Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Saturday 5th December 2015

A generally sound defensive performance and an outstanding goalkeeping display from skipper Tony Breeden were about the only positives Brakes could garner from a disappointing trip to the South Coast to face league leaders and title favourites Poole Town.

On the evidence of the 90 minutes it is not difficult to see why Tom Killick’s side are currently the division’s top scorers, and it is to Leamington’s credit that they only finished with the single goal as they carved out a number of very good chances in each half at a blustery and rain lashed Tatnam Ground.

The hosts looked dangerous in the opening exchanges without particularly creating anything and it was Joe Magunda who had the first effort at goal for either side, firing well over following a corner kick.

Thanks to a donation from their supporters club to cover his wages, Poole were able to bring in striker Lee Wort on loan from Gosport Borough. A prolific marksman in his for near neighbours Sholing, he could have bagged a debut hat trick on another day but was thwarted by the outstanding Breeden, who bravely dived at Wort’s feet to push the ball out of his path as he shaped to go past the keeper just inside the box.

Ben Mackey endured a frustrating afternoon plowing a lone furrow up front, and his only real sight of goal came when he collected a pass from Jack Edwards and drove a shot over the bar.

Steve Devlin’s shot just cleared the Leamington bar as he latched onto a half clearance but Poole were in front on 20 minutes, Marvin Brooks finding the net with a thumping downward header from Luke Burbidge’s dangerous diagonal ball in from the right. Breeden got a hand to the ball but was unable to keep it out.

Brakes attempted to respond, Joe Halsall was in a good position to receive James Fry’s ball in from the right as the wing back crossed from the dead ball line, but headed over the bar. Wort then went close for the hosts, crashing a shot just over.

The players were clearly frustrated with their lack of impact on the game, and this was highlighted when Edwards received a booking for a rather late challenge on Luke Roberts in midfield, with the home players and crowd feeling the card should have been red. Unfortunately they did not have to wait long for that as the midfielder reacted to Devlin leaving his leg in as they challenged for the ball, giving the referee little option but to send him off.

More patient build up play from Poole ended with a disappointing shot from Devlin that failed to trouble Breeden, but the same player linked up with Burbidge to play Wort in on goal again only for the captain to produce another smart save, this time with his legs.

Jamie Tank registered Leamington’s only effort on target in the game with the last action of the first half, heading in a corner kick that was comfortably dealt with by Nick Hutchings.

Leamington came into the game more in the second half and the opening period saw them applying some pressure in the opposition half without creating anything of note. Wort fired another effort into the side netting for Poole before Breeden darted off his line to make another important challenge, this time on Lewis Tallack as the Dolphins defender threatened to dance his way through to a second goal for the hosts.

His defensive colleague Jack Dickson saw his shot blocked, Luke Roberts blasting the rebound over the bar before Wort was denied again by a timely block.

Sensing there might still be something in this game for Leamington Paul Holleran bought on loanee Nat Kelly, enabling Richard Taundry to return to his midfield role. Will Green was also introduced, but a tough task became harder still with 11 minutes remaining when Jamie Hood was shown a straight red card after the Referee decided he had deliberately handled a shot that was blasted at him from little more than 2 yards away. Breeden dampened the sense of injustice a little by diving low to his left to keep out the resulting penalty from Devlin.

Burbidge must have thought he was in to add a second for Poole in stoppage time as he waltzed past two defenders and Breeden, but Ben George, who had only joined the action moments earlier on his return from injury, got a foot in to block the shot.

This was a disappointing afternoon in what is turning into something of a Jekyll and Hyde season from Leamington. On their day, the team are capable of beating anyone in the division, but with other results falling favourably for them at the weekend they will be aware that too many more slip ups will make it very difficult for them to keep pace with the league leaders.

Attendance: 382

Poole Town: Nick Hutchings, Lewis Tallack, Jack Dickson, Will Spetch, Jamie Whisken © , Carl Pettefer, Luke Burbidge, Steve Devlin, Lee Wort, Marvin Brooks, Luke Roberts.

Subs not used: 12 Alan Connell, 13 Tom Rees, 14 Toby Holmes, 15 George Richardson, 16 Ollie Davis.

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , James Fry, Richard Taundry, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Rob Ogleby (14 Nat Kelly, 75), Joe Halsall, Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 79), Jack Edwards, Lee Moore (15

Ben George, 90).

Subs not used: 16 Martyn Naylor, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox

Referee: Mr Ben Knight

Assistant Referees: Mr Jack Birch & Mr Jon Dolbear

Brakes Man of the Match: Tony Breeden