Racers produce five-star display

RAcers manager Lee Knight said his side’s FA Carlsberg Vase thrashing of North West Counties League Division One side Eccleshall was not unexpected.

A brace from Danny Lennon and further goals from Myron Semper, Martin Crawford and substitute Reece Lynch sealed a comprehensive victory over a side which only days before had ran Midland Alliance side Alvechurch close in an FA Cup replay.

And, following on from their opening league win at Earlswood the previous week, it means Racers have put back-to-back victories together for the first time since beating Alvechurch and then Oldbury in the 2007/08 Midland Alliance season.

“It’s been coming,” since Knight. “We would have scored a lot more against Earlswood in the previous game and we let Eccleshall off a little. A lot of our big-name players stepped up and it could have been eight or nine.”

Injuries forced Knight to make four changes from the side which won at Eccleshall, with goalscorer Semper coming in to make his first start of the season.

And the Racing Club boss believes the increased competition for places is behind his side’s recent upturn in form.

“Those who played on Saturday all staked a claim for a shirt on Saturday [at home to Pilkington XXX].

“We’ve got that many different options that we can change it around if we need to and the players know it is up to them to keep their shirts.

“They know no one can afford to drop off - that’s the luxury of a 22-man squad.”