Evostik Southern League Premier Division
The Carlsberg Stadium
Saturday 29th August 2015

Brakes fell to their second defeat of the season at The Carlsberg Stadium in a topsy turvy encounter that had an inevitable outcome after Rob Ogleby and Jake Jones both saw red.

Paul Holleran was quick to condemn the actions that had cost his side, saying 'We're obviously disappointed because first of all we get an experienced player getting two cautions that were avoidable. Jake Jones has then, according to the Referee, landed on their player and left his leg there. I didn't have a good view of it so I can't comment but I'm bitterly bitterly disappointed that a complete lack of discipline and control today has cost us. We had players missing today but we had enough on the pitch to deal with that situation and we got ourselves into good positions today, but sadly without discipline you've got nothing and the players are fully aware of my thoughts on it. It's not acceptable and not fair on the supporters travelling all the way down there for us to lose control of a game that with the positions we got ourselves into we should have comfortably seen out, but we let them back into it because of a complete lack of discipline today. It's very disappointing and is something that we will have to put right very quickly.'

The contest had started on a far brighter note for Leamington, with Jones clearly eager to make a big impression on his full debut for the club, sending over an early cross for Ross Oulton, also making his first start, to drive just over the bar.

Brakes opened the scoring with the first real chance of the game for either side. Following a free kick some 25 yards out, Richard Taundry headed the ball back towards the penalty area, where it was helped on by Ogleby to Ben Mackey. With the home side expecting an offside flag they were left flat footed as the striker controlled and hooked a shot past young keeper Gary Malone.

The terrier like Jones drew regular applause from the travelling support as he chased lost causes all over the pitch and it was from one such instance that his persistence in keeping the ball in play out on the left touchline that set up another opportunity as he knocked it through for Connor Gudger to cross for Ogleby, who saw his shot blocked.

The home side slowly began to grow into the game however, and a powerful low drive from Craig Daniel stung the palms of Tony Breeden, who was unable to hang on to the ball. Sam Merson then had a couple of chances, blazing the first one high and wide before bursting clear down the right channel, but the angle was against him and with no support nearby Breeden was able to gather his low angled effort.

Daniel drew another save from Breeden early in the second half as he cut in from the right and crashed another shot towards goal. The Leamington keeper was possibly unsighted but got good hands to the ball and collected it at the second attempt.

The width of a post prevented Brakes from extending their lead in their next attack, Taundry's curling cross from the left saw Lee Moore's glancing header strike the woodwork.

Breeden was dealing with most of what was being played into his area but he was powerless to prevent the equalising goal 11 minutes in, Tony Burnett slotting in a right wing cross. Virtually all of the Waders attacks were coming down their right and they were proving very effective. They really should have gone in front soon afterwards when a good advantage was played by Referee Tim Donnellan after a challenge in midfield, the ball again played in from the right but with two green shirted players unmarked in the centre Merson somehow put his shot wide of goal.

Things then started to unravel for Leamington as Ogleby, who had been cautioned in the first for reacting badly to a late challenge, was shown a second yellow card after committing one of his own. It looked like it would be a backs to the wall job to protect what they already had but Brakes stunned their hosts by retaking the lead soon after being reduced to ten men, Jones helping the ball through a retreating defence for Mackey to expertly slot past Malone, to the delight of the travelling support behind the goal.

It was evident that Biggleswade would continue to push forward with their man advantage, and Burnett shot over after a good turn inside the box before Andrew Iwediuno bought parity to the scoreline once again with a neat close range header, inevitably from a right wing cross.

Will Green replaced Mackey as the game entered its closing stages and immediately set about making a nuisance of himself, winning a corner on the left. It was from more play down this side of the pitch that saw Connor Roberts trip Jones inside the box to give Leamington a chance to go ahead for the third time in the match, but Malone stood up well to block Taundry's penalty, which he sent straight down the middle of goal, perhaps leaving Paul Holleran to rue the decision to take Mackey off minutes earlier.

With the home side exuberant at this let off emotions were running high and tempers began to flare again, resulting in Jones being shown a straight red card a very disappointing way for his game to end after he had shown so much promise. He was not happy about it at all and took a while to leave the pitch as players from both sides had their say.

With time almost up it was now a case of whether Leamington could hang on, something which sadly they were unable to do, but the when the winning goal in added time was worthy of winning any game, defender Shaun Hill crashing in a low drive from the right edge of the penalty area into the far corner to delight the home crowd.

The one positive from what turned out to be an afternoon to forget for Leamington is that they will quickly have a chance to put things right when they entertain Bedworth United at home on Bank Holiday Monday.

Attendance: 255

Biggleswade Town: Gary Malone, Connor Roberts, Mark Coulson, Shane Hill, Ryan Frater, Andrew Iwediuno, Craig Daniel, Callum Lewis, Tony Burnett, Ian Rees (16 Michael King, 80), Sam Merson.

Subs not used: 12 Kyal McNulty, 14 Charlie Hunter, 15 Jay Davies, 17 Ryan Blackman, 18 Macsen Fraser

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , Ben George, Connor Gudger, Ross Oulton, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore, Richard Taundry, Rob Ogleby, Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 80), Jake Jones

Subs not used: 14 Kieren Westwood, 15 Reece Mitchell, 16 Ellison Porter, 17 Matt Hill

Referee: Mr Tim Donnellan

Assistant Referees: Mr Lee Jessup & Mr Mark Simmons

Brakes Man of the Match: Jamie Hood