FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round Replay
Dales Lane, Rushall
Tuesday 24th November 2015

Brakes emerged victorious after a gruelling 120 minutes of football at Dales Lane which saw Rushall drag themselves level twice before substitute Ben Mackey’s extra time winner.

The gale force winds that forced the postponement of the original replay 7 days earlier were thankfully absent, but with rain lashing down at regular intervals conditions were still testing for both sides.

Joe Magunda fired well over the bar early on for Leamington, while Rob Ogleby’s neat turn and shot came somewhat closer, just clearing the bar. Former Brakes loanee Jake Heath then went close for the hosts with a powerful low drive that was deflected just wide of the upright.

Alex Reid looked to have engineered a real opportunity to open the scoring as he managed to get past Tony Breeden on the right side of the penalty area, but snatched at his shot a little and the ball rippled the side netting.

Lee Chilton then fired a volley straight at Pics keeper Dean Coleman, while Reid stepped inside the challenge of Magunda on the edge of the box but saw his shot deflect through into the hands of Breeden. Ross Oulton then fired over the bar from Lee Moore’s cut back on the left. Although the first half ended goalless both teams had displayed flashes of enterprising play.

However, within two minutes of the second half getting underway Leamington were ahead, courtesy of an unlikely source. Oulton’s right wing corner was flicked on by Moore into the path of Jamie Hood, who displayed a striker’s instinct to steer a first time drive into the net, leaving Coleman helpless.

The game began to open up now and became more entertaining. Jack Duggan set up Luke Benbow for a shot that was blocked on the edge of the area, but the ball was spread left and played into the box, where Reid connected first time with a shot that screwed high and wide of goal.

Ogleby fired wide for Leamington and Benbow’s effort at the other end was steered behind before the hosts were handed a route back into the game from the penalty spot. There were a few moments of confusion as the Rushall players argued their case for a penalty after Reid’s run into the box had been halted, but with the assistant on the far side having flagged it appeared an offside decision had been given. However, after a brief conversation the Referee awarded the spot kick, but Reid dragged it wide.

Rushall skipper Gavin Caines flicked a left wing free kick dangerously across goal, and Reid almost lifted the ball past Breeden but was denied as the Brakes skipper smothered the ball before clearing.

The midfield man atoned for his penalty miss with 16 minutes to play when his thumping header levelled the scores from Heath’s pinpoint left wing cross.

Jack Edwards almost put Leamington back in front immediately, his header from Moore’s right wing cross grazing the top of the bar. Along with Magunda, Edwards came in for some rough treatment during the course of the game, but it was his marauding run towards goal that set up the chance for Moore to put Paul Holleran’s men back in front with 9 minutes remaining, as he was brought down 20 yards out, and Moore stepped to curl an inch perfect free kick into the top corner.

Just when it looked like Brakes might see out time for the win, Rushall stormed back to level for a second time, substitute Nick Wright left unmarked to head another left wing cross past Breeden with four minutes to go.

Kris Taylor was allowed too much time and space to drive just over the bar from distance, while Carl Palmer set up Heath for another long range drive that was saved by Breeden.

Holleran introduced Ben Mackey and James Husband, who was making his 300th appearance for the club, before extra time began, and it was from the latter’s right wing corner that Edwards saw his header deflected behind early on.

Wright latched onto a flick on to fire a low volley straight at Breeden, while Hood was forced to head away from the goal line as Rushall continued where they had left off in normal time, but they were rocked back on their heels again when Mackey struck Leamington’s third goal two minutes before the end of the first period of extra time, steering in Ogleby’s well taken free kick from close range.

Perhaps unsurprisingly with the amount of effort put in by both sides throughout, the final 15 minutes saw few opportunities for either side. Mackey drove wide after latching onto a ball down the right, but Rushall were frustrated in their attempts to drag themselves level again.

The joy of the travelling support at the final whistle quickly turned to anger as a young Leamington supporter was left with a split lip courtesy of one of an unruly group of home ‘supporters’ who had spent the majority of the last 75 minutes of the game attempting to antagonise Brakes fans who were only interested in getting behind their team. Despite the unnecessary and unavoidable events it did not take the gloss off what was a superb result for Leamington, who now host old rivals Hednesford Town in the next round on Saturday.

Attendance: 181

Rushall Olympic: Dean Coleman, Aris Christophorou, Daniel Wilkinson (14 Nick Wright, 64), Zak Martin, Jack Duggan, Gavin Caines © , Jake Heath, Carl Palmer (12 Michael Townsend, 109), Luke Benbow (16 Colin Smith, 106), Kris Taylor, Alex Reid.

Subs not used: 15 Kyle Delaney, 17 Ricardo Dudley.

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , James Fry, Richard Taundry, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Ross Oulton (12 Ben Mackey, 88), Jack Edwards, Rob Ogleby, Lee Chilton, Lee Moore (15 James Husband, 90).

Subs not used: 14 Will Green, 16 Reece Mitchell, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox.

Referee: Mr I Dudley

Assistant Referees: Mr J Abaka-Jacobs & Mr B Watkiss

Brakes Man of the Match: Joe Magunda