Swinnerton seals cup Triumph

An enterprising second-half performance from Racing Club saw them gain a deserved victory in the second round of the Coventry Telegraph Challenge Cup on Saturday.

Racing had led 1-0 at the interval thanks to a Shane Benjamin header, but quickly found themselves pegged back by the Coventry Alliance Premier Division side.

The dismissal of player-manager Lee Knight for a second bookable offence threatened to make it a another forgettable afternoon for the home side.

However, despite their numerical disadvantage, Racing continued to throw numbers forward and they were rewarded with the match-winning goal midway through the half.

Good pressing from Benjamin and Luke Swinnerton forced the Athletic back-line to hurriedly pass back to their keeper and Swinnerton capitalised on a poor first touch to bundle the ball home.

Racing were full value for their victory and should have gone on to win more convincingly with Dean Curtis hitting the post after fine link-up play with Benjamin and then seeing a speculative volley tipped around the post.

The lively Benjamin shot straight at the keeeper after shrugging off the final defender, while Curtis and Swinnerton conspired to waste a two-on-one, with the midfielder spoiling an otherwise impressive display by dragging his shot wide.