Report
Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Tuesday 15th March 2016
Brakes continued their fine recent form as they eased past visitors Dorchester Town to win the first of the double header between the two sides this week.
The visitors arrived at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium on the back of an impressive away win at King’s Lynn Town, but saw several of their travelling party pull out due to illness prior to the long journey up to Warwickshire. They were looking to build on that success but were clearly rattled by a whirlwind start to the game from Leamington, and in particular that man Sam Austin.
This was probably the Burton Albion loan stars’ most impressive performance yet for Paul Holleran’s side as he produced another five star display, topped off with two very well taken goals.
The manager had been forced to make two changes to the side which won so impressively against leaders Poole, with James Fry and Ben George stepping in for the injured Joe Magunda and Lee Moore, who was unavailable. There was a welcome return to the squad for Joe Halsall, while Rob Ogleby was also available after injury, giving Holleran a strong substitutes bench to pick from.
Connor Gudger turned a good chance over the bar from 3 yards out as Leamington steamed into their opponents from the kick off. The build up play was a joy to watch, but a linesman’s flag tempered any frustration there might have been.
Ben Mackey headed just over the bar as Jack Edwards helped on Richard Taundry’s long throw into the box before Dorchester missed a glorious chance to open the scoring, Ben Watson heading wide of the target from a great position.
The Magpies were made to pay for that miss as Leamington built on their brisk start to the game by moving in front on nine minutes, Mackey picking up Tony Breeden’s searching clearance and slipping the ball on for Austin on the left of the penalty area, the youngster tearing on to it and arrowing a powerful low drive inside the near post.
Courtney Baker-Richardson turned well and fired over the bar from Austin’s cross as Leamington looked for a quick fire second goal. Taundry’s long throws were causing problems for the Dorchester defence, and he also made good use of a quick free kick, finding Mackey inside the box, whose turn and shot was blocked by keeper Shane Murphy. The goalkeeper denied Brakes’ top scorer again shortly afterwards when he turned sharply onto Gudger’s pass and crashed a ferocious effort towards goal that Murphy did well to get behind but spilled out for a corner.
Edwards came close to adding a second when he drove low across goal and just wide, while Murphy made a fantastic double save from James Mace at his near post, the centre back smashing two well struck volleys at him from close range.
Despite this, the visitors had a second good chance to grab a goal when skipper Tom Smeaton drove just over the bar from a great position in the centre when he probably should have scored.
There was another chance for the Magpies early in the second half but they failed to capitalise on some rare defence hesitancy from their hosts, a shot eventually being stabbed wide.
Again they were punished for their profligacy, Austin crashing a superb first time volley into the roof of the net as Murphy punched the ball straight to him with Baker-Richardson challenging for a good cross from Ben George.
Austin was inches from scoring a glorious hat trick goal when he tore onto a pass up the left wing, beating Nick Crittenden and Smeeton to the ball and curling an inch perfect first time strike towards goal that looked to be looping over the head of Murphy until the goalkeeper stuck out an arm to help the ball over the bar.
Smeeton saw another chance go begging for Dorchester when he headed straight at Breeden from a corner, while Austin almost found the feet of Mackey with an audacious pass from halfway inside his own half that almost put his team mate clean through 20 yards or so from goal.
Dorchester continued with their attempts to drag themselves back into the game, Breeden holding a shot at the second attempt, while Charlie Davies landed on his back as he attempted an ambitious effort from 35 yards that sailed high and wide.
Austin continued to created chances for his team mates with his tireless running, and fed Edwards for a run into the box that ended with a disappointing shot over the bar. The next attack proved to be fruitful however, Austin picking up a misplaced clearance to play a diagonal ball into box where Ben George went in bravely, beating the onrushing Murphy to ball and stabbing it into an empty net to register his first goal for the club.
There was still time for Taundry to help protect another clean sheet for his skipper with a super block from Watson’s powerful goalbound drive.
Brakes make the trip to Dorset on Saturday and will no doubt come up against a strengthened home side who will be keen to quickly avenge this defeat.
Attendance: 312
Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Richard Taundry, Connor Gudger (15 Joe Halsall, 78), James Fry, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Ben George (12 Jamie Tank, 85), Jack Edwards, Ben Mackey, Courtney Baker-Richardson, Sam Austin.
Subs not used: 14 Ross Oulton, 16 Rob Ogleby, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.
Dorchester Town: Shane Murphy, Nick Crittenden, Jake Smeeton ©, Chris Dillon, Henry Lander, Gary Bowles (14 Jason Brookes, 76), Charlie Davies, Toby Holmes (15 Liam Sayers, 68), Nathan Walker, Ben Watson, Neil Martin (17 Alan Walker-Harris, 89).
Subs not used: 12 Simon Proffitt, 16 Bradley Tarbuck.
Referee: Mr Neil Pratt
Assistant Referees: Mr Richard Walker & Mr Dan Stones
Brakes Man of the Match: Sam Austin.