FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round Replay
The Zeeco Stadium
Tuesday 15th September 2015

Brakes' dreams of a FA Cup run were ended in the cruelest fashion at the Zeeco Stadium on Tuesday evening. Having finally dragged themselves level thanks to James Mace after trailing to former Brakes midfielder Nathan Hicks' 4th minute strike, things looked to be clicking into place when substitute Will Green was upended as he charged into the penalty area. With the hosts a man down after the perpetrator was sent off, Richard Taundry stepped up to take responsibility, but was denied from the spot for the second time this season as the Daniels' keeper Richard Knight produced one of a number of fine saves over the course of the evening that would ultimately help his side win the tie when they broke upfield moments later to score the winner.

A decent contingent had travelled from Leamington in the hope that their team could finish the job at the second time of asking but the game started in a similar fashion to the initial tie, when on loan Nuneaton Town man Hicks latched onto a loose back header from Ben George to lift the ball over a stranded Tony Breeden into the net.

Breeden almost provided a spectacular leveller when he launched the ball towards goal from midway inside his own half from a free kick, only for the backpedaling Knight to fingertip the ball onto the bar and behind for corner.

Ben Mackey had the ball in the net as he latched onto Lee Chilton's pass to slot through the keeper's legs after 27 minutes, only to be frustrated by the offside flag. Jamie Hood stretched to send a diving header into the side netting as half time approached.

Despite the Stamford attack looking pacy they were getting few opportunities to threaten Breeden's goal, while at the other end Knight saved well with his legs from Mackey early in the second half after Chilton had robbed left back Lynas King and cut the ball back into the box.

Ryan Robbins shooting let him down after a weaving run towards goal for the hosts, while Chilton forced Knight into a save with his legs again, driving first time and low towards goal following good work by Connor Gudger down the left. Chilton then curled another effort well over.

Hood made a timely intervention as Stamford substitute Andy Hall was played into space down the right by a lovely cross field pass and looked to cut into the box to shoot. Team mate Lewis Carr then came very close to finding his own net as he sliced a cross inches past the upright as Leamington pressed again.

The woodwork was then clattered for the second time in the game by the visitors when Chilton cut in from the left and beat his man before crashing a shot onto the bar.

Paul Holleran threw on James Fry and Will Green before the game exploded into life in the final ten minutes. With 4 left on the clock Brakes finally carved their hosts open with some neat wing play and the ball was driven low across goal for the arriving James Mace to slam home at the far post.

The celebrations had barely died down before Green was sent sprawling to the turf as he charged into the area having been played through. At first it was unclear who had been sent off but eventually it was Carr who trudged from the field as Taundry placed the ball on the penalty spot, only for Knight to deny him as he dived low to his left.

The joy and despair felt by both sets of supporters in such a short space of time then turned full circle, as Stamford's number 9 Greg Smith sent a powerful header past Breeden from Robbins' pinpoint cross to win the game for the home side with extra time looming.

Attendance: 204

Stamford AFC : Richard Knight, Jon Challinor, Lynas King, Lewis Carr, Richard Jones © , Jordan Smith, David Bell, Nathan Hicks, Greg Smith, Jordan Neil (12 Andy Hall, 52), Ryan Robbins (17 Sam Thorpe, 90).

Subs not used: 14 Daniel Clements, 15 Dalton Bettles, 16 Cameron Powell.

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore, Richard Taundry, Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 76), Ross Oulton (14 James Fry, 69), Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 15 Jamie Tank, 16 Martyn Naylor, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox (GK).

Referee: Mr Matthew Smith

Assistant Referees: Mr Adrian Walker & Mr David Lovell

Brakes Man of the Match: James Mace.