Match Report by Lewis Howarth

Following City’s exit from the FA Cup on Saturday, there was no rest for the weary with an immediate return to league action at Claines Lane. Over 450 supporters gathered in anticipation for the next 90 minutes of football hoping to see City make it two out of two wins in the league.

With a change in system to three at the back, the first half started slow, with City’s first chance of the match coming after 15 minutes. Jordan Lymn’s cross reached Elliot Hartley who, despite having his back to goal, managed to get the shot off with his effort going narrowly over the bar.

Nine minutes later, a lovely passage of play resulted in City getting their opener. Belmonte’s long pass managed to pick out Jordan Lymn bombing down the wing. Lymn fired his cross into the box with the Warwick defender only getting the faintest of touches on the ball which allowed Hartley to pounce and fire the ball into the back of the net.

Two minutes before half time, City had their first scare of the evening. Warwick defender Carsley had his corner smack the City crossbar beating Bishop as well as the City defenders in the box. However from this City turned the attempt into a counter attack. Hartley burst forward with Guinan to his left, and after slipping him through his effort was unfortunately high over the crossbar. A close scare for City and an almost perfect counter attack was the closing moment of the first half.

City only took six minutes of the second half to double their lead. Hartley pressed Warwick keeper Lomax who hesitated with a loose ball on the edge of his box. Hartley intercepted and passed to Mace, and Mace in turn slipped Hartley through past the keeper with an open net in front of him. Selflessly, Hartley then played the ball back to Kyle Belmonte who was able to pick up his first goal in the league this season. The pair hugged and sprinted to the corner flag to celebrate with the supporters in attendance.

City only sat on this comfortable lead for seven minutes before Warwick found themselves back in the game. Taylor’s lobbed pass managed to pick out Ben Edmunds who headed the ball into the back of the net. Five minutes later, Warwick keeper Lomax was forced into another error when Adam Mace pounced on his loose pass to slip through Hartley once more. City looked to make a repeat of their second goal when Hartley played the ball back to Belmonte, but his effort was deflected out for a corner.

The boys in blue and white continued to hold on to their lead and thought they had wrapped up the three points in the 93rd minute. Substitute Liam Lockett picked out Belmonte at the back post, whose effort smashed the post. Agonisingly close for City who looked to put the game to bed. However, just a minute later City manged to seal the victory with one of the most bizarre moments of the season. Lockett had his effort saved, only for the rebound to fall to Warwick defender Carsley who was lay on the floor. In an attempt to clear the ball in desperation, Carsley tragically cleared the ball into his own net - a player's worst nightmare.

This secured the victory for City who have now made it two out of two wins in the league this season, maintaining their 100% start to their league campaign. City turn their attention to Loughborough Students FC as they travel to the East Midlands in an attempt to make it three out of three wins in the league this season on Saturday, before a Bank Holiday Monday clash at Claines Lane with Lye Town.