Report
Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 21st November 2015
Brakes recorded their seventh home win of the season with a narrow victory against Histon that probably should have been a little more comfortable than it turned out to be.
A goal in each half was enough to seal the points, but the plucky visitors struck back immediately after the second with a well taken strike from Luke Trotman.
Lee Chilton lifted the ball over goalkeeper Brendan Brown early on but Ben Mackey was unable to steer it home at the far post. Rob Ogleby then exchanged passes with Chilton on the left but couldn’t keep his shot down and the ball flew over the bar.
Leamington opened the scoring on 20 minutes, James Fry’s throw in to Mackey on the left saw the striker beat his marker by pulling the ball back from the touchline for Chilton to side foot home from close range.
The home support were irritated by many confusing decisions from the officials during the half, not least the non award of a penalty when Ogleby went down sandwiched between two defenders as he charged into the penalty area. Tony Breeden, Joe Magunda and Ross Oulton were all booked, and while Breeden’s challenge may have drawn a red card on another day, the cards handed out to Magunda and Oulton were somewhat harsh, and increase the likelihood of forthcoming suspensions.
Mackey drove an early second half effort over the bar before Breeden made his first save of the game from a well struck free kick by Ryan Auger. Jamie Tank fired over the bar for Brakes before the second goal arrived on 70 minutes, Chilton slinging another dangerous delivery into the six yard box which was toe poked into his own net by Evan Key, but awarded to Ben Mackey, who was lurking behind the defender and would have scored anyway were it not for his intervention.
The Stutes were right back in the game within 60 seconds however, the ball quickly being played out to the right into the path of Trotman, who had looked to be the dangerman all afternoon for Steve Fallon’s side, and he cut into the area before driving a shot beyond Breeden into the far corner.
Leamington had chances to re-establish their two goal cushion before the end of the game. James Mace saw his far post header from Ross Oulton’s right wing free kick smuggled behind by a combination of Brown and one of his defenders.
A shot cleared the crossbar and the clubhouse behind the Harbury Lane End goal for the visitors, while Trotman’s cheeky attempt to win a penalty was met with derision from the home support.
Chilton had two late attempts to add to his goal tally, leaning back slightly as he drove a first time effort just over, and then striking the inside of the post after a jinking run into the box in the last action of the game.
Brakes can now turn their attention to their FA Trophy replay at Rushall on Tuesday, which will determine whether they have a game on Saturday or not.
Attendance: 312
Leamington: Tony Breeden © , James Mace, James Fry, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Ross Oulton, Joe Halsall, Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 89), Rob Ogleby (14 Richard Taundry, 86), Lee Chilton.
Subs not used: 15 Lee Moore, 16 Martyn Naylor, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.
Histon: Brendan Brown, Luke Trotman, Miles Smith, Evan Key, Jack Utteridge, Rogan McGeorge © (12 Lewis Clayton, 21), Nick Freeman, Ryan Auger, Josh Oyinsan, Sam Ives, Joe Carden (15 Harry Norman, 65).
Subs not used: 14 Dovydas Kairys.
Referee: Mr Chris Husband
Assistant Referees: Mr Paul Tyler & Mr James Whittington.
Brakes Man of the Match: Lee Chilton
