Report

Vanarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Monday 22nd April 2019

Colby Bishop’s hat trick ensured that Leamington continued their solid end to the season as they comfortably completed a league double over relegated Warwickshire neighbours Nuneaton Borough, who they will face again in ten days time in the Birmingham Senior Cup Final.

Paul Holleran made a couple of changes to his starting eleven, bringing in Connor Taylor and Sam Wilding in place of Ahmed Obeng and Callum Gittings, and both were heavily involved in much of Leamington’s good work in the opening 45 minutes.

James Caton fired an early free kick over the bar for Nuneaton in a scrappy opening, which with the warm weather conditions and the proximity of recent fixtures was more than understandable. Bishop headed Brakes’ first effort on goal well over the bar from Junior English’s right wing cross, while Jack Edwards’ powerful close range header from a free kick into the box was met by a flying save from Cameron Belford, the offside flag having already been raised.

English was forced to clear a dangerous cross into the Leamington penalty area as the visitors looked to gain an advantage, but it was Leamington who hit the front on 18 minutes when Breeden’s intelligent low kick out of goal was met on half way by Connor Gudger, who in turn found Wilding in space to drive forward and feed Taylor on the left. A delightful cross was met by a thumping header from Bishop to which gave Belford no chance.

Less than two minutes later Brakes had doubled their lead and Bishop had doubled his tally for the afternoon, benefitting from good work and perhaps a little ricochet as Taylor scrapped for the ball just inside the box and managed to squeeze it into the centre for Leamington’s number 9 to drive his 25th goal of the season low into the net, the first Brakes player to achieve this tally since Mark Bellingham and Luke Corbett notched 32 and 26 respectively back in 2009/10.

Belford almost spilled a shot from Edwards into the path of Bishop, who then directed a header high over the bar from a free kick, the offside flag again being raised.

Caton’s low drive was comfortably held by Breeden, whose opposite number Belford, now sporting a cap to aid his view into the afternoon sunshine, made a very good save to deny Edwards’ close range header.

Bishop had a chance for a first half hat trick when Joe Clarke won the ball well and slipped a neat pass through only for the striker to blaze well over the bar.

Taylor had the ball in the net early in the second half as Junior English headed across goal only for the assistant referee’s flag to deny him. The midfielder has found game time hard to come by recently but was certainly staking his claim for more involvement in the final two games of the season here, leading a breakaway and steadying himself before crossing from the left, Sam Wilding nodding into the path of Bishop, whose powerful half volley was just gathered by Belford in front of the lurking Jordan Murphy. The Boro’ custodian then made a sprawling save from Murphy as Gudger found him inside the box.

Taylor drew another save from the Nuneaton keeper as he cut inside and drove at goal before coming close again as he curled a shot just over the bar from out on the left.

The third goal arrived just past the half hour, and it completed a perfect hat trick for Bishop as Murphy received the ball just outside the box and shaped to shoot but instead nudged it into the path of his team mate, whose first touch took him away from his marker before he lifted the ball superbly over Belford for a fine goal. He was substituted soon afterwards to a standing ovation, his afternoon’s work done.

Nothing had been seen from the visitors as an attacking force up to this point but a free kick led to a cross into the Leamington area which was easily claimed by Breeden. Gudger then came within inches of a bizarre goal at the other end when his swerving left wing cross flashed past the far post.

Belford did well to hold a well struck free kick from substitute Reece Flanagan before seeing his brother Tyrell, also a goalkeeper, come on as a substitute in an outfield position, apparently not the first time he has done so this season as Nuneaton have struggled for players. Indeed he was one of only two substitutes available to Jimmy Ginnelly for this game.

The senior of the two Belford brothers continued to thwart Leamington in their attempts to build on their goal tally, holding a powerful downward header from James Mace from a right wing corner before producing another good stop from substitute Elliot Hodge, the follow up effort from Wilding was blocked before fellow substitute Dylan Parker steered his effort agonisingly wide of the upright.

Breeden was forced into a rare save as Taylor Allen won a header from a corner but his opposite number was far busier getting a hand to the ball as Parker attempted to lift it over him from almost on the touchline, a defender heading behind for a corner. Good footwork from Hodge then saw him find Parker, whose shot was blocked by the legs of Belford.

Wilding was next to try his luck and was so unfortunate not to score his first goal for Leamington as his thundering drive crashed off the underside of the bar onto the goal line.

Breeden snuffed out any chance of a consolation for Nuneaton as he saved brilliantly from Devon Kelly Evans in a one on one with the last action of the game.

Brakes can now travel to Darlington for their final league game of the campaign knowing that they can finish no lower than 15th and as high as 11th, results depending.

Attendance: 623

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, Connor Gudger, Joe Clarke, James Mace, Jack Lane, Jordan Murphy, Sam Wilding, Colby Bishop (12 Dylan Parker, 65), Jack Edwards (14 Reece Flanagan, 65), Connor Taylor (15 Elliot Hodge, 73).

Subs not used: 16 Callum Gittings, 17 Ahmed Obeng.

Nuneaton Borough: Cameron Belford, Bekir Halil (12 Dimitri Dunkley, 61), Rhys Sharpe (17 Ty Belford, 80), Luis Morrison, Jordan Lussey, Josh Lundstram, Taylor Allen, Ryan Edmunds, Luke Barlone, Devon Kelly-Evans, James Caton.

Referee: Mr Dean Watson

Assistant Referees: Mr Alan Cox & Mr Ryan Williams

Brakes Man of the Match: Colby Bishop.