Report
Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Tuesday 1st March 2016
Brakes edged out South Warwickshire neighbours Stratford Town in the first league fixture between the two sides for almost 10 years thanks to Courtney Baker-Richardson’s well taken first half header.
The recent signing from Kettering Town bagged his first goal in front of the home support just past the half hour mark in a first half in which Leamington were the better side without really being able to make it count, leading to a nervy end to the game.
The opening 20 minutes saw Leamington looking comfortable, doing plenty of probing and forcing corners without threatening Andy Kemp in the Stratford goal. Sam Austin was his usual busy self, curling a well struck shot just wide of the far post.
The young midfielder, who has impressed hugely since his loan move from Burton Albion, would have been disappointed not have at least hit the target with his next effort, curling a shot first time over the bar after Connor Gudger’s drive was blocked inside the penalty area.
Baker-Richardson was looking equally up for getting his name on the scoresheet, pouncing on a loose ball some 20 yards from goal to bear down on Kemp, who got his team mates off the hook with a strong hand to nick the ball away as the striker shaped to go past him.
Richard Taundry curled a free kick wide after Austin was fouled, while Baker-Richardson got himself into a good position again only for his shot to lack the power to trouble Kemp.
A scramble in the Leamington penalty area saw Tony Breeden make a good save on his line as the ball was scrambled towards goal. Virtually nothing had been seen of the visitors as an attacking force until this point, which was puzzling given the nature of the game, which did not really have the feel of a local derby to it.
Baker-Richardson and Austin finally put some spark into proceedings on 32 minutes when the striker looped home a header from a perfect cross, Kemp rooted to the spot as the ball spiralled out of his reach into the corner of the net.
The goalkeeper is well remembered by Brakes fans for many a good performance whilst with his former club Bedworth United, and he denied Lee Moore a second goal before half time with a good close range save.
An early second half shot over the bar from Ben Mackey was followed by another good stop from Kemp as he parried Baker-Richardson’s shot on the turn, Moore picking up the loose ball and twisting and turning before getting a shot away that landed on the roof of the net.
Stratford had a chance to score what would have been a bizarre but brilliant leveller had Richard Gregory managed to get his shot on target after robbing Breeden some 35 yards from goal, but fortunately for Leamington the striker snatched at his shot and the ball sailed harmlessly wide of goal.
Kemp plucked a headed effort from Baker-Richardson out of the air from another Austin cross, and the goalkeeper had Brakes fans cursing again as he got another strong hand to a shot from the striker, who attempted to place the ball wide of the keeper after Mackey’s shot was blocked.
The visitors came into the game far more in the final 15 minutes, and were adamant they should have had a penalty when Breeden challenged Mark Magee, but the Referee was unmoved.
nthony Charles tried his luck from distance with a well struck shot that was adjudged to have taken a deflection as it whistled just over the bar, but while Carl Adams’ side saw far more of the ball in the closing stages the closest they came to an equaliser was a low drive from Jack Roberts that was held by Breeden at his near post.
The victory moves Leamington to within 2 points of the play off positions, with a real target to aim for in the last dozen or so games. The opponents do not get any easier however, with a trip to South Wales to face Merthyr Town on Saturday before a rare midweek off precedes the visit of league leaders Poole Town to the Phillips 66 Community Stadium. The heartening thing now is that Brakes look far more capable of dealing with these challenges than they did a few weeks ago.
Attendance: 434
Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Richard Taundry, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore (15 Ross Oulton, 90), Jack Edwards, Ben Mackey (12 James Fry, 78), Courtney Baker-Richardson, Sam Austin.
Subs not used: 14 Ben George, 16 Jamie Tank, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.
Stratford Town: Andy Kemp, Aaron Stringfellow (16 Liam Francis, 85), Kieron Westwood, Marcel Simpson, Jack Roberts, Anthony Charles, Aaron Moses-Garvey, Michael McGrath, Mark Magee (14 Simeon Tulloch, 74), Richard Gregory, Jamie Sheldon.
Subs not used: 12 Gary Moran, 15 Emmit Delfouneso, GK James Cutts.
Referee: Mr Robbie Dadley
Assistant Referees: Mr Richie Watkins & Mr William Ottoway
Brakes Man of the Match: Sam Austin.
