THREE goals in the space of 24 minutes subjected new manager Jason Pyott to a losing start in charge of Racing Club Warwick on Saturday.
The Racers were dumped out of the MFL League Cup in a 3-0 defeat by Stourport Swifts, in a match played at Stourbridge’s War Memorial Athletic Ground due to substantial flooding at the Swifts’ Walshes Meadow home.
Pyott, formerly of Coventry Alvis, agreed to take up the reins at Warwick until the end of the season following the departure of Scott Easterlow last Wednesday.
But he will have been cursing his luck when Stourport struck twice in the space of a minute to claim an early advantage in the last 16 tie.
First, Jack Downing executed a superb lobbed finish over Warwick goalkeeper James Wardle on nine minutes, followed by Nathan Binner’s drive into the net seconds later after Racing gave up possession from the restart.
The post denied Stourport a third, only for Joey Billingham to make amends by crashing home an overhit cross at the far post in the 24th minute.
Racing, try as they might to get back into the contest, were unable to make the most of the chances that fell their way – an effort blazed over by Muzzy Nduna from a promising position being a prime example of this.
But even when an opening as clear as a penalty was awarded to the Racers, they were unable to provide the finishing touch as Ben Mackey’s effort from 12 yards was kept out superbly by Dom Richards in the 38th minute.
Warwick, perhaps with less pressure on their shoulders as a result of the game all but appearing wrapped up, did look more convincing after the restart.
Their best effort came from Danny Fraser, who forced Richards into making another excellent stop, while Warwick’s woodwork was rattled down the other end as the half ended goalless.
Pyott’s side host Romulus on Tuesday night (7.45pm), before welcoming Worcester City to Townsend Meadow in Saturday’s Midland Premier meeting (3pm).
