Action from Saturday’s clash between Highgate and Racing Club Warwick. Picture by Manjit Narotra/MSN Images.
RAMPANT Racing Club Warwick were in the mood for goals last Saturday after dumping Midland League Premier Division rivals Highgate United out of the FA Vase in a 5-1 rout.
A brace from Nick Seabourne, in addition to goals from Tom Smith and Tyreece Ruddock at The Coppice, helped the Racers advance to the first round of the Vase – where they will host Abbey Hulton United of the North West Counties League.
It took Racing all of five minutes to find the net, albeit a goal ruled out for offside, followed by a close attempt by Sam Jackson – who swung an inswinging corner narrowly over the goal frame.
Lewis Fenney helped keep Warwick at bay with two excellent saves, before eventually succumbing to the consistent pressure on 33 minutes when Tom Smith fired home after a corner was poorly cleared.
Action from Saturday’s clash between Highgate and Racing Club Warwick. Picture by Manjit Narotra/MSN Images.
Once the floodgates opened, the goals soon flowed, as the visitors doubled their lead three minutes later through Mason Rowley’s thumping header.
But despite the waves of Warwick attacks that faced them throughout the half, the hosts gave themselves a lifeline when Anthony Smith regained possession before beating Brandon Ganley in a one-on-one situation two minutes before the break.
The forward almost found a leveller seconds later with a carbon-copy opening, but when brought down in the box was dumbfounded to see his penalty appeals waved away.
It was a crucial miss, as Racing killed off the game in the second half.
Nick Seabourne headed the third to re-establish the visitors’ two-goal cushion on 58 minutes, followed by substitute Tyreece Ruddock’s low shot ten minutes later that creeped inside Fenney’s post.
Action from Saturday’s clash between Highgate and Racing Club Warwick. Picture by Manjit Narotra/MSN Images.
Smith almost reduced the arrears once more with a smart header, while Connor Mooney almost registered a goal on his return to Highgate when stinging the gloves of Ganley from range.
Then, with seven minutes remaining, the scoring was completed when Seabourne notched his second against his former employers by tapping into an empty net.
Warwick aim to secure back-to-back victories for the first time this season when visiting Stourport Swifts in tonight’s league fixture (7.45pm).
