RACING Club Warwick earned a point away at runaway league leaders Carlton Town after battling to a 1-1 draw.
An early goal from James Harding cancelled out Lamin Manneh’s opener for the table toppers at the Bill Stokeld Stadium.
The result means the Racers sit fourth in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, three points clear of the chasing pack in the race for a play-off place.
Warwick made the worst possible start when a long ball in-behind the away defence released Manneh who coolly found the bottom right corner when one-on-one with Tom Allsopp with the game three minutes old.
However, the Racers responded well to the setback when Harding forced a shot into the net from 12-yards out after Warwick pounced on a defensive lapse in the Carlton box.
The home side almost reclaimed the lead soon after as Carlton saw a low effort come back off the post with Allsopp beaten.
At the other end, Carlton goalkeeper Felix Annan could only parry a shot into the path of Harding with the home stopper out quickly to prevent the striker from doubling his tally for the game.
Carlton went close again after the break as header from a cross from the left travelled inches past the post.
Warwick responded with a chance of their own as Archie Hamp cut in from the right and forced Annan to tip his low shot from just inside the penalty area behind for a corner.
The home side pushed for a winner late on as Allsopp also made two crucial saves to preserve a point for the Racers.
Racing Club Warwick host Long Eaton United on Saturday, January 17 with kick-off at 3pm at Townsend Meadow.
