Evostik League Southern Premier Division
Bulpit Lane
Monday 15th February 2016

Brakes staged a dramatic smash and grab raid at Bulpit Lane to snatch three much needed points out of Hungerford’s grasp at the death on a chilly evening in Berkshire.

Courtney Baker Richardson was the hero, scoring both on his full debut to give Paul Holleran’s side a timely boost as they looked to bounce back from Saturday’s disappointing display against Hitchin Town.
Both sides started the game with intent, James Mace heading an early Leamington corner off target, while James Clark got into space on the Hungerford right, his shot across goal lacking the power to beat Tony Breeden.

The long throw in was being used to good effect at both ends of the pitch, Ben Mackey just unable to guide the ball inside the near post from Richard Taundry’s delivery on the right touchline, while rather worryingly at times Brakes were giving their hosts plenty of opportunity to launch the ball into their penalty box, but in the main they dealt with the threat well.

Crusaders skipper Matt Day struck a first time effort well wide from a knock down outside the box, before Hungerford were awarded a penalty with a little over 15 minutes played, Mace penalised for pulling back Nat Jarvis as the striker wriggled past him on the left. He picked himself up to fire the spot kick low to Breeden’s left but the Brakes skipper won this particular battle, guessing correctly and making a strong save.

Diak John intervened with a good challenge to prevent Ben Mackey from steaming through on goal, Hungerford fought back with Mike Jones driving wide but it was Leamington who came closest to breaking the deadlock, Baker Richardson thumping a header against the crossbar from a pinpoint left wing delivery from the busy Sam Austin.

The home side continued to look dangerous themselves however, and James Clark was afforded far too much space to drive up the left and get a cross into the middle which was volleyed towards goal by Jones, who was denied by another fine save from Breeden.

Mackey and Jarvis each saw a ‘goal’ ruled out for an offside decision, but Leamington had already far outstripped what little attacking threat they had shown in their previous game, Taundry firing a free kick into the arms of keeper Paul Strudley, while another long throw from the hosts led to a headed effort being directed straight at Breeden.

Mace found the target with a backward header from Taundry’s free kick as an entertaining first half drew to a close, but unfortunately the ball was straight at Strudley.

Taundry curled an early second half free kick just past the post, while Clark did likewise for Hungerford, but playing up the slope Brakes seemed to lack a little of the attacking threat they had displayed during the first half, and they fell behind on 63 minutes when Stefan Brown fired in his eleventh league goal of the season from close range following good work on the left from substitute Alan O’Brien.

Holleran threw on Ben George and Rob Ogleby in a bid to salvage something from the game, and gradually Leamington began to ask questions of the Hungerford defence again. Connor Gudger drove across goal and wide from Ogleby’s nod down on the left, while Austin saw a shot blocked after some good build up play down the same wing.

The first blow arrived with seven minutes remaining, Mace and Ogleby linking up well before the latter slipped in Baker Richardson to apply a deft finish under Strudley from close range to the delight of the travelling fans behind the goal, who suddenly found their voices for the remainder of the game in a bid to spur their team on.

There was more to come however as the unlikely turnaround was completed in injury time, Strudley perhaps unwisely leaving his goal line to try and claim a ball he had little chance of reaching, and under pressure from Ogleby it dropped for Baker Richardson to lift a delightful effort up and over the stranded keeper, dropping into the net to the utter delight of the Brakes support, who mobbed their new hero along with his team mates as they ran to the touchline in celebration.

Hungerford will no doubt feel very hard done by to have taken nothing from the game, but this could turn out to be a huge result in Leamington’s season, as it brings the top five back into focus with games in hand on the teams directly above them. Brakes now need to ensure that they build on this result and push themselves back into contention.

Attendance: 137

Hungerford Town: Paul Strudley, Ian Herring (17 Alan O’Brien. 56), Diak John, Jon Boardman, Matt Day ©, James Rusby, Rhys Tyler, Mike Jones, Nat Jarvis (15 Mark Draycott, 62), Stefan Brown, James Clark (12 Harry Goodger, 83)9.

Subs not used: 14 Garyn Preen, 16 Scott Rees

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Richard Taundry (14 Ben George, 68), Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore, Jack Edwards, Ben Mackey (16 Rob Ogleby, 68), Courtney Baker Richardson, Sam Austin.

Subs not used: 12 James Fry, 15 Jamie Tank, 17 Ross Oulton.

Referee: Mr Jonathan Hollier

Assistant Referees: Mr Simon Maynard & Mr Thomas Moisey.

Brakes Man of the Match: Courtney Baker Richardson.