, with Matt Oliver taking over between the sticks.

The match started badly for Saints when, after just four minutes, Charlie Neale cleared for a corner which was taken by Myron Semper from the right and the ball was swept in unchallenged by Martin Crawford on the edge of the penalty area.

At the other end, Ash Malhotra saved well from Brad Rees and a long throw from Neil Stacey was flicked on by Andy Millan, but the ball went straight to the Racing keeper. Saints had another chance in the 15^th minute from a corner, but the Racers defence scrambled clear.

A good block from Saints skipper Quentin Townsend denied Ricardo Richards a scoring chance, before Semper cut inside full-back Marc Passey and sent in a shot that Oliver did well to tip over the bar.

The home side went two-up on 26 minutes when a long ball cut out the Saints defence and Semper ran through to round Oliver and score.

Saints tried to hit back and Simeon Smith fed Tunde Ajibade, who beat his marker to cross low into the area but, with the ball only half blocked, there was nobody following up. Oliver then saved from Danny Charlton and the half drew to a close with Racing Club two goals to the good.

Five minutes into the second half, another good cross from Ajibade fell to Stacey, whose shot was blocked and cleared for a corner from which Millan shot just over. Saints pulled one back in the 53^rd when Smith opened his account for the club, heading home from a Jack Taylor free kick.

The introduction of Oli Manoochehri on the left gave Saints front line a different dimension as they went in search of an equaliser against a home side rapidly losing their grip on the game.
Saints hit the post before being awarded a penalty as Manoochehri cut in from the left, only to be pushed when about to shoot. Jack Taylor made no mistake from the spot to score his seventh goal of the season.

Then, in stoppage time, Taylor sent in free-kick for Neale to grab a last-gasp winner and put Saints promotion bid back on track.

Racing Club: Ash Malhotra, Martin Crawford, Nathan Pulisciano [Capt.], Anthony Hall, Aaron Nevin, Leon Blake, Danny Charlton, Luke Fuller, Ricardo Richards, Craig Thomas, Myron Semper

Subs: Reece Lynch, Ben Langley, Adrian Neil, George Hunt, Ashley Pulisciano

Saints: Matt Oliver, Jack Taylor, Marc Passey, Quentin Townsend [Capt.], Charlie Neale, James Hardie, Tunde Ajibade, Brad Rees, Andy Millan, Simeon Smith, Neil Stacey (Oli Manoochehri 61)

Subs not used: Ross Jackson, Mark Anderson, Luke Church,  Jim Stott

Officials: Referee Ian Mitchell,  Assistants Paul Tapp & P Maton

Bookings: Neil Stacey

Player of the match: Brad Rees