Report

Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 26th March 2016

Jack Edwards’ late brace rescued a point for Brakes that keeps them in the play off places after visitors Chippenham looked set to leave with all three from what turned out to be an eventful clash at a rain and windswept Phillips 66 Community Stadium.

Littered with talking points and incident, this game may have repercussions for both sides further down the line as they battle to finish above the dotted line that will present the chance to extend the season by two games, but both managers were happy to settle for a point at the end while pondering on what might have been.

With a strong swirling wind whipping around the stadium the game was never likely to be great viewing and so it proved, particularly in the first half, with chances at a premium. Alan Griffin thought he had opened the scoring for the visitors when he was played in to round Tony Breeden and slot into an empty net, but had already been flagged offside by the Assistant Referee.

It was perhaps no surprise that the opening goal should come as the result of a mistake, unfortunately it was Richard Taundry who put through his own goal attempting to clear a low cross from the right. He attempted to put things right by registering Leamington’s first serious effort at goal on 40 minutes after a neat exchange of passes with Courtney Baker-Richardson, the shot being deflected behind for a corner from which Edwards headed over the bar.

Ben Mackey had a glorious opportunity to send the sides in level at the break when Baker-Richardson headed Edwards’ ball into the box to the feet of Brakes’ top scorer inside the six yard box, but he snatched at his shot and the ball sailed high over the bar.

The Leamington support were left scratching their heads in bemusement shortly before half time when Andy Sandell curled a shot well wide of goal only for a corner to be awarded, despite there clearly being no touch on the ball after it left the boot of the Chippenham player.

There were early second half bookings for Taundry and Magunda as Leamington continued to struggle to get their game together, while the visitors saw half chances for Chris Allen and Luke Ballinger fail to trouble Breeden.

Paul Holleran threw on Joe Halsall and Callum Gittings for his debut on the hour and it almost helped pay instant dividends, Edwards slicing well wide after Ballinger and Tindle got in each other's way on the edge of the box, but instead Brakes were two goals behind moments later, Griffin scrambling the ball into the net from close range after a desperate attempt by Breeden to push out Sandell’s initial effort, with his defence at sixes and sevens.
Griffin fired another effort wide soon afterwards but Leamington finally began to show signs of life, with Ben George also thrown into the action by Holleran. Edwards halved the deficit with a well struck low drive from the edge of the box that found the bottom corner.

Momentum appeared to be swinging towards the home side moments after this when Chippenham star man Sandell was surprisingly shown a straight red card after a challenge on Breeden out by the corner flag, but any advantage this might have given Leamington was quickly wiped out when Taundry was left to rue his earlier yellow card for holding onto the ball after giving away a throw in when he received a second for stretching into a challenge on Jon Beedon on the edge of the box after overrunning the ball.

Sam Austin blazed over from the edge of the box after doing well to try and work and opening for himself, but Leamington were level with four minutes to play when Edwards turned superbly onto Baker-Richardson’s knock on from Breeden’s free kick to flash a powerful effort into the net.

There was a late heart in mouth moment for Leamington when Baker-Richardson lost possesion in midfield, leaving Harry Grant with a clear run on goal. Fortunately the defence was in a good position to get back and cover, and a superb challenge from James Mace prevented Grant from getting a shot at goal. Tindle swiped the ball clear as Edwards nodded down into the centre in injury time, but both sides were left to settle for a point that sees them occupy top five places for now.

Both managers were philosophical afterwards, Paul Holleran saying ‘The conditions spoilt the day. There was nothing in the game, it was just a poor spectacle. There were a few half chances, we hadn’t taken ours and we presented them with two goals really, it was poor defending for both. I was really disappointed for about an hour, we’re a side that like them, are trying to stay in the pack, but then I was delighted with the last half hour. We tinkered around with it a bit, made some changes but I saw some energy, I saw some passion, some legs, and we were possibly unfortunate not to win the game in end. There was no bigger heart than Jack Edwards today, he dragged us over the line but there were some big performances in the second half, I thought the three subs made an impact, we got higher up the pitch, and Sam (Austin) came into the game.

‘From where we were at twenty past four, to where we were at twenty to five, you take that, because Chippenham are a good side. For us to come from two goals down , as much as you’d want to question the first hour, the last half an hour probably tells you more about what the changing room is all about, and we were pleased with that.’

Chippenham manager Mark Collier was a understandably a little disappointed but felt that his team are in charge of their own destiny: ‘I thought first half we were the better side, I thought we created more chances even with the wind against us. We’re disappointed that we haven’t got all three points at the end of it after being 2-0 up. I felt that the sending off was a bit harsh, I thought the keeper made a bit of a meal of it particularly where the foul took place was in a bit of a no mans land. I just think it was a bit rash from the Referee, I think if he’d have thought about the position of the free kick…. Yes it was a foul, but I don’t think it was a straight red. Yes we’re disappointed but it’s another point. We’ve got 6 games left and it’s in our hands, if we win 5 of the 6 then we’re in the play offs.

We’ve looked at the remaining fixtures and it’s for us to lose, we’ve got a great chance. Before the game we’d have probably taken a point but from a position of ascendancy, we’ve given two soft goals away really, the first one was poor and then we didn’t react to a second ball and we’ve been done really, but I thought our overall play was probably better than Leamington. We’re disappointed not to win but it’s another point on the board.’

Attendance: 463

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Richard Taundry, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda (16 Joe Halsall, 60), Jamie Tank, James Mace, Lee Moore (12 Ben George, 71), Jack Edwards, Ben Mackey (14 Callum Gittings, 60), Courtney Baker-Richardson, Sam Austin.

Subs not used: 15 Ross Oulton, GK Lewis Fenney.

Chippenham Town: Kent Kauppinen, Luke Ballinger, Jon Beedon, Michael Pook, Greg Tindle ©, Mark Preece, Chris Allen, Matt Smith, Alan Griffin (17 Ollie Taylor, 81), Andy Sandell, Harry Grant.

Subs not used: 12 Ben Whitehead, 14 Alec Fiddes, 15 Ryan Campbell 16 Matt Jones.

Referee: Mr Rav Cheosiaua

Assistant Referees: Mr Corin Readett & Mr Dan Pattison

Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Edwards.