Racing Club defeat follows depressingly similar pattern

For the second time in Lee Knight’s short reign, Southam United overturned a deficit to beat their Midland Combination Premier visitors.

Luke Swinnerton proved to be Saints’ hero, stepping off the bench to score the winner against his former club after Charlie Neale had cancelled out Junior Brown’s 48th-minute opener.

After letting a two-goal lead slip in the Birmingham Midweek Floodlit Cup earlier in the season, Knight always knew his side would need more than a one-goal cushion.

However, after his side spurned several gilt-edged opportunities during a dominant 25-minute spell, Knight was once again left scratching his head as to how his side had come away with nothing.

“It’s been the story of the last month,” said Knight.

“We were playing okay and didn’t look like conceding.

“But a lack of concentration in both boxes has cost us and that has been the problem since I took charge.

“They should have been dead and buried but the first goal has given them momentum.”

Southam edged a low-key first half with Ross Jackson almost embarrassing visiting keeper Rob Hughes as he dealt with a difficult backpass and Luke Church flashing a shot over the bar.

Brown had Racers’ best opportunity, but despite his scuffed shot beating Jim Stott, Leigh Phillips was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

Racing Club took the game by the scruff of the neck after the break with Brown wrongfooting Stott to open the scoring after a Shane Benjamin flick-on.

Leon Thomas and Benjamin both screwed shots wide when well placed while Brown was unlucky to see his fiercely struck effort scrape the bar as the visitors poured forward.

At the other end, Tyron Smith had to be alert to clear a Marc Passey shot off the line and Swinnerton’s first touch after replacing Jackson saw him send a rasping drive over the bar.

Racing Club looked certain to double their lead when a fine through ball from Thomas sent Brown clear, but with only Stott to beat he skewed his effort wide.

A poor throwout from Stott then put Jack Taylor under pressure. Benjamin robbed the right back and made for goal, but with the aid of a shirt-pull for which he was later booked, Taylor recovered to get in a block.

Benjamin guided a free header past the post with Stott stranded before a five-minute spell of Southam pressure saw them wrap up the three points.

Another long-range effort from Swinnerton was tipped around the post by Hughes and from the resultant corner the hosts were level.

Taylor’s far-post delivery was headed against the bar by the unmarked Quentin Townsend and Neale reacted quickest to nudge home the rebound.

A mistake from Joe Holcroft then allowed Swinnerton to sweep home Saints’ second, much to the frustration of Knight. It was the sort of clear-headed finishing his side had been crying out for.