Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Top Field, Hitchin
Monday 5th October 2015

Brakes emerged with a very hard earned point from a pulsating clash at Top Field against a Hitchin Town side who stormed back from a two goal half time deficit to provide the sternest of tests for Paul Holleran's men, as they edged back to the top of the table on goal difference.

With the rest of the division still to play their midweek fixtures it may only be a temporary position but despite the half time advantage Leamington gave every ounce of effort to hang in there as they were pegged back, and could have snatched a late winner as they finished strongly. Two tiring away trips in the space of 3 days clearly began to take its toll during the second half in greasy wet conditions, and it is to the players' credit that they have extended their unbeaten sequence to 7 games.

The hosts were fresh and up for the challenge after their weekend fixture against Paulton Rovers had to be postponed when their opponents team coach became stuck on the M4 amidst the traffic chaos caused by an earlier accident.

Boosted by the return of former goal getter John Frendo on loan from Hemel Hempstead Town, the Canaries added further serious goal threat to a side that was already among the top scorers in the division, and it was the returning striker who fired in the first shot at goal, which was saved by Tony Breeden.

Joe Magunda stabbed the ball into the net after Jack Edwards had gone in for a challenge with Hitchin keeper Charlie Horlock and a defender, but the decision went against the attacking side and the goal was ruled out.

The same fate then befell the hosts on two occasions. First Frendo was flagged offside as he headed home the loose ball after a fine strike from distance had struck the angle of post and bar, then Callum Donnelly's thumping header went the same way with a similar decision.

Both sides were doing plenty of attacking, with Leamington looking dangerous on the break. Ben Mackey rolled a shot across goal and wide of the far post after muscling between two defenders down the right, but he was right on point with the next opportunity that came his way. Richard Taundry won the ball in midfield and it diverted into the path of Lee Chilton, who pushed it past a defender to the dead ball line before centering perfectly for Mackey to direct a downward header past Horlock into the net.

The home side replied, winning a free kick in a dangerous position on the right hand side just shy of the penalty area. The ball was fired in low but travelled through to Breeden without a touch.

Horlock did well to deny Mackey a second goal when he spread himself well on the edge of his penalty area as the striker attempted to lift a shot over him, before Breeden was alert to save a free header from Frendo at close range.

The home side were continuing to look dangerous but were stunned by a second Leamington goal just past the half hour. James Mace's sliced clearance may have fortuitously found Mackey in space in midfield as Brakes moved swiftly forward, but he fed Chilton down the left and the livewire wide man came up with the goods again, sending in the perfect cross for Jack Edwards to crash a powerful header through Horlock, who probably should have done better with it.

Confidence was high now, and Edwards was denied a sniff of a second goal by Hitchin skipper Alasan Ann, who got in well to snuff out a cross from Ben George after some good work from Lee Moore down the right wing. Edwards then threaded a super ball through for Mackey to latch onto, only for the offside flag to be raised.

Hitchin began the second half well, and received the shot in the arm they required just 7 minutes in when Frendo swept the ball past Breeden after Brakes failed twice to get the ball out of their penalty area. The second clearance was practically played into the path of the prolific striker, who was not about to pass up the opportunity.

The game became fractious as the pace intensified, and tempers began to flare. Breeden did well again to hold a close range shot from Matt Lench, while Jonny McNamara was incensed at the lack of interest from the Referee after his powerful run into the Leamington penalty area was halted by what he believed was a foul. Robbie Burns then fired another dangerous looking free kick straight at the Brakes skipper as Hitchin cranked up the pressure another notch.

Edwards provided brief relief when he won the ball just inside the Hitchin half and launched a shot towards goal that was fielded by the backpedaling Horlock.

The equaliser that the hosts had been threatening arrived with 15 minutes to play, Robbie Burns firing a loose ball low into the bottom corner past the outstretched hand of the diving Breeden after the Brakes defence had not fully dealt with another free kick played into the penalty area.

It was all Hitchin now, and not for the first time this season Leamington were indebted to Tony Breeden as he flung himself across goal to push a fantastic curling strike from substitute Sam Barker over the bar. Lench then saw a shot blocked following a low corner played into the near post.

The visitors displayed great character to ride out the storm however, and in the closing stages were able to get forward again and create problems of their own. A neat move down the right saw Edwards' flick release Moore for a run at goal, substitute Will Green's eventual shot being deflected behind for a corner which was very nearly put into his own goal at the far post by a Canaries defender.

Connor Gudger then pulled the ball back from the left wing for Edwards to strike at goal, his shot being deflected behind. Breeden's free kick towards goal from halfway also found the head of the tireless midfielder, who directed the effort over the bar.

It was the home side hanging on a bit now, and though another shot rolled through to Breeden before the final whistle it was keeper Horlock who had the final say, making a fine save when springing to his left to deny an equally well struck effort from Gudger.

Both sides will have taken positives and negatives from a frenetic encounter that was a great advert for the league, and while Brakes will no doubt be disappointed to have let their lead slip, they dug in and battled hard for another well earned point.

Attendance: 311

Hitchin Town: Charlie Horlock, Kane Smith, Lewis Rolfe, Alasan Ann © , Dan Webb, Lucas Kirkpatrick (12 Sam Barker, 60), Jonny McNamara, Callum Donnelly, John Frendo (14 Ben Walster, 86), Robbie Burns, Matt Lench.

Subs not used: 13 Michael Johnson (GK), 15 Simon Martin, 16 David Corran.

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda (16 James Fry, 80), Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore, Richard Taundry (14 Ross Oulton, 70), Ben Mackey, (12 Will Green, 70), Jack Edwards, 11 Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 15 Rob Ogleby, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox

Referee: Mr G Russell

Assistant Referees: Mr M Gospel & Mr D Glazewski

Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Edwards.