Evostik Southern League Premier Division
The Sports Ground
Saturday 23rd January 2016

Brakes returned to the scene of their Southern League title win, making the long trip to North Devon to take on Bideford. It was slightly more low key than that memorable April afternoon in 2013, but while the 4 game losing run was brought to a timely halt they may feel that they should have been making the journey home with all 3 points after seeing a glorious late chance go begging.

After a quiet opening from both sides Bideford took the lead on the quarter hour, Angus Wilson taking advantage as Tony Breeden failed to properly connect with Connor Gudger’s back pass on the edge of the box, nipping in to slot into an empty net.

Brakes had a couple of half chances prior to the goal but hauled themselves level on 36 minutes, Lee Chilton volleying in from the right inside the penalty area after Richard Taundry’s free kick was only half cleared.

Taundry then curled a free kick just over before Chilton was denied a second goal moments before half time. Neat interplay saw the winger played in behind the home defence but his shot was parried by keeper Kyle Moore, the ball only being cleared out as far as Gudger, whose cross shot was somehow cleared off the line by a defender.

Taundry and Jack Edwards both had half chances for Leamington early in the second half before Chilton’s cross saw Lee Moore head over from 12 yards.

The goalscorer was at the heart of many of the best moves from the visiting side, and drove into the box again after picking up a pass from Gudger. He found Edwards, whose close range shot was blocked, the rebound from Moore was then cleared off the line.

Bideford saw a great chance to regain the lead pass them by when Kevin Squire latched onto a high defensive clearance to go one on one with Breeden, but placed his shot straight at the Brakes skipper.

Leamington had their own chance to snatch the points with 3 minutes remaining. With Bideford failing to clear their lines from a corner, Chilton’s volley towards goal was parried into the air by Moore, and the unmarked Edwards could only crash the loose ball over the bar from close range.

Both sides showed plenty of attacking intent but the heavy pitch affected the quality of the game as a whole, which was perhaps to be expected given the recent poor weather. Neither side will be particularly happy with a point as it does little to aid their current predicaments.

Attendance: 191

Bideford: Kyle Moore, Ian Sampson, Stephen Reed, Jamie Chamberlain (16 Billy Tucker, 74), Chris McGrath, Danny Harrison (12 O’Neill Odufin, 32), Richard Groves © (15 Nick Milton, 23), Matt Hockley, Kevin Squire, Matty Andrew, Angus Wilson.

Subs not used: 14 Joe Barker, 17 Nick Barker.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda (12 Rob Ogleby, 69), Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Lee Moore (15 Ross Oulton, 75), Richard Taundry, Ben Mackey, Jack Edwards, Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 14 James Fry, 16 Will Green, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.

Referee: Mr James Durkin

Assistant Referees: Mr Gordon Kiy & Mr Alistair Francis

Brakes Man of the Match: Lee Chilton.