Report

Vanarama National League North 
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 31st March 2018

A slightly fortuitous goal it may have been, but the 43rd minute winner from the outstanding Jamie Hood could prove to be priceless for Brakes as they resumed their battle to stay in the Vanarama National League North with a vital three points and a league double over visitors FC United of Manchester.

With the visitors not completely clear of danger themselves this was described by Paul Holleran afterwards as ‘As near to a must win game as you can get’, and both teams gave their all throughout on a sticky pitch, vindicating the tremendous work put in by the ground staff and volunteers to ensure the game went ahead.

Jack Edwards sent a looping header onto the top of the crossbar in the opening couple of minutes but it was FC United who went closest to breaking the deadlock early on when Luke Higham’s cross to the far post was headed down by Gerard Gardner, forcing Tony Breeden into a good save.

Brakes registered their first effort on goal when Ahmed Obeng was fouled some 25 yards out, Kieran Dunbar finding his range once more from the free kick to strike a powerful effort on target only for United keeper Lloyd Allinson to hurl himself across goal to tip the ball over the bar.

Dunbar sent another effort in on goal after winning a corner on the right but as the ball came out to him inside the box his control and volley lacked the purchase to trouble Allinson.

Danny Raachi’s shot across goal was adjudged to have taken a deflection to earn FC United a corner which came to nothing before Allinson’s attempted clearance struck team mate Higham at the other end, gifting Leamington a corner on the right which was recycled by Jack Edwards out to the taker Dunbar, who hoisted a good ball to the far post, met by a thumping header from Hood. However, Allinson was well positioned at his near post and held the ball well.

Hood was imperious at alongside central defensive partner James Mace, and launched himself in to make a superb block on a powerful shot from Kieran Glynn that looked to be goalbound before popping up to take full advantage of Jordan Fagbola’s clearance away from the goal line crashing straight into his legs and into the back of the net to give Leamington a priceless lead two minutes before half time.

The second half was scrappy at times as you would expect from a full blooded encounter between two sides in the bottom half of the table, but the effort and endeavour from both was not in question.

Some great close possession from Dunbar and then Edwards saw the latter into the FC United penalty area, Daniel Udoh laying the ball back to his team mate, who saw his shot blocked. Callum Gittings and Udoh then broke forward with the FC defence retreating, Dunbar just unable to reach the cross into the box from the right.

Connor McCarthy’s low driven shot across goal was helped behind by Breeden as the visiting supporters in the Harbury Lane End cranked up the volume in the closing stages trying to inspire their side to an equaliser. Several corners were well defended or claimed by Breeden, before the visitors were reduced to ten men as the game entered injury time, Raachi receiving a second yellow card for one niggly foul too many. Brakes saw out the remaining moments to claim a big three points.

‘Yet again every time there’s questions asked of these boys, they respond,’ said manager Holleran afterwards. ‘Conditions were difficult, the pitch was difficult but there were some immense performances individually and defensively. Sometimes people enjoy these kind of games, the pitch was like an old fashioned pitch, and there were some big hearts out there today. I think the way we defended set pieces second half was great, it was a really good clean sheet.’

Attendance: 1.005 

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, Connor Gudger, Joe Clarke (14 Joe Magunda, 78), Jamie Hood, James Mace, Kieran Dunbar, Callum Gittings, Daniel Udoh, Jack Edwards, Ahmed Obeng (12 Matt Dodd, 74).

Subs not used: 15 Liam Canavan, 16 Richard Taundry, 17 Kurtis Revan.

FC United of Manchester: Lloyd Allinson, Joe Senior, Luke Higham, Scott Kay ©, Matthew Hughes, Jordan Fagbola, Kieran Glynn (14 Sam Tattum, 84), Daniel Racchi, Tom Greaves, Connor McCarthy, Gerard Gardner.

Subs not used: 13 Adriano Basso, 15 Jamal Crawford, 16 Elliot Simoes, 17 Sam O’Donnell.

Referee: Mr James Oldham

Assistant Referees: Mr Tim Walker & Mr Jack Shepherd

Brakes Man of the Match: Jamie Hood