Vanarama National League North
Bootham Crescent
Tuesday 4th December 2018

Brakes forced a third successive two goal draw against York City, storming back from two goals down with half an hour to play thanks to a well taken double from Colby Bishop, who continued his strong comeback from ten months out with an ACL injury to bring his tally to eight from eight games.

As fog descended on a freezing night at Bootham Crescent, Leamington’s run of five successive wins looked to be over as City skipper Jordan Burrow scored twice in five minutes early in the second half, but Paul Holleran’s side are developing a very useful never say die mentality and extended their unbeaten run thanks to Bishop, whose late leveller saw home fans streaming for the exits.

No doubt boosted by their weekend victory over FC United of Manchester the home side looked to establish an early advantage, and Tony Breeden was quick off his line to deny Jake Wright as he latched onto a header from Burrow to bear down on goal. From the resulting corner Reece Flanagan was well placed to divert Kennedy Digie’s header over the bar.

Burrow drove wide from 25 yards and Kallum Griffiths fired over after a third corner for the Minstermen. Callum Gittings was the first Leamington man to get a sight of goal as Flanagan nodded down for him some 30 yards out, but the strike was well over the bar.

Burrows headed on target from a free kick but straight at Breeden, while Wright turned James Mace, making space for himself but the shot was straight at the Brakes skipper.

The game became scrappy as the half progressed, but while the hosts inevitably had more possession Leamington worked hard to frustrate them. Junior English saw a header blocked for a corner which came to nothing, while a quick break forward saw Connor Gudger’s cross intercepted before Colby Bishop had the opportunity to connect.

The home support were becoming audibly restless as the half time whistle blew, but they would quickly have something to cheer early in the second forty five minutes.

Kieran Dunbar’s 25 yard drive flew wide of the target, while Adriano Moke’s left footed curler was deflected behind by Mace when it looked to be heading for the top corner.

It was eleven minutes in when the home side were handed the opportunity to take the lead, Alex Bray bundled over by Jamie Hood in the penalty area for a clear penalty. Burrow stepped up and emphatically sent Breeden the wrong way.

Five minutes later it was two. Jack Edwards was penalised by Referee Adam Herczeg when appearing to win the ball, and his frustration was compounded as Leamington failed to properly clear the free kick and Burrow crashed in his second of the game.

Brakes hauled themselves back into proceedings with twenty minutes remaining as they registered their first shot on target. Breeden’s clearing kick was picked up by Dunbar, who sent Bishop clear of the retreating defence with a fine ball down the right which matched by the finish, the striker cutting into the box and beating Adam Bartlett from a tight angle with a superb drive into the far corner.

The game inevitably began to open up in the closing stages as fog began to descend on, Gittings blazing a shot across goal and wide after getting into a good position on the left.

Bartlett had had little to do prior to Bishop’s goal but he just about claimed the ball at the second attempt as Gudger delivered a half cleared corner back into the box with Bishop lurking.

Breeden had to be at his best to deny Burrow a hat trick goal as Moke played a cross in to the near post, but the goalkeeper had a let off when his clearance fell to substitute Lewis Hawkins on the half way line, but with Breeden way out of his goal the potential chance to kill the game was wasted, and York paid the ultimate penalty when Bishop thumped home a header with three minutes to go following a left wing corner kick to the delight of small band of travelling fans on the terrace behind the goal.

It may not have been the greatest spectacle to watch, but the determined comeback represents another very hard earned point for Brakes as they enter the final furlong of 2018.

Attendance: 1,938

York City: Adam Bartlett, Sean Newton, Joe Tait, Kennedy Digie, Joe Davis, Kallum Griffiths, Jake Wright (16 Macaulay Langstaff, 46), Adriano Moke, Jordan Burrow ©, Alex Harris, Alex Bray (14 Lewis Hawkins, 63).

Subs not used: 12 Joe Ironside, 15 Josh Law, 17 David Ferguson.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, Connor Gudger, Reece Flanagan, Jamie Hood (17 Jack Lane, 67), James Mace, Kieran Dunbar, Callum Gittings, Colby Bishop, Jack Edwards (16 Anthony Dwyer, 79), Connor Taylor (14 Ahmed Obeng, 67).

Subs not used: 12 Joe Clarke, 15 James Bowen.

Referee: Mr Adam Herczeg

Assistant Referees: Mr Iain Turner & Mr David Carr

Brakes Man of the Match: Colby Bishop.