Report
Vanarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 17th March 2018
Brakes notched up their third consecutive league win by a single goal as they defeated another in form side in the shape of Warwickshire neighbours Nuneaton Town thanks to a first half penalty from Matty Dodd.
On one of the coldest matchdays in memory up at Harbury Lane, the howling wind and freezing conditions made life difficult for the players and probably kept a few spectators away too, the closure of the road outside the ground at the Fosse Way end not helping matters.
Leamington got off to a whirlwind start as they tore at the visitors from the off, Dodd almost nicking the ball past keeper Ross Etheridge inside the opening couple of minutes.
The first of a succession of corners taken by Kieran Dunbar bounced off the top of the crossbar. Etheridge confidently claimed the second one played into his box, but almost every time he tried to clear the wind sent the ball looping out of play.
Another flag kick from Dunbar bounced off the underside of the bar before being scrambled clear, Connor Gudger playing the ball back in low from the left, where Daniel Udoh stole a yard on Luther Wildin to flick a header that looked to be heading in at the near post only for Etheridge to produce a fine save.
More pressure on the Nuneaton goal saw Etheridge punch the ball behind for another corner, from which the industrious Callum Gittings picked up the ball just inside the box, controlling and driving in a low shot which was well blocked by Kelvin Langmead. Jack Edwards was then a whisker from connecting with Gudger’s free kick into the box.
Daniel Nti had driven an early effort past the post for the visitors, and Ashley Chambers had his first sight of goal when he capitalized on a slip by Jamie Hood to drive into the box, forcing a good save from Tony Breeden.
The only goal of the afternoon arrived on 34 minutes, and came about as the result of a sharp turn and pass out to the left from Udoh to Ahmed Obeng, who cut into the box and drew a foul from Wildin. Referee Scott Simpson pointed to the spot, and Dodd, so deadly from 12 yards, stepped up with customary calmness to send Etheridge the wrong way and score his first goal in three games since returning to the club from Stourbridge.
George Green curled a shot wide as Nuneaton tried to respond, and should have levelled when he crashed another effort against the bar from only a few yards out. Udoh nearly compounded his misery when he stole a yard on his marker inside the box and turned smartly before thrashing a powerful first time drive inches over the bar.
The visitors had the wind at their backs in the second half and for a time it looked like a complete role reversal from the first 45 minutes. Breeden deflected a low cross away early on, Langmead’s header struck the frame of the goal and the Leamington skipper pushed a stinging drive from Nti over the bar.
A free kick from some 30 yards out forced Breeden into another save, while a cross to the far post was headed down Langmead and pushed away by the goalkeeper.
Breeden saved two further efforts from headers before flinging himself through the air to claim a dangerous cross as Boro’ piled on the pressure in the closing minutes. Although Leamington were unable to test Etheridge during the second half they regained a foothold in the game, and battled hard to maintain their advantage to the full time whistle.
Unfortunately afterwards Breeden was shown a second yellow card for something he said to the Referee, but it couldn’t take the gloss off another satisfying afternoon for Paul Holleran and his team.
‘The conditions have played a big part today, they were difficult for both teams but I think we played them better,’ said the Brakes boss. ‘We managed to do all the things we spoke about before the game, the only thing that was missing was the finishing, on a few occasions. It was a great afternoon all round for us really, and there were some massive performances.’
Attendance: 585
Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, Connor Gudger, Callum Gittings, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Matt Dodd (14 Joe Clarke, 64), Kieran Dunbar, Daniel Udoh (16 Kurtis Revan, 90+3), Jack Edwards, Ahmed Obeng.
Subs not used: 12 Liam Canavan, 15 Richard Taundry, 17 Stefan Moore.
Nuneaton Town: Ross Etheridge, Luther Wildin, Niall Heaton, Tom Elliott, Ryan Johnson, Kelvin Langmead, James Ferry, Ryan Beswick, Ashley Chambers, George Green (12 Billy Daniels, 81), Daniel Nti (15 Kairo Mitchell, 70).
Subs not used: 13 Dean Lyness, 14 Joel Dielna, 16 Jon Ashton.
Referee: Mr Scott Simpson
Assistant Referees: Mr Scott Chalkley & Mr Blake Antrobus
Brakes Man of the Match: Tony Breeden
