Report
Vanarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 14th April 2018
Brakes failed to build on their recent good performances at home as they stumbled to a desperately disappointing stalemate against fellow strugglers Curzon Ashton.
On a lovely spring afternoon perfect for football, this game failed miserably to live up to its billing as the biggest of the season, and while defeat on an energy sapping pitch at Telford on Thursday night certainly didn’t help Paul Holleran’s men they were unable to put a well organised visiting defence under enough pressure to force more than one clear cut chance, never mind a goal.
That said, Leamington’s back line did not have to work too hard for their clean sheet either, defences certainly coming out on top in a game that will not live long in the memory of any of the 531 present, but ultimately the point gained for both sides may yet see them safe by April 28th.
Daniel Udoh worked tirelessly as always, the Crewe loanee spinning on a pass into the Curzon penalty area and firing in a shot that took a deflection on its way towards goal, only for ‘Nash defender Oliver Thornley to clear off the line.
Joe Guest was the visitors liveliest player, particularly in the first half, and darted between defenders to drive a shot wide before scampering in on the right of the Leamington penalty area, taking Tony Breeden out of the game with a square pass to Niall Cummins. Fortunately for the Brakes skipper James Mace was on hand to hack the ball away from goal.
Guest was involved once more as Mace got the ball caught under his boots, feeding James Baillie for a vicious curling effort that only just cleared the angle of post and crossbar.
Jack Edwards headed a free kick on to Udoh just inside the box, the striker doing well to create space for himself once more only to scuff his shot wide.
Ahmed Obeng was getting little joy on the left wing, and cut inside to be fouled some 20 yards from goal, Connor Gudger curling the free kick wide of the target.
With Curzon pushing forward in anticipation of an attack, Guest sent a free kick from his own half sailing out of play behind the Leamington goal, a moment that probably summed up the overall quality of the game. The left back was one of the standout performers on either side though, and hooked a decent effort across goal and wide just before half time.
Udoh appeared to be harshly penalised as he muscled past Daniel Shaw just inside the Curzon box early in the second half, while Baillie felt he had a decent shout for a penalty when he went down in the box. Referee Amy Fearn was unmoved however.
Callum Gittings was adjudged to have just failed to keep the ball in play as he cut it back into the six yard box, sparing Edwards’ blushes as he hammered a first time shot high over the bar.
Substitute Liam Canavan crashed in Leamington’s only real effort on target in the second half, a powerful low first time drive from all of 30 yards which was unfortunately directed straight at keeper Cameron Mason.
Curzon Ashton substitute Richard Baker shot straight at Tony Breeden in the closing stages, while Kieran Dunbar lifted the ball into the centre for Obeng to head wide but the nerves from both sides were evident. Nobody wanted to make a mistake which led to a goal, which led to plenty of misplaced passes and very little positive action throughout.
There will be more twists and turns in the final two weeks of the season, with as many as eight teams still not mathematically safe from relegation. Brakes probably have a difficult run in, but they have pulled off unexpected results more than once during this campaign, and there is no reason why they cannot regroup and do it again.
Attendance: 531
Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, Connor Gudger, Joe Clarke, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Matt Dodd (12 Kieran Dunbar, 55), Callum Gittings, Daniel Udoh (17 Kurtis Revan 89), Jack Edwards (14 Liam Canavan, 80), Ahmed Obeng.
Subs not used: 15 Joe Magunda, 16 Richard Taundry.
Curzon Ashton: Cameron Mason, Oliver Thornley, Joe Guest, Jonathan Hunt ©, Daniel Shaw, Matthew Regan (16 Will Beesley, 81), James Baillie, Paul Marshall (12 Luke Clarke, 58), Niall Cummins, Ryan Brooke, (14 Richard Baker, 69) Jake Dunwoody.
Subs not used: 15 Ben Wharton, 17 Matthew Crothers.
Referee: Amy Fearn
Assistant Referees: Greg Rollason & Paul Buck
Brakes Man of the Match: Junior English.
