RACING Club Warwick have moved into the play-off places following a run of three successive wins over the festive period.
A 2-1 derby win away at Rugby Borough at Kilsby Lane on New Year’s Day helped the club rise to fifth in the Northern Premier League Midlands table.
That came after the Racers beat Anstey Nomads 3-2 at Townsend Meadow in their final game of 2025.
And Warwick battled to a 2-1 victory at Bedworth United at The Oval in their last game before Christmas.
The results have lifted the Racers up to fifth in the NPL Midlands table, just four points behind Belper Town in second.
Warwick’s first test of the New Year came against local rivals Rugby.
And the visitors went close early on as Archie Hamp headed narrowly wide from James Hancocks’ cross from the left.
However, Borough won a penalty on 15 minutes after Johnson Gyamfi went down in the box under a challenge from Ryan Moore.
And Cyrus Bruce converted from the spot to put Rugby ahead with Tom Allsopp only able to push the striker’s spot kick into the top right corner of the goal.
The Racers almost drew level at the other end as Reece Blackmore lashed a half volley inches over the crossbar from just outside the penalty area.
And the visitors equalised on 29 minutes when Hamp squeezed a shot past former Racers stopper Sam Lomax at the near post from Hancocks’ low ball in from the left.
Warwick almost completed the turnaround before the break as Lomax tipped Cameron Ebbutt’s powerful half volley over the crossbar at full stretch.
Borough almost reclaimed the lead after the interval as Bruce lifted a shot inches over the crossbar from close range under pressure form a Warwick defender.
Lomax denied Aaron Opoku at the other end before Hamp nodded over from close range and James Harding saw his shot pushed to safety,
However, the Racers eventually turned the game on its head on 78 minutes as Harding received Callum Coyle’s pass and spun his marker before finding the net from 12-yards out.
Borough went in search of an equaliser as substitute Antonio Cristofaro saw his effort from 25-yards out travel narrowly over the crossbar but the Racers held on to start the New Year with a win.
Racing Club Warwick are next in action against Carlton Town on Saturday, January 10 with kick-off at 3pm at the Bill Stokeld Stadium.
