Report

Vanarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 22nd December 2018

Brakes were forced to settle for a share of the spoils from a from this pre Christmas contest, Paul Holleran acknowledging that visitors FC United of Manchester deserved at least a point for their first half display alone.

With all four goals arriving in the first half there was plenty of incident for both sets of fans to discuss, the only surprise was that no more followed in the second, but despite the visitors not sustaining the pace they had set in the first half Leamington were unable to capitalise on several good opportunities that came their way.

The game got off to a blistering start for Brakes as they went on the offensive straight from the kick off, Colby Bishop forcing a corner inside the opening minute from which Jack Edwards directed a header narrowly wide at the far post.

It was a powerful driving run from Callum Gittings that led to the opening goal on 3 minutes, the ball being whipped off his boot inside the penalty area and put behind. Kieran Dunbar delivered the right wing corner into a congested six yard box and Jack Lane had the first stab at goal as his hooked shot was cleared off the line, but Colby Bishop was on hand to snaffle up the loose ball. There was some initial confusion as Red Rebels keeper Lloyd Allinson appeared to be indicating that he had been impeded in the build up as he attempted to claim the corner, which certainly looked to be the case, but the goal stood.

Bishop was almost played in for a second soon afterwards but was dispossessed by Chris Lynch. It soon became evident that the visitors were not going to roll over and concede the points lightly, and they began to put Leamington under increasing pressure. A powerfully struck free kick by Kurt Willoughby took a huge deflection behind for a corner, with a relieved Tony Breeden rooted to the spot.

The Brakes skipper saved a low shot comfortably, but was helpless as Josh Wallen glanced in a right wing corner on 31 minutes to deservedly level things up.

An inviting cross from Joel Senior found the head of Chris Sharp, but his effort lacked the power to beat Breeden as it bounced down and into the keepers arms. A free kick from distance was also fielded comfortably as FC United continued to press forward, but Leamington broke forward in a rare attack to restore their advantage four minutes before half time.

Connor Gudger displayed great persistence to maintain possession on the left touchline up by the corner flag before winning a throw in and finding Gittings, who took on and stepped outside his marker to deliver the perfect cross for Bishop to thump a close range header past Allinson for his second of the afternoon.

‘We’ve conceded from a set piece, which we should be doing better from, and their second goal, right at the death at the end of the first half, as a group we’re disappointed with the amount of opportunities we’ve had to get the ball clear,’ said Holleran after the game. ‘Injury time was up and we’ve dived in, it was a mistake and we need to be better than that.’ The upshot was a second equaliser for the visitors, a well struck effort by Willoughby, who turned past the lunge of Gittings and thumped in a low effort that somehow squeezed under the dive of Breeden into the bottom corner.

Brakes needed to come out with purpose to try and regain the initiative in the second half and Bishop presented Dunbar with a great opportunity five minutes in, nudging the ball to his team mate on the edge of the box, but the youngsters’ powerfully struck effort whistled an inch the wrong side of the upright.

Reece Flanagan fired well over the bar from a half clearance, but Leamington were starting to get on top now. Bishop flicked Connor Taylor in on goal but his shot was met with a strong block that sent the ball out for a throw in.

The visitors had the ball in the net for a third time only for their celebrations to be cut short by an early offside flag, while Bishop looked to be in with a chance of a hat trick after lifting the ball over Lynch, only to lift his shot high over the bar. He had his head in his hands once more shortly afterwards as he diverted Taylor’s shot over the bar from close range, but in his defence the ball came towards him at pace, and he was almost falling as he connected with it.

Both sides introduced substitutes in the final quarter, and Ahmed Obeng’s initial impact was very nearly a match winning one, as he ran in behind Senior and Lynch to connect with a through ball from Gittings, but was just unable to get enough purchase on his shot to get it past Allinson.

Obeng then had another glorious chance to score a third for Leamington when he cut out a crossfield pass from FC skipper Mike Potts and bore down on goal at pace, beating Senior for pace and riding the challenge of Lynch before dragging a low agonisingly wide of the far post.

‘I think on the balance of the game you’d have to say that they deserved something for their first half performance, and we deserved something for our second half performance,’ said Paul Holleran afterwards.

‘We were a little bit braver in the second half, we were better on the ball, I think a few players stepped up, and we played as well as we have done here for a while. FC United are a good side, Neil Reynolds has come in and quickly put his stamp on them. They’ve got some good young energetic players and they’ve got a good balance to them, but I thought we really got at them second half. We probably should have done better with one or two of the chances we had, and been more clinical, but I was much more pleased with the performance today, the way we went about things. We looked much more like our normal selves. The unbeaten run goes on though, and one thing we have learnt is that you don’t underestimate a point in this league - every point is massive.’

The manager confirmed that Jamie Hood is now fully fit, giving him the pleasant problem of a full squad to pick from over the busy festive period.

Attendance: 725

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, Connor Gudger, Reece Flanagan, James Mace, Jamie Hood, Kieran Dunbar (17 Ahmed Obeng, 76), Callum Gittings (12 Joe Clarke, 82), Colby Bishop, Jack Edwards, Connor Taylor.

Subs not used: 14 Jamie Hood, 15 James Bowen, 16 Anthony Dwyer.

FC United of Manchester: Lloyd Allinson, Joel Senior, Caleb Richards, Stephen O’Halloran, Chris Lynch, Mike Potts ©, Tom Peers (14 Jack Banister, 67), Josh Wallen, Chris Sharp, Kurt Willoughby, Mike Donohue (12 Ryan White, 67).

Subs not used: 15 Jan Palinkas, 16 Theo Brierley, 17 Jamie Milligan.

Referee: Mr David McNamara

Assistant Referees: Mr Liam Corbett & Mr Mark Billingham

Brakes Man of the Match: Colby Bishop.