Kenilworth Wardens took a point from an eight goal thriller against RS Sports in the first game of the newly formed Bermuda Cup.

The two sides, which sit second and first respectively in the Coventry Alliance Division One, are due to face each other in the final of the Bedworth Oval Cup in April.

And with Wardens missed captain Sam Taylor, vice captain Tom Griffith and top scorer Guy Pearson, it was always going to be a tough test in the first group stage game.

With that in mind manager Eamonn Richards was satisfied with the point.

"We were essentially missing the entire core of our team today, apart from myself and Andy Whitehouse," he said.

"Considering that, I was really happy with the application of the players. It feels like the new players coming in have added depth to the side and competition moving forward.

RS Sports got off to the best possible start as they scored inside a minute.

From the kick off a long ball forward was headed down to RS Sports talisman David Buckley who rolled past the defence before passing in.

Wardens rallied and equalised within 10 minutes.

A good forward ball from Luca Valle was controlled by Matthew Clark, who played in Twigger. His pass was deflected back to Clark, who then played to Alex Nwafor who wriggled past two RS defenders in the box and beat the keeper from a tight angle.

Wardens then took the lead on 15 minutes when a lofty Eamonn Richards corner was kept alive by James Brewitt. Stand in captain Andy Legg collected the ball out wide and crossed for debutant Nwafor to stroke home for his second of the game.

The game soon become more like a basketball match than a football game with both teams creating chances at will.

Wardens were caught out on 25 minutes when again Buckley scored, after muscling past three Wardens players.

RS Sport took the lead again just before half time, a long ball wasn't dealt with and the left winger collected the cross to score.

Despite being down 3-2 at halftime, Wardens knew if they took their chances they'd be back in the game.

Kenilworth continued to create chances in the second half, but could not put them away.

After a tangle with Legg, Sport's Buckley was sin-binned for dissent.

With the man advantage Wardens pushed for an equaliser and should have found it when Twigger was unable to turn in a Richards cross.

Twigger however continued to be and handful and got his reward on 70 minutes. After patient build up play, Valle played Twigger down the right and his early shot was too powerful for the RS keeper.

Wardens thought they had taken the lead again on 80 minutes when Twigger again turned in a cross from Valle, but the linesman's flag ruled out the goal for offside - to the bemusement of the Wardens players.

The impressive Valle was once again involved five minutes later when his inswinging corner alluded everyone but hit the underside of the bar and bounced out for a goal kick.

With three minutes left RS thought they had settled the tie when chaos in the Wardens defence allowed them to run through and score.

But Wardens kept going and from the kick off Legg won a free kick on the edge of Sports box. Valle took the free kick, swinging it into the bottom corner - a goal his man of the match performance deserved.

"Realistically today at times we lacked quality in key areas, we should have scored 10 and the goals we conceded were poor. But RS Sports are a good side with the best player in the league," added Richards.

"Best part of today is the options it gives me and without some players, gives chance for others to step up and be leaders- Lucas performance was the best I've seen in a long time and certainly the best he's had since joining us"

Kenilworth Wardens are proudly sponsored by LPC Sports Therapy and Yoga.

Lead-therapist Lily is a Level Four qualified sports massage therapist and yoga Practitioner, specialising in anxiety support.

Lily is trained to diagnose injuries, rehabilitate, and is fully recommended by players of Kenilworth Wardens.