Southam 2 Racing Club Warwick 2: Incident-packed derby features blue lights, yellow cards and red mist

The sight of an ambulance arriving at a football ground is never a welcome one, but Saints captain Jon Granfield became the second in a week to suffer a bad injury needing hospital treatment.

With just three minutes on the clock, Ryan Langmead sent a cross from the left to James Hancocks and Grandfield made what looked like a routine challenge only to fall to the ground in agony with a dislocated knee, described by Saints manager Quentin Townsend as “one of the worst injuries I have seen on a football pitch”.

After a delay of 45 minutes, play resumed with Andy Yeates replacing Grandfield and Saints started to assert with Lee Thomas sending a tenth-minute free-kick just over the bar.

Louis Bridges floated another dead ball to the far post to be met by Pawel Tomczak, who put his header wide.

Racers captain Mark Turton earned the first booking of the match when fouling Callum Yeates just outside the penalty area and Bridges’ free-kick was turned in by Matty Hunt to give Saints a 19th-minute lead.

It was becoming one-way traffic with the lively Tunde Ajibade releasing Bridges who beat two defenders only to put his shot wide.

Langmead had a chance for the visitors but was unable to keep his shot down and Saints doubled their lead four minutes before the break when Ajibade set up Tomczak who placed the ball wide of Conal Dowling.

There was still time for Brad Rees to head across goal but Ajibade could not add the finishing touch.

The second half started as the first had finished, with Bridges sending Callum Yeates away down the right and his deep cross found Tomczak who stooped to head goalwards, but Dowling saved well. Ajibade then set up Bridges, whose shot was again wide of the post.

Saints switched off in defence, allowing the unmarked Tez Morton time and freedom in the area and he duly punished them to bring Racing Club back into the match. This was the cue for Saints to press the self-destruct button.

Rees fouled Harry Jervis to earn a second yellow card and within ten minutes, Racing Club were level as Langmead beat Tom Cross with a fierce strike.

Racers should have taken the lead in the 77th minute when a ball over the top found Jamie Corrigan in the clear, but he blazed over.

Despite being a man down, Saints continued to press. Chris Bright sent Bridges away down the right and his cross to the far post was met by Ajibade, but Dowling made a good save.

Play was then stopped after an incident which saw Racing Club boss Michael Hayden and opposite number Townsend stepping on the pitch to separate their players and Ajibade sent off for what he later admitted was a headbutt.

Nine-man Saints could still have won it, with Bright robbing Turton and releasing Bridges, who cut inside from the right, only to see his shot curl just the wrong side of the far post.

The final act of a dramatic encounter saw Morton put the ball into the net in the second minute of added time only for the assistant referee to flag for offside.

“The football and performance in the first half was the best that we have played in my time at the club so far,” said Townsend.

“Everything came together and there was only one team out there, but the second half was a different matter, as we made a schoolboy error and let them back in the game before the two red cards made it a case of hanging on to salvage a point.

“I’m disappointed that we lost our discipline in the manner we did, but also proud of our work rate and resilience to take a point under intense pressure in that last 15 minutes.”

Hayden, meanwhile, felt the draw was a fair result and the perfect response to the home mauling by Copsewood four days earlier.

“The players are not performing to their abilities first and foremost,” said Hayden. “We deserved to be 2-0 down first half and we could have lost our heads.

“But we were the better team second half and we deserved the draw.”

Tomorrow, Saints go to Stafford Town before hosting top-of-the-table Coventry Copsewood on Monday (3pm).

Racers visit Atherstone tomorrow, with Pershore the visitors on Monday (3pm).