Vanarama National League North
The Walks Stadium
Saturday 26th October 2024

Brakes made their second long journey of the week, this time to Norfolk to take on King’s Lynn, and came away with a useful point. 

The manager made one enforced change from Tuesday’s victory over Southport; bringing in Ted Rowe for his first start in place of the suspended Will Shorrock. 

Henry Landers dragged an early shot wide of the target as Leamington started steadily. They were presented with opportunities to get balls into the box from free kicks but unfortunately did not make the most of them; Cally Stewart directing a header wide from one such delivery. 

There was a strangely muted atmosphere around The Walks, particularly in the first half, with only the 50 odd travelling supporters making any real noise in support of their team. 

Skipper Adam Walker saw a half volley deflected over the bar by a team mate, before the home side had their first effort of the afternoon; Finlay Barnes cutting in from the right and curling a shot well wide of the far post. 

Linnets’ keeper Patrick Boyes’ handling was a little suspect at times during the first half, but again, Brakes were unable to capitalise when he spilled a free kick into his six yard box. He was alert to save his side from going behind however when Rowe skipped between two defenders just inside the box and drove in a shot that Boyes did well to help behind for a corner which was eventually recycled, and Henry Landers dropped a shot onto the roof of the King’s Lynn net. 

King’s Lynn came very close to going ahead as the ball ricocheted around the Leamington penalty area, with strong defensive blocks denying Ross Crane on two occasions. 

Leamington had another good opportunity when Stewart latched on to an intelligent ball out of defence down the left from Rob Evans; running at his man and driving in a shot that travelled just past the far post. 

Brakes did have the ball in the net when George Ward glanced Evans’ long throw from the left towards goal. Boyes’ saw the ball knocked from his grasp onto the crossbar, and Stewart poked home, but a raised flag on the far side stopped any potential celebrations. 

Gold Omotayo; a menace to so many defences in his first spell at King’s Lynn, saw a shot blocked early in the second half before heading skipper Greg Taylor’s left wing cross just over the bar. 

A dangerous free kick delivery from the right wing into a crowded penalty area saw Tom Wilson nod just wide at the far post, before Barnes was the width of a post from opening the scoring as his low drive from the edge of the box crashed against the upright; his follow up effort being deflected behind. 

A corner played in from the right was headed back across goal for Kyle McFadden to nod towards goal, but he was denied by Rowe, who was well placed to head clear. The same player powered another effort towards goal from an inviting ball in from Cody Johnson, but was denied by a fantastic flying save from Callum Hawkins. 

Other than this infraction Leamington were defending their goal with their usual solid determination, and as the game became stretched in the final moments, they came close to snatching all three points. 

Evans won a free kick deep inside the King’s Lynn half, and when the ball was played into the box by the centre half it was collected by Stewart, who forced a fine save from Boyes down at his left hand post. Another corner was won in the final minute that eventually found the side netting, but Brakes were satisfied with what was a well earned point from another tough away trip. 

Paul Holleran agreed with the after match assessment that his side had the better of the first half, while the hosts edged the second, saying ‘It was a really good 0-0. The biggest compliment I can pay our team is that it was a really good National League North game. We’ve come here and nicked a point in years gone by and we’ve also taken some good beatings, but we’ve come here and gone toe to toe with them today. I thought we were excellent in the first half. We created a few really good opportunities, but they were a threat too. There was a similar pattern in the second half - They sped up their game, stretched the pitch more, and we found a way to hang on in there at times. We still looked a threat, that was what pleased me the most, and had two really good chances.

‘I think the result was about right on the balance of play. I think when you have two really good chances late on you hope you can go and win it. We’ve had a tough week this week - a lot of travelling, we put in a tremendous performance on Tuesday. It was a good, solid, structured performance, and we looked a threat all afternoon. We probably had a period of about 20 minutes where we were under the cosh but we got through it - put some good blocks in, there was a really good save from Callum, but it was a good game, played at a good tempo and in a good spirit, with a good Referee.’ 

Attendance: 1,011

King’s Lynn Town: 21 Patrick Boyes, 23 Dylan Crowe, 4 Kyle McFadden, 15 Tom Wilson, 5 Greg Taylor ©, 30 Cody Johnson, 11 Josh McCammon, 8 Tommy Hughes (28 Sam Walker, 32), 14 Ross Crane (32 Theo Williams, 85), 20 Finlay Barnes, 9 Gold Omotayo. 

Subs not used: 2 Kian Ronan, 6 Josh Coulson, 1 Paul Jones. 

Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 2 Dan Meredith, 3 Josh Quaynor, 6 Rob Evans, 14 George Ward, 7 Henry Landers (11 Tim Berridge,85 ), 8 Adam Walker ©, 17 Ewan Williams, 18 Ted Rowe (16 Jiah Medrano, 80), 9 Cally Stewart, 19 Ant Lynn (10 Jack Edwards, 68).

Subs not used: 5 Theo Streete, 20 Jacob Humphries (GK). 

Referee: Mr Martyn Mitchell

Assistant Referees: Mr Mr Sean Jenkins & Mr Gary Caley

Fourth Official: Mr Paul Burnham 

Brakes Man of the Match: Rob Evans.

*Photos: © Chris Simpson. View the full album here.