Report

Buildbase FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 23rd November 2019

Paul Holleran was able to reflect on three wins in a week after a difficult start to the day as his threadbare squad did him proud by edging a full strength Spennymoor Town side out of the Buildbase FA Trophy.

Administration problems meant that George Carline, Jordan Murphy, Dexter Walters and Callum Maycock were all unavailable to play, while Josh March passed a fitness test after taking a knock late in the Banbury United game on Tuesday, but was not risked so Connor Taylor stepped up from the bench to fill the number nine position.

Jamie Chandler tried his luck from distance as Jake Weaver’s rather hurried clearance from the edge of his box fell to the Moors player some distance from goal, but Weaver had enough about him to get back quickly and claim the ball.

The Brakes keeper did well to hold another effort from Ben McKenna before Leamington won the first corner of the afternoon when Jack Edwards’ shot from 25 yards deflected behind. The skipper won the header from the dead ball but saw it blocked by a combination of Anderson and a defender.

Having frustrated their visitors in the opening quarter of an hour or so Leamington then stunned them by taking the lead on with 18 minutes played. Good work from Taylor to win a throw on the left saw the ball launched into the box, where Anderson chested the ball down well before laying off for Taylor to connect with a powerful first time strike that fizzed across the wet turf into the bottom corner.

With their tails visibly up, Leamington pushed forward once more, Edwards robbing a Spennymoor defender just outside the box before teeing up Callum Gittings for a vicious effort that deflected behind.

Spennymoor were not enjoying quite as much of the ball as they had done but striker Glen Taylor did very well to watch a high ball over his shoulder and hit a first time effort low across goal as James Mace and Jack Lane failed to intercept and were relieved to see the shot whistle past the far post.

A driving run from Joe Clarke led to an exchange between Anderson and Dunbar which saw the former drive in a low effort that was deflected just past the upright only for the assistant referee to signal for a goal kick.

Supporters from both sides certainly created a good atmosphere in the Harbury Lane End in the second half, which took a while to get going. Spennymoor forced three early corners which came to nothing, but went very close when Rob Ramshaw crashed a powerful drive just past the upright, while Stephan Morley’s left boot fired powerfully just over the bar at the opposite end.

Mace produced a potentially goal saving challenge inside the Leamington penalty area as Ramshaw and Taylor combined, getting a vital block in as the striker prepared to pull the trigger. The Moors number nine then passed up a great opportunity to level things up from a corner, heading wide of the target.

Edwards latched on to Weaver’s huge kick upfield, his header straight at Matt Gould as Leamington were able to push upfeld after weathering considerable pressure from the visitors without them truly testing Jake Weaver.

Spennymoor levelled things up with 11 minutes to play when Taylor won the ball from a long throw out by Gould, bamboozling the Brakes defence before beating Weaver with the strength of his shot from just inside the box on the right.

To their immense credit Brakes were back in front within five minutes, Edwards bundling the ball in from a yard out after a brilliant ball in from the right by Junior English was attacked by Anderson in front of Gould.

A free kick was smashed straight into the defensive wall while Taylor headed a late chance wide from another corner, but Brakes used their heads to sensibly see the game out and round off a very satisfying week with another cup win.

Attendance: 275

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke, James Mace, Jack Lane, Kieran Dunbar, Callum Gittings, Connor Taylor, Jack Edwards ©, Kaiman Anderson.

Subs not used: 12 Josh March 13 Ben Newey, 14 Reece Rawlings, 15 Tom James, 16 Martyn Naylor.

Spennymoor Town: Matthew Gould, Jacob Hibbs, Christopher Mason © (18 Andrew Johnson, 76), Jamie Chandler, Nathan Buddle, James Curtis, James Curtis, James Roberts (16 Adam Boyes, 72), Shane Henry, Glen Taylor, Robert Ramshaw, Ben McKenna (15 Mark Anderson, 57).

Subs not used: 12 Carl Magnay, 13 Joe Atkinson, 14 Stephan Brogan, 17 Daniel Ward.

Referee: Mr Aaron Banister

Assistant Referees: Mr Daniel Todd & Mr Luke Scott

Brakes Man of the Match: Connor Taylor.