Vanarama National League North
Edgar Street
Friday 18th April 2025

Leamington were undone by three disappointing second half goals as Hereford continued their charge towards the National League North play offs.

There were two changes to the starting eleven for the trip to Edgar Street, with Theo Streete making his first start for nine games in place of Rob Evans, while Matty Richards replaced Jack Edwards. 

On a typically cold and wet Bank Holiday afternoon a large home crowd was in attendance, fully expecting their team to dispatch mid table Brakes, and after a frustrating opening forty five minutes from their perspective, they were not to be disappointed.  

Callum Hawkins was first to be called into action, dropping to his right to hold a half volley from Yusifu Ceesay, who wasn’t closed down quickly enough on the edge of the penalty area. Brakes then forced Theo Richardson into his first save of the afternoon, Tim Berridge driving in a shot on the turn that the Bulls keeper pushed away his near post. 

George Ward connected with a deep free kick from out on the right from Dan Meredith to head goalbound, but there was not enough on the ball to trouble Richardson.  

Brakes were relatively untroubled defensively up to the twentieth minute, when a cross from Lewis Hudson was met by the head of Tate Campbell, but he was unable to reach goal, and Leamingto cleared. 

The next attack from the home side required some stoic defending as shots rained in, but the commitment from the blue shirts was superb as they blocked them all. Hereford then thought they had opened the scoring as Jaiden White won a free kick on the right edge of the penalty area, the ball being headed in at the far post by Matt Preston, but Referee Melissa Burgin had already blown her whistle to signal a free kick to the visitors. 

There were two good chances in quick succession for Leamington, as first Adam Walker saw his stinging low drive blocked out for a corner on the right. The delivery was cleared well, but White was dispossessed by Meredith, with Owen Farmer picking up the ball and unleashing a piledriver that was kept out at full stretch by Richardson. 

After Campbell had sliced a shot off target there was a frustrating moment of miscommunication as Ewan Williams played what looked like a superb ball between two retreating Hereford defenders for Henry Landers to run onto, but Landers had not anticipated the pass. Nevertheless, Leamington could be satisfied with their first half performance as they retreated to the dressing room. 

The second half began with a couple of pieces of individual play from Farmer, who did superbly to prevent the ball from going out for a corner, and then Meredith, who sent clear down the left by Landers, beating a couple of defenders before almost playing a perfect ball into the centre for Berridge. 

White sent a free kick curling over the crossbar, but the pattern of the game remained the same until just past the hour mark, when a hugely deflected strike from Preston looped over a helpless Hawkins into the net to give Hereford the lead. 

A late challenge from Walker on White led to some brief handbags, and game long histrionics of the former Redditch man continued. He hopped to his feet as soon as the yellow card was brandished at the Brakes captain. Jack Edwards somehow managed to receive a booking while warming up, while the Bulls manager Paul Caddis was sent from the dugout. 

The game was sewn up when White took on and beat Meredith on the right before delivering a perfect ball in for Tate Campbell, who simply had to nod in from close range, with Hawkins again completely powerless to prevent it. 

White then added a third, which was unfortunately due to George Ward turning into trouble on half way and losing possession, with White streaking through to place his shot to Hawkins’ right. 

Hereford almost had a fourth when substitute Alex Babos played Ceesay in, but he struck the outside of the post with his shot. Brakes substitute Rob Evans played a good first time ball into the Bulls penalty area, but it was unfortunately over the head of fellow sub Ant Lynn.  

During eight minutes of added time at the end of the game Hawkins was forced to push substitute Jason Cowley’s header over his crossbar, but that turned out to be the final action of the afternoon. 

Attendance: 3,822 (54 Leamington)

Hereford: 1 Theo Richardson, 24 Kieran Coates (2 Aaron Skinner, 88), 5 Matt Preston, 28 Kyle Howkins, 3 Lewis Hudson, 4 Tate Campbell (27 Sammy Robinson, 78), 6 Lawson D’Ath (8 Alex Babos, 83), 20 Yusifu Ceesay, 11 Jaiden White, 30 Omari Sterling-James (10 Andy Williams, 83), 29 Remaye Campbell (9 Jason Cowley, 88). 

Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 2 Dan Meredith, 3 Josh Quaynor (6 Rob Evans, 58), 4 Matt Richards (10 Jack Edwards, 72), 5 Theo Streete, 7 Henry Landers (19 Ant Lynn, 85), 8 Adam Walker, 11 Tim Berridge, 14 George Ward, 17 Ewan Williams (21 Joe Clarke, 79), 24 Owen Farmer. 

Subs not used: 12 Will Shorrock. 

Referee: Melissa Burgin

Assistant Referees: Craig Thompson & Ryan Price

Fourth Official: David Constable

Brakes Man of the Match: Owen Farmer.