Report
FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 28th November 2015
Brakes produced one of their best performances of the season so far as they stormed back from a goal down to upset Conference North Hednesford and earn a place in the 1st Round of the FA Trophy.
Without a number of regulars due to injury and ineligibility, Paul Holleran drafted in defender Nathaniel Kelly on a short term loan deal from Solihull Moors, and the former Birmingham City youngster put in an impressive performance alongside his new team mates as they stunned their visitors.
Bernard McNally’s side started brightly and there was a let off for Brakes when Paul Ennis’ free kick threaded through a crowded penalty area to strike the post. Ahmed Obeng fired the loose ball towards goal but was denied by a fine block from Jamie Tank.
Richard Taundry was restored to his more familiar midfield position and he found Lee Moore out on the left with his usual pinpoint accuracy, his team mate controlling the ball smartly before driving it in towards the near post where Dan Crane saved.
The visitors went ahead in the 14th minute when a long throw led to a low cross being driven into the box, where it was slotted home by Andy Todd, Tony Breeden getting a strong hand to the ball but only helping it on its way into the net.
To their credit Leamington did not let their heads drop and were straight back on the offensive in true cup tie style, Ben Mackey’s shot being well blocked by Tyrone Williams. They were level within 8 minutes however when a well placed free kick from Breeden was helped across to the unmarked Mackey on the left hand side of the penalty area by Jack Edwards. The striker’s looping header beat the dive of Crane and Rob Ogleby steamed in at the far post to crash the ball over the line.
The pressure on the visitors’ goal continued, Moore dragging a well struck shot into the side netting, while Edwards won the ball twice in midfield and slid a pass through to put Ogleby clear down the right, but he gave Crane the chance to narrow the angles and the Pitmen keeper saved.
Tank saw a header diverted behind by Matt Regan, while Moore did superbly to keep the ball in play as a defender attempted to shepherd it out of play, firing in a great cross which Edwards did superbly to connect with but could only head wide on the stretch.
Kelly’s powerful throw in’s were proving a useful asset for Leamington, and Tyrone Williams inadvertently helped one on into his own penalty area, with Mackey’s turn and shot being blocked. Edwards then produced a smart piece of skill, pirouetting to beat his man in midfield before charging clear down the right and firing the ball into the centre, where Mackey nodded down for Ogleby to fire a great chance inches over the bar.
This was turning into a proper cup tie and some great stuff was being played, despite the howling wind and rain. Hednesford were inches from going into half time ahead however when Ennis curled a free kick a whisker over the bar with the final kick of the first 45 minutes.
Leamington made a strong start to the second half, Moore and Mackey both having shots blocked inside the box, while Moore’s cross was sliced into the air as Hednesford desperately tried to clear their lines.
The visitors made two swift substitutions but found themselves behind on 58 minutes thanks to a goal that had echoes of that stunning Stefan Moore strike against the same opposition a couple of years back, Richard Taundry latching onto a short defensive clearance just outside the box to spank a low measured volley back past Crane into the bottom corner of the net.
There was a real sense around the ground that Brakes could cause an upset now, and that only intensified with 20 minutes to play when Ben Mackey capitalised on Crane spilling the ball from a free kick to stab home a third for Holleran’s side.
The euphoria was tempered slightly within a minute or so however as Hednesford skipper Ben Bailey crashed in a powerful header off the underside of the bar from a corner to bring his side back to within a goal of parity.
Back came Leamington, Crane getting down to divert Ogleby’s low drive into the near post behind for a corner, from which Jamie Hood, taking a brief break from his usual near flawless defensive duties, hooked over the bar.
Within four minutes of his goal Bailey turned from hero to villain for his side as he needlessly shoved Mackey in the back just inside the box on the left, with the striker not heading towards goal. The Referee was in no doubt and pointed to the spot, Mackey stepping up to leather the ball into the space created by Crane’s dive in the centre of goal.
The visitors had to come forward now to try and drag themselves back into the tie again, and almost did so when Hood cleared Obeng’s shot off the line. The same player was then fouled in a dangerous position 25 yards from goal, Breeden getting down well to save the well struck free kick.
Matt Regan provided final scare when he headed onto the roof the net, but with Breeden confidently claiming anything else that was played into his goalmouth Leamington were able to celebrate a fully deserved victory over higher ranked opposition which sees them into the draw for the first round proper, where the clubs from the Conference National division join the competition.
Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, James Fry, Nat Kelly, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Rob Ogleby, Richard Taundry, Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 89), Jack Edwards, Lee Moore.
Subs not used: 14 Ben George, 15 Lee Chilton, 16 Ryan Baldwin, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.
Hednesford Town: Dan Crane, Tyrone Williams, Tom James, Ben Bailey ©, Matt Regan, Jack Dyer (16 Phil Trainer, 53), Sean Williams, Adam Thomas (12 Kyle Perry, 55), Ahmed Obeng, Paul Ennis, Andy Todd.
Subs not used: 14 Danico Johnson, 15 John Disney, 17 Kennedy Digie.
Referee: Mr Joe Hull
Assistant Referees: Mr Ian Hurdle & Mr Karl Buckley
Brakes Man of the Match: Ben Mackey
