Emirates FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round Replay
Martin & Co Arena
Tuesday 3rd October 2017

Brakes produced a much improved display but went down to two late Gainsborough goals as their FA Cup journey shuddered to a premature halt once more in Lincolnshire.

Had Leamington been able to capitalise when they were on top in the second half things might have been different, but they failed to do so and were trailing with five minutes remaining when Nathan Jarman curled in a fantastic free kick. The home side then broke away in injury time, substitute Bradley Wells forcing the ball home to put some gloss on the scoreline for Trinity.

Paul Holleran was forced into one change from Saturday’s starting line up, Stefan Moore replacing the injured Colby Bishop, while Gainsborough remained unchanged.

Jamie Hood’s well timed block denied striker Ashley Worsfold inside the opening couple of minutes, but the hosts would have to wait quite some time before their next sight of goal. Leamington posed more of a threat in the opening exchanges than they had done in 90 minutes on Saturday, Kieran Dunbar clipping an accurate ball out for Rob Thompson-Brown to run on to down the left, who in turn cut inside and found Joe Clarke, whose shot flashed behind with his sight of goal narrowing.

Joe Magunda then played Thompson-Brown through with a fine ball, only for the giant Henrich Ravas to produce a good save.

Former Brakes loanee Worsfold was forced off wirh an injury on the half hour, and it was Leamington who continued to create the chances, Dunbar firing a free kick straight at Ravas while Jack Edwards’ header from a free kick into the box was claimed by the young Derby County loan keeper just in front of the lurking Moore.

Edwards struck an ambitious rising drive from distance which was meat and drink for Ravas, as the first half ended goalless.

The second half got off to a lively start, Moore almost catching Ravas out with a lobbed effort, the keeper stretching to parry the ball before it was cleared for a throw in. Thompson-Brown then drove wastefully behind having worked himself into a good position inside the box on the right.

Brakes had the ball in the back of the net twice in a matter of minutes through Clarke and Edwards but unfortunately the offside flag had gone up on both occasions.

The ball was sprayed around the edge of the Gainsborough penalty box as Leamington probed for further openings but the massed ranks of Blue shirts stood firm. Ioan Evans headed Gainsborough’s first chance of the half well over from a corner, before Moore set up Edwards for a low drive which was held down at the near post by Ravas. Clarke then laced a first time drive just wide of the other post after Moore had held up play well on the edge of the box.

First half substitute Wells was played into acres of space by a cross field pass, only to curl his shot well wide, before Evans headed Craig King’s left wing corner against the outside of the post. This seemed to give Gainsborough renewed belief, and in the closing stages they began to turn the screw.

Breeden came off his line to block a shot, the follow up from the loose ball also being blocked, before King saw a shot blocked and Junior English prevented another one from reaching goal.

Jarman turned superbly onto a pass on the edge of the box, his shot lacking the power to trouble Breeden, but he was right on the money with his next effort. With Leamington stretching to win the ball on the edge of their box a free kick in a dangerous position was conceded, and Jarman made them pay dearly, curling his shot over the wall and out of Breeden’s reach into the top corner.

Kurtis Revan came on for the final few minutes and Leamington’s last chance came and went when he did well to make space for himself on the edge of the box but could only blaze his shot over the terrace roof behind the goal.

Gainsborough then doubed their tally with a classic injury time counter, Wells eventually smashing in from close range to the delight of the home support. Brakes must now dust themselves down and prepare for the trip to title chasing Salford City on Saturday.

Attendance: 370

Gainsborough Trinity: Henrich Ravas, Josh Lacey, Matt Taylor, Ioan Evans, Nathan Stainfield, Michael Jacklin, Jonathan Wafula, Shane Clarke, Nathan Jarman © (15 Alex Simmons, 89), Ashley Worsfold (12 Bradley Wells, 30), Craig King (14 Tom Davie, 90).

Subs not used: GK Richard Walton, 16 Taron Hare.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, James Mace, Connor Gudger, Joe Clarke, Jamie Hood, Junior English, Kieran Dunbar, Joe Magunda (12 Callum Gittings, 74), Stefan Moore (14 Kurtis Revan, 88), Jack Edwards, Rob Thompson-Brown (17 Ahmed Obeng, 71).

Subs not used: 15 Richard Taundry, 16 Liam Canavan,.

Referee: Mr Samuel Barrott

Assistant Referees: Mr Michael Herzog & Mr David Holbrook

Brakes Man of the Match: Joe Clarke