Report
Vanarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 24th February 2018
Brakes won back to back games in the National League North for the first time this season as they gave their survival hopes another shot in the arm by following up their victory at in form Boston United by edging out a Blyth Spartans side who had been scoring goals and picking up wins for fun in recent weeks.
The visitors had won a tight contest by a single goal back in November, and while this encounter was similar it was Leamington who found that little bit of quality from the returning Matty Dodd, who on his second home debut set up the winner for Daniel Udoh early in the second half.
Kieran Dunbar’s free kick on 4 minutes almost caught out Spartans keeper Peter Jameson as it bounced awkwardly in front of him as Leamington had the best of the opening ten minutes, pushing forward at every opportunity with Dodd, Udoh and Ahmed Obeng heavily involved.
Blyth came close after their first bit of sustained pressure, Kieran Green blazing over from close range following a left wing corner.
Dunbar was teed up by Udoh on the edge of the box for another attempt but didn’t get the connection he wanted, the ball rolling harmlessly past the post. Junior English had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring as the ball dropped to him at the far post from a left wing corner, and with more time than maybe he realised he sent a first time volley over the bar.
Spartans’ danger man Jarrett Rivers would have been disappointed with his finish after doing the hard work beating two defenders as he cut in from the right to fire well over the target.
A swift Leamington break forward saw Dunbar find Dodd in space on the right, but a fine block from Ryan Hutchinson prevented the ball from getting into the centre. Macaulay Langstaff then came mightily close to giving Blyth a half time advantage when his curling shot grazed the outside of the post with Breeden flinging himself to his left to cover.
Udoh and Obeng continued to link up well, and early in the second half and exchange of passes inside the area saw the Crewe Alexandra loan man denied when his shot struck the back of Joe Gorman, who had bravely moved in to block.
Sean Reid’s low shot was directed straight at Breeden, while Langstaff hooked a volley off target, but it was Leamington who made the breakthrough five minutes in. Superb wing play once more from Dodd on the right saw him into the penalty area where he picked out the unmarked Udoh who threaded a close range effort into the bottom corner.
The imposing Spartans talisman Robbie Dale curled a long range free kick towards the top corner as Blyth pushed for a reply, but Breeden watched it all the way and confidently claimed.
The Brakes skipper had been equal to almost everything thrown his way, and was presented with his toughest test so far when Hutchinson went to ground in the area with 18 minutes to go, Referee Alex Kirkley awarding a penalty, but Breeden silenced the barracking from the noisy travelling support by diving low to his left to save Reid’s spot kick.
Dale looked odds on to at least hit the target as he bludgeoned his way into the box from the left, only to crash a powerful effort across goal and wide. The big man repeated the trick shortly afterwards, this time driving a rising effort towards the near post, but Breeden was there to help it behind for a corner.
Obeng lifted a cross in for Dunbar to take a touch and have a volley blocked , and the youngster was involved again as he accelerated up the right wing, finding Udoh in the box. His turn was blocked, as was Obeng’s attempt to get onto the loose ball. Dunbar then clipped an inviting ball across for the unmarked Liam Canavan. The substitute did everything right as looped a delicate header out of the reach of Jameson towards the far corner, only to see the ball strike the crossbar.
Brakes kept hold of the ball well in the closing stages, having clearly taken on board Paul Holleran’s desire for them to manage games more intelligently, and the manager was delighted to have backed up last weeks’ victory with another hard fought success.
‘Blyth are as good as anything in the league offensively. They go forward in numbers, but probably the most pleasing thing for us is when you look at their last three results, 3-0, 3-0, 3-0, against good sides, for us to keep a clean sheet today is probably the biggest plaudit I can give the players.
‘The quality of the game struggled a bit, both sets of players gave it a go but the leg work we’ve had to put in, we’ve had to put a few square pegs in round holes today and we’ve had some massive performances. We’ve probably just played the two form sides in the league in Boston and Blyth and we’ve kept a clean sheet against both of them. That for me is a platform for us. We lacked a bit of quality with a few decisions here and there but if you had a mileage stick on the likes of Ahmed, Kieran and Danny today they’ve really put a shift in, so I couldn’t be happier.
On the contribution of the returning Matty Dodd, Holleran said ‘He’s that bit more experienced now, he knows his way around the pitch, he did great for the goal and at times Danny, Matt and Ahmed were unplayable in little spells. If we’d done a little bit better on the counter attack it could have been a bit more of a comfortable afternoon, but I was really pleased with players coming on too. Hoody’s not 100% fit but he put a really good shift in, Liam’s come on and had another good run in there and done really well, and Kurtis has come on and, where we were a little bit naive here the other week, this time he’s run the ball up near the corner and won us a throw in, so the pleasing thing for me is, he’s taken it on board and managed the game better.’
***Update on injuries from Pete Denham: Joe Clarke was susbstituted at half time because of a calf problem, Richard Taundry has a hamstring strain.
Attendance: 524
Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, James Mace, Connor Gudger, Joe Clarke ( 12 Jamie Hood, 46), Jack Edwards, Junior English, Matt Dodd (14 Liam Canavan, 60), Kieran Dunbar, Daniel Udoh (15 Kurtis Revan, 89), Callum Gittings, Ahmed Obeng.
Subs not used: 16 Stefan Moore, 17 Shay Nicholson.
Blyth Spartans: Peter Jameson, Michael Liddle, Ian Watson, Kieran Green, Joe Gorman, Ryan Hutchinson, Jarrett Rivers (12 Adam Wrightson, 65), Sean Reid, Dan Maguire, Macaulay Langstaff, Robbie Dale.
Subs not used: 14 Jordan Laidler, 15 David McTiernan, 16 Damen Mullan, 17 Shaun MacDonald.
Referee: Mr Alex Kirkley
Assistant Referees: Mr Rob Hathaway & Mr Scott Postin
Brakes Man of the Match: Matt Dodd
