Report

Vanarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 27th October 2018

 There have been few afternoons as contrasting as this one down on Harbury Lane over the years. Brakes have never been renowned for stirring comebacks, and at two goals down and a man light at half time, few would have predicted what was to occur in the next 45 minutes, but they stunned both their own supporters and those of visitors Darlington with an incredible fightback to earn a deserved point.

Paul Holleran admitted afterwards that he had stressed the need for damage limitation at half time, so even he must have been pleasantly surprised at the character and determination his side displayed to turn the game on its head.

Both sides entered the game shorn of their top striker; with Matt Stenson having left Brakes for Solihull Moors during the week, while Darlington’s much travelled striker Reece Styche was at the same time moving to league rivals Alfreton Town.

The pre match mood reflected the weather, but both sides started brightly on a grey, wet afternoon in South Warwickshire. The visitors were first to register a shot on goal when Josef Wheatley’s powerfully struck free kick was pawed away from the top corner by Tony Breeden.

Jack Edwards sent a looping header towards goal from his skipper’s free kick only to see the ball hooked off the goal line by a defender, but the visitors zipped the ball around with purpose and were incisively ahead on 18 minutes, Simon Ainge driving the ball low into the net after Breeden parried the initial shot but his team mates were not quick enough to close the Darlington striker down.

Ainge very nearly doubled his tally soon after the opener, turning past Callum Gittings on the edge of the box but dragging his shot just the wrong side of the upright.

Edwards was presented with another opportunity when Kieran Dunbar’s right wing cross found him unmarked in the centre with time to pick his spot, but he was denied by a combination of former Brakes loan keeper Jonny Maddison and a defender.

The visitors looked dangerous every time they burst forward, and Breeden had to be alert once more to deny Jordan Nicholson with a strong arm to deflect his low strike behind.

Gittings drove harmlessly wide before Anthony Dwyer came desperately close to levelling things up when he met another inviting cross from Dunbar with a header that was a whisker past the post. This miss was brought into sharper focus as Darlington broke to score a second goal on 32 minutes, Harvey Saunders sweeping the ball home after James Mace had blocked the initial effort.

Matters went from bad to worse for Leamington six minutes before half time when Dwyer was shown a straight red card, leaving his initial bid to fill the boots of Stenson in tatters. On first viewing it looked a little harsh, particularly as he looked to be fouled beforehand, but the immediate reaction of Referee Tom Parsons was that he was going for his back pocket, and unfortunately that turned out to be the case.

Tommy Wright’s men could have increased their advantage before half time but Nicholson sliced his first time effort high and wide after the Brakes defence had been carved open once more.

There were rumours that some supporters left the stadium at half time in dismay at how the game had unfolded. They would be left to rue their decision. Holleran threw on Colby Bishop, the striker making his first appearance since a shattering ACL injury in a match against Brackley Town a little over 10 months ago. On the hour James Bowen and Reece Flanagan were also introduced, and within three minutes Leamington had a lifeline.

Stephen Thompson was penalised for handball inside the box, the ball rolling up his arm as he attempted to head Bowen’s long throw clear, and Bishop seized the chance to score his first goal since his unfortunate injury setback, sending Maddison the wrong way and thumping the ball into the roof of the net.

The volume of the home support had increased since half time, and now both players and fans realised there was something to fight for. Flanagan was so close to a spectacular equaliser, spotting Maddison just off his line his lofted effort drifted just past the far post.

Bowen looked to have a great chance to shoot at goal as Brakes piled on the pressure, the ball ricocheting around the edge of the Darlington area before being desperately hacked clear, but with 20 minutes to go they got their reward, Jack Edwards scrambling the ball in from close range after a corner had caused panic in the Quakers’ six yard box.

Darlington felt they had a penalty shout as a shot was fired into the side netting, and Terence Galbraith dragged a shot well wide, but some superb interplay between Bishop and Gittings just inside the box saw the latter in on goal, Maddison doing well to block his shot as he tried to lift the ball over the goalkeeper.

Nicholson looked to have got the better of Junior English as Darlington looked to re-establish their lead late on, but the ever dependable defender recovered well to put in a fine block challenge.

The Brakes support urged their team on for an unlikely winner, but the manner of their comeback made the final whistle feel like a victory. The players deserve great credit for their endeavour and determination in the second half.

‘I think that of all the points we’ve collected this season, that’s the best one so far,’ said Paul Holleran afterwards. I thought we did ok in the first half, but the goals were poor from our perspective. We looked a bit vulnerable to be fair, and then the decision with Anthony has left us really up against it then. You could see at that point that we were a side that’s had a difficult month. It was important then that we settled the players down, we changed the system and we spoke about staying in the game in periods, being clever, our set plays have been important to us, but I’ve got to be honest, the way Darlington have been the last few weeks, the way they’ve been playing, the way the first half went, even I didn’t see that coming. It was a fantastic second half performance - full of energy, full of desire, and quality at times.’

‘With the substitutions, I just thought James Bowen would give us more legs out there on the left - you’ve got to remember that Connor Gudger has been out for a long time; and the same with Reece Flanagan, I thought he would give us more legs too. I think the fact that we haven’t been playing a lot of football recently, some players needed that game time.’

On Colby Bishop, the manager said ‘As a management team we have seen how hard that boy has worked and how devastated he was so for him to get back on the pitch today and score, and contribute, was probably the most pleasing thing about today, and obviously to send the fans home happy. There’s no right way or wrong way to play football, but it’s great that on a day like today, with the conditions how they were to see ten players giving absolutely everything, to get something out of the game is a bonus, so I’m absolutely delighted.’

‘The sending off killed the atmosphere a bit first half. It looked like Anthony was being pulled back, but we’ve had a few of these decisions go against us. The important thing was how we reacted.’

Attendance: 765

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, Connor Gudger (14 James Bowen, 60), Joe Clarke (15 Reece Flanagan, 60), James Mace, Jack Lane, Kieran Dunbar, Callum Gittings, Anthony Dwyer, Jack Edwards, Ahmed Obeng (16 Colby Bishop, 46).

Subs not used: 12 Connor Taylor, 17 Tom James.

Darlington: Jon Maddison, Luke Trotman, Tom Elliot (16 David Syers, 60), Josef Wheatley, Liam Hughes, Terence Galbraith, Alex Henshall (15 Jonathan Burn, 71) Jordan Nicholson, Simon Ainge, Harvey Saunders, Stephen Thompson.

Subs not used: 12 Mitchell Glover, 13 Cameron Hall, 14 Sanny Lingthep.

Referee: Mr Tom Parsons

Assistant Referees: Mr Tom Waingman & Mr Dean Steatham

Brakes Man of the Match: Callum Gittings.