Report

The disappointment of Monday's defeat to Chasetown was quickly forgotten on an afternoon of celebration at the New Windmill Ground, as Brakes annihilated their visitors with a display of finishing that could have easily reached double figures. Malvern were simply swept aside as Leamington finally clinched the Midland Division title, and with it promotion to the Premier Division that they last graced 25 years ago. The support for the team was immense, with a wall of noise almost from start to finish, and they responded by securing the points inside the first 25 minutes, making the rest of the afternoon one big celebration.

The opening goal arrived after two minutes. Mark Bellingham had apparently predicted that it would come in the first five minutes of the game, and he was as good as his word, delicately nodding home a right wing corner from James Husband to open the floodgates. Jai Stanley had already seen one dangerous free kick cleared away by the visiting defence, but on 10 minutes he set up Guy Sanders with another. The initial shot was saved by keeper Nial Hacking, but Sanders followed up to blast in the rebound.

Luke Corbett was desperate to get onto the score sheet, and you can see the frustration etched on his face when he misses a chance during games. He fired wide after James Husband set him up on the left, and then could not quite get his shot on target, after Bellingham's initial effort was only half cleared. Jai Stanley set the striker up for another shot which was saved by the legs of Hacking, but he was left helpless on 24 minutes as Stanley left a trail of defenders in his wake to slip a shot in for the third goal.

Mark Bellingham shook off the challenge of Nick Clayton to ram home a fourth two minutes later, and Luke Corbett got his goal, heading home a right wing free kick from James Husband at the far post, and sharing his delight with a packed Harbury Lane End. This was Leamington's 900th Southern League goal, another landmark. Bellingham looked odds on to complete a first half hat trick, but was denied by the legs of Hacking.

In the past, when going in at half time with such a commanding advantage, Brakes have sometimes tended to take their foot off the gas, but this was certainly not the case here, as the scent of more goals was in the air. With the vocal support now basking in the sunshine at the North Bank end, substitute Chris Murphy was straight into the action, shooting over from outside the box. James Husband saw a low curling effort saved by Hacking, but he spilt the ball behind for a corner, from which Liam Reynolds and Josh Blake headed the ball into the air, and Hacking claimed. Bellingham saw a deft back header travel inches over the bar following a corner, and Husband struck a shot across goal from the left edge of the area that whistled past the far post.

Josh Blake will always be afforded hero status at the New Windmill Ground, and his goals total will take some beating. He scored the first league goal at the ground back in August 2000, and it was fitting that he was to play a part in the victory that took Brakes back to the level from which they dropped in the 1980's. Chris Murphy carved through the Malvern defence, and slipped the perfect ball through for Blake to slot home. James Husband then got in on the act with some outrageous skill inside the area, rolling the ball away from a covering defender before shooting for goal, but he was denied what would have been the goal of the game by Nial Hacking, who yet again saved with his legs. Blake almost grabbed a second when he won a physical battle with his marker, but stabbed his shot just wide of the far post.

James Husband had a fine game, and got a deserved goal with nine minutes left, squeezing a shot in from an acute angle from almost on the ground. Malvern had what was practically their first shot of the game shortly after this, as they found some space in attack, but Chris Kiely saved easily. James Husband had another shot saved, and Stuart Herlihy drifted an effort wide of the far post.

Mark Bellingham curled in a fine effort with five minutes to play for the goal of the game, and yet another hat trick. He will collect a personal award as the division's top scorer, and his goals tally this season, almost one a game, has made him the most prolific in a season for Brakes. All at the club hope that he will return to spearhead the attack with Luke Corbett next season, as Leamington prepare for a first season in the Premier Division since 1984/85.

Chris Kiely was forced into his first meaningful save when he had to push a shot over the bar, which resulted in brief panic from the corner, but Malvern's attempt to grab a consolation was denied.

The ecstatic supporters joined the players on the pitch after the game to watch the presentation of medals, and the Midland Division shield, and to celebrate what has been a fantastic season, and players and supporters alike will be able to travel to Leighton Town on the final day, enjoy themselves, and look forward to watching the team play at Step 3 next season.

Leamington: Chris Kiely, Marcus Jackson (Chris Murphy, 46), Martin Hier (Ryan Parisi, 70), Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders [C], Stuart Herlihy, Liam Reynolds, Jai Stanley, Luke Corbett (Josh Blake, 57), Mark Bellingham, James Husband.

Malvern Town: Nial Hacking, Craig Williams, Nick Clayton, Darren Crichter, Dave Cannon, Andy Crowther [C], Dane Aldington, Scott Devlin, Craig Malins, Lee Lough, Adam Snooks.

Substitutes: Ben Stanford, Dave Reynolds, Joe Woods.

Referee: J W Thornhill

Assistant Referees: P Dixon & G Loadesa

Attendance: 1,080.

Man of the Match: James Husband.

* Thanks to David Hucker for providing me with details of the first half, as I mistakenly believed I had forgotten to put my notebook in my pocket!!

Report

Two seasons of Conference North football in Leamington will sadly come to an end after next Saturday’s trip to Boston United as Brakes held FA Trophy winners North Ferriby United to a draw at the New Windmill Ground but were relegated as results elsewhere put the safety line out of reach.

The visitors are well known for being a strong side who are very difficult to play against, and Brakes found it difficult to get into the rhythm that saw them create so many chances at Tamworth the previous Saturday. Jordan Goddard hooked a shot over his shoulder and wide early on, while a hopeful effort from Lee Chilton proved no problem for Villagers keeper Jonathan Hedge. Almost always one of Leamington’s most industrious players, the winger picked up a knock and was replaced by Nathan Hicks with around half an hour played.

Prior to this North Ferriby had gone close when Curtis Bateson flashed the ball across the face of goal, and it was he who opened the scoring on 34 minutes, firing in off the far post from a tight angle with some viewing the game from that end of the ground claiming that a hand was used in the build up.

Leamington finally began to build up a head of steam as half time approached, Richard Taundry cutting the ball back to Hicks from a corner kick, only for Tom Denton to block the cross behind for a corner. It was from Taundry’s long throw that Jack Edwards rose superbly above the towering Denton to knock the ball on for Danny Newton to head home the equaliser on 44 minutes.

Denton nodded a cross back for Liam King to test Jonny Maddison with a well struck volley early in the second half, but it was Brakes who moved ahead when Hedge could only parry Jordan Goddard’s free kick into the path of Hicks, who gleefully stabbed a shot past him into the net.

Despite having little to play for in terms of league position the visitors were clearly intent on ending their poor recent run of results, and were level within ten minutes, the lively Jason St Juste firing past Maddison after two blocked shots saw the ball arrive at his feet to the left of goal in the penalty area.

James Mace came closest to restoring Leamington’s lead when his header was cleared off the line by Josh Wilde but with the wind causing problems at the other end as Brakes tried to clear their lines Denton’s bullet header was saved by Maddison.

Hicks volleyed across goal and wide while Newton saw a header saved, and St Juste saw a shot towards the near post saved as chances came and went for both sides but there was to be no winner, a late goal for Stalybridge to win their game at Hednesford condemning Brakes to their first relegation since the rebirth in 2000.

Attendance: 575

Leamington: Jonny Maddison, James Mace, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda © (Ashley Worsfold, 82), Jack Edwards, Delroy Gordon, Lee Moore, Richard Taundry, Lee Chilton (Nathan Hicks, 33), Jordan Goddard, Danny Newton.

Subs not used: 12 Jamie Tank, 17 Lewis Fenney.

North Ferriby United: Jonathan Hedge, Louis Bruce, Josh Wilde, Liam King, Matthew Wilson, Danny Hone, Curtis Bateson, Adam Bolder, Tom Denton, Jon D'Laryea, Jason St Juste.

Subs not used: 14 Tim Taylor, 17 Tom Nicholson

Referee: Declan Ford

Assistant Referees: James Whittington & Darren Russell

Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Edwards.