Report
Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 30th January 2016
Brakes recorded their first league win in seven games and their first in 2016 as they finally broke down the stubborn resistance of visitors Frome Town at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium.
With Darren Chitty making a string of impressive first half saves it was beginning to look as though it might be another frustrating afternoon until a moment of magic from Connor Gudger finally broke the deadlock in the second half, before Ben Mackey put the seal on matters with his 19th goal of the season.
Chitty was called into action early on, pushing Jack Edwards’ low shot from the right round the post. Richard Taundry crashed a 30 drive towards goal that skidded just the wrong side of the post, before Mackey forced the Robins keeper into another save as he connected first time with a ball into the box with a stinging volley, Chitty reacting well to push the ball over his crossbar.
James Fry tried his luck from a half clearance just outside the box but directed his shot straight at the keeper. Frome were seeing little of the ball in the opposing half, but their attacks often seemed to stem from
Leamington giving the ball away, and they came very close when Darren Jefferies was afforded far too much time and space to get a shot away on the right side of the penalty area, the ball pinging back of the outside of the post.
Edwards tested Chitty again as he twisted to head Taundry’s long throw towards the top corner, while another sortie forward from the visitors saw Jake Jackson’s shot trickle wide after several blocks from the Brakes defence. James Fitzgibbon was then allowed to weave his way into the box on the left, but was forced too close to the touchline and could only find the sidenetting with his shot.
The clear cut chances continued to come at the other end, but unfortunately for Leamington, Chitty was equal to all of them, acrobatically tipping Fry’s powerful header over the bar from Taundry’s right wing corner. Gudger then came close, making space for himself just inside the box with a neat piece of skill before cracking in a low drive that whistled just past the upright.
Leamington forced 3 corners as the first half drew to a close, Jamie Hood drawing one more save from the overworked Chitty as he headed towards goal.
The impressive Kris Miller just nipped to beat Lee Chilton to a right wing cross early in the second half, before a long range strike from George Miller was deflected over the bar for Frome.
Chilton fired wide for Leamington after being set by Fry before his afternoon was brought to a premature end when he appeared to injure his shoulder when falling awkwardly in the box.
Mackey was inches from winning a penalty when he was brought down right on the edge of the box by Marcus Mapstone, the Referee deeming the offence had taken place just the other side of the line, but
Brakes were soon in front when Gudger received the ball on the left edge of the box, shifted it to his right foot and curled a delightful effort over the head of Chitty into the roof of the net.
Frome had a good chance to level when Taundry was dispossessed in midfield, Miller charging forward and feeding Jefferies, who took his shot first time but was denied by a good stop from Tony Breeden.
The game was put to bed with 11 minutes to play however when Mackey latched onto Hood’s ball from his own half as it bounced in the penalty area, muscling past his marker to thump a low left footed strike
beyond the dive of Chitty.
Attendance: 405
Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Ben George, Connor Gudger, James Fry (15 Joe Magunda, 90), Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Lee Moore, Richard Taundry, Ben Mackey (17 Will Green, 89), Jack Edwards, Lee Chilton (12 Rob Ogleby, 70).
Subs not used: 14 Ross Oulton, 16 James Mace.
Frome Town: Darren Chitty, Kris Miller, Sam Teale ©, George Miller, Connor Roberts, Marcus Mapstone, Jon Davies, Darren Jefferies, Jake Jackson, Dan Cleverley, James Fitzgibbon.
Subs not used: 12 Ricky Hulbert, 14 Jordan Walker, 15 Josh Jefferies.
Referee: Mr Nick Hobbs
Assistant Referees: Mr Tom Bowkett & Mr Liam Teraud
Brakes Man of the Match: Connor Gudger
