Vanarama National League North
Edgar Street
Tuesday 14th August 2018

Brakes surrendered their unbeaten start to the season at Edgar Street as they slipped to an unfortunate late defeat on their first visit to newly promoted Hereford.

The Bulls have momentum and a huge fan base behind them having won three league titles in a row since the club formed from the ashes of Hereford United, and despite being new boys in this league they are one of the biggest clubs in it, and will no doubt be there or thereabouts come the end of the season, but there was no disgrace in defeat here. Leamington competed well throughout and were worth their half time advantage, but injuries to key players forced Paul Holleran into changes he didn’t really want to make, and disrupted the teams’ rhythm somewhat.

The Brakes boss was without the suspended Callum Gittings, Joe Magunda stepping into the starting line up, while Ahmed Obeng replaced Connor Taylor, but after being heavily involved in the opening twenty five minutes he was forced off with a hamstring problem, being replaced by Taylor.

In front of a crowd of 2,781 the hosts made a strong start, Eliot Richards threatening the Leamington goal with a skidding low drive from 25 yards that was watched all the way by Tony Breeden.

Kieran Dunbar replied with a shot that was blocked behind for a corner, and it was from a similar dead ball situation that Brakes took the lead on 19 minutes. The hosts would have been frustrated as they conceded unnecessarily, Dunbar delivering a cross into the six yard box from the right that was missed by goalkeeper and defence but not Jack Edwards, who had the simple task of heading home his second goal of the season into an empty net, the first time Hereford had conceded in their opening four games, which rattled both the hosts and their supporters for a short time.

Edwards almost slid the perfect pass through for Matt Stenson, Bulls keeper Martin Horsell off his line quickly to get there first. Hereford were using the wide open spaces of the Edgar Street pitch well, utilising both wings in search of an equaliser, and James Mace was well placed to put in fine blocks on two efforts at goal as the hosts searched for an equaliser. They had a glorious chance to level things up just before half time when Kieran Thomas’ ball in from the right was helped on by Harry White to Richards right in front of goal, but when composure would surely have brought reward he sliced his shot high over the bar from close range.

Ultimately Brakes’ downfall was their inability to hold on to their lead long enough to be able to settle back into the game after half time, the second half only six minutes old when the home side were awarded a penalty as a shot struck the raised arm of Jamie Hood at close range. White stepped up and confidently thundered the ball into the net off the underside of the bar.

Stenson had been well shackled by the Hereford defence despite almost breaking through on a couple of occasions, and almost put Leamington back in front when he made space for himself well on the edge of the box before curling in a powerful effort, the ball crashing back off the inside of the post and bouncing across the goalmouth with nobody in a blue shirt close enough to capitalise.

The game began to get a bit niggly in the last twenty minutes or so as both sides fought for supremacy. Hereford substitute Jamie Bird almost made a spectacular entrance when he thrashed a stinging drive towards the top corner from just outside the box with practically his first touch; Breeden diving full length to keep it out.

Joe Clarke’s free kick saw Junior English’s header deflected into the arms of Horsell, but there was to be late heartbreak as another dangerous effort from outside the box by Bird ricocheted off the inside of Hood’s leg and flew into the bottom corner, sparking scenes of delirium on the packed terrace behind the goal.

Brakes gave themselves the opportunity to hit back with two late set pieces, but Mace headed wide and Hood blazed over at the far post, sending the ball sailing into the empty terrace behind the goal.

Over the 90 minutes there certainly wasn’t anything to be too downhearted about. With the winning goal arriving so late and via a huge deflection defeat was a little hard to take, but there is still a solid platform to be built on.

Attendance: 2,781

Hereford: Martin Horsell, Kieran Thomas, Danny Greenslade, Billy Murphy, Harvey Smith, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd ©, Lance Smith (12 Jamie Bird, 80), Eliot Richards, Harry White, Mike McGrath, Lewis Hall (15 Keyon Reffell, 72).

Subs not used: 14 Calvin Dinsley, 16 Ryan Green, 17 Joslain Mayebi (GK).

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, James Bowen (17 Connor Gudger, 68), Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Kieran Dunbar, Joe Clarke,Matt Stenson (14 Anthony Dwyer, 68), Jack Edwards, Ahmed Obeng (12 Connor Taylor, 27).

Subs not used: 15 Chekaine Steele, 16 Kieran Morris.

Referee: Mr Scott Jackson

Assistant Referees: Mr Robert Hathaway & Mr Thomas Wainman

Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Edwards.