Vanarama National League North
Victory Park
Saturday 23rd March 2019

Brakes by no means disgraced themselves at the home of the league leaders, Chorley scoring two late goals to give the scoreline a slightly flattering look as they inch towards possible promotion. The main talking point of the afternoon came away from this game, as the bottom three all lost meaning that the ten point cushion is maintained with another game ticked off the fixture list and the end of the season drawing ever closer.

Paul Holleran was forced into changes to his starting line up being without Junior English due to suspension and also losing Connor Gudger to illness on the morning of the game. James Mace slotted in at right back while Jack Edwards filled his vacant centre back position, Jack Lane moving to left back. Elliot Hodge also returned to the starting eleven in place of Ahmed Obeng.

The game was never a classic by any stretch, the home side as well organised and disciplined as they always are, limited Leamington to just a couple of shots on goal throughout, but Paul Holleran’s men were coping well with their threat until Jamie Hood’s unfortunate 35th minute slip let in Marcus Carver, who exacted full punishment. Brakes were always in with a shout until the closing stages when they began to tire, and the Magpies turned the screw to seal the points.

Chorley enjoyed most of the early possession as you would expect but it wasn’t until the 25th minute that a serious threat to either goal materialised. Keeper Matt Urwin did well to punch Jordan Murphy’s right wing cross off the head of the lurking Colby Bishop to concede a corner from which Edwards headed away from goal.

Bishop then held the ball up well on the left before laying it back for Joe Clarke, who came no closer to scoring his first goal for the club as his shot went high and wide.

The home side’s first serious effort on goal arrived just prior to the half hour mark, Carver spreading the play to Adam Blakeman on the left, the defender driving a low effort across goal and just wide of the far post.

Brakes were looking reasonably comfortable until Hood fell over the ball as he looked to clear the danger having won it back from Carver, who took it on and thrashed a shot across Breeden into the far corner to open the scoring.

Leamington’s best effort of the afternoon came just before half time, Murphy and Elliot Hodge’s good work winning a corner on the right, Reece Flanagan’s delivery finding Lane unmarked at the far post, the defender chesting the ball down and driving low towards goal only for Matt Challoner to clear off the line.

Breeden was forced to push a back header from Andy Teague over his crossbar early in the second half but Brakes enjoyed a good spell around the hour mark. Flanagan turned inside on the edge of the box and drove in a shot that was deflected well away from goal. Murphy’s strong run into the box saw his shot fortuitously deflected through to Urwin.

The Chorley keeper went down after a corner for a reason that nobody could ascertain, but the home bench cleverly used the opportunity to have a swift team meeting and reorganise.

Ahmed Obeng and Callum Gittings were thrown on for the last twenty minutes, Obeng winning a corner on the right from which Lane looked to be impeded as he attempted to rise to meet it at the near post.

Josh Wilson came close to doubling Chorley’s advantage as he ran onto a through ball and lifted a shot over Breeden but against the crossbar. A similar move ended with a goal in the next attack however, Wilson nodding on Urwin’s long kick downfield for Carver to collect and lob Breeden from just inside the box.

Elliot Newby almost grabbed a third, Breeden diving full length to push a stinging drive away from his goal. The skipper made a great reaction save to deny substitute Adam McGurk, but was powerless to prevent his fellow replacement Louis Almond from driving in off the far post to make it three in the final minutes of injury time.

Attendance: 1,507

Chorley: Matt Urwin, Matt Challoner, Adam Blakeman (12 Louis Almond, 82), Andy Teague ©, Scott Leather, Courtney Meppen-Walter, Josh O’Keefe, Jake Cottrell, Marcus Carver (16 Adam McGurk, 82), Josh Wilson, Elliot Newby (14 Stephen Jordan, 86).

Subs not used: 15 Adam Anson, 21 Danny Eccles.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, James Mace, Jack Lane, Joe Clarke, Jamie Hood, Jack Edwards, Jordan Murphy (12 Ahmed Obeng, 70), Reece Flanagan, Colby Bishop, Sam Wilding (14 Callum Gittings, 70), Elliot Hodge (16 Dylan Parker, 86).

Subs not used: 13 Ben Newey, 15 Connor Taylor.

Referee: Mr Lewis Smith

Assistant Referees: Mr Darren Brown & Daniel Bruce

Brakes Man of the Match: Tony Breeden.