Vanarama National League North
St James Park
Wednesday 26th December 2018

Brakes provided yet more proof that they can compete with the established teams in the National League North as Kieran Dunbar’s second half strike earned them a deserved point at St James Park.

There was plenty of festive drama for the crowd of 570 to enjoy, but Paul Holleran will probably have left the more satisfied of the two managers after seeing his side go in at half time behind having taken a 17th minute lead through Colby Bishop’s penalty. Brackley spurned the chance to give themselves a two goal cushion when Lee Ndlovu’s second half spot kick was comfortably saved by Tony Breeden, and the Saints were left frustrated when substitutes Reece Flanagan and debutant loan man Jordan Murphy combined with Connor Gudger to cause panic in the home penalty box, allowing Dunbar to capitalise with his fifth goal of the season.

The manager made just one change to his starting line up from Saturday’s starting line up, replacing Flanagan with Joe Clarke, while Murphy took Anthony Dwyer’s place on the bench having signed on loan from Solihull Moors on Christmas Eve.

An early free kick for the home side was headed clear by Leamington’s defensive wall, before the impressive Junior English was sent tumbling by probably the only bad challenge of the afternoon, yet the perpetrator escaped without so much as a lecture.

Callum Gittings cleared the crossbar and the stand behind the goal with a wild first time effort from the edge of the box, but it was a free kick from inside the Leamington half by Tony Breeden which led to the opening goal. Matt Lowe picked up possession inside the penalty area facing his own goal but was neatly dispossessed by Dunbar, who was then tripped by the same player. Referee Barry Lamb immediately pointed to the spot and Bishop stepped up to calmly send Danny Lewis the wrong way and keep up his goal a game record since his return from the ACL injury sustained against the same opponents in this fixture at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium 12 months ago.

Bishop did well to hold off Connor Hall inside the box and get his shot in from a tight angle only to see it blocked, while Gittings’ next effort at goal was a powerfully struck volley which was unfortunately blocked almost as it left his boot, the ball spinning clear nicely for Ndlovu to break up the left. Leamington had pressed their opponents well from the kick off however, and English tracked back to put the ball out for a throw.

Breeden saved the first effort on his goal after 25 minutes, a header from Adam Walker, but the visiting side were looking comfortable at this stage. Connor Taylor probably should have done better when he curled a low shot wide of the far post from the left, and Breeden did well to hold Ndlovu’s powerful effort from a tight angle on the right down at his near post. He was helpless to prevent Brackley’s equaliser on 33 minutes however as Ndlovu set up Walker to sling in a dangerous left wing centre which was headed on for James Armson to drill in from close range.

The former Nuneaton connection came up trumps again for Kevin Wilkin within five minutes, skipper Gareth Dean cutting inside onto his left foot to thump a screamer past Breeden into the top corner from outside the box.

Cheltenham Town loanee Liam McAlindon glanced a header wide for Brackley from Lowe’s cross just before half time, while Dunbar went into the Referee’s notebook as Brakes returned to the dressing room frustrated.

Six minutes into the second half Ndlovu won his side a penalty. The nature of the offence was unclear but there were few protests from those wearing blue. As he has done so many times in the past however, Breeden guessed correctly to dive to his left and keep out the poorly struck spot kick and keep the game within reach for his team mates.

Jack Edwards came close to restoring parity as Breeden delivered another dead ball from his own half into the Brackley penalty area, his opposite number Danny Lewis advancing from his line but failing to claim the ball. Edwards was grounded but still managed to get plenty of power on his shot and it was cleared off the line, Dean getting in the way to block a fierce follow up effort from English, who was soon back at the other end doing a similar job for his side.

The hosts were enjoying the lion’s share of possession but Brakes were defending stoutly. It looked as though Brackley were about to be awarded a second penalty kick with around 20 minutes remaining, Ndlovu involved again, but after lengthy consultation with his assistant on the near side the Referee awarded a free kick.

Having already got out of jail once Leamington ensured a share of the spoils with Dunbar’s 74th minute leveller. Neat interplay between Flanagan, Murphy and Gudger saw the left back played into the box by a deft back heel from the former Walsall man, then setting up Bishop for a shot. There was a momentary shout for handball as Dean hurled himself in to challenge, but the ball ran loose nicely for Dunbar to stroke into the bottom corner and in off the post past the flat footed Lewis to the delight of the travelling support behind the goal.

Ndlovu was continuing to try and atone for his penalty miss, and a superb turn away from his marker saw him test Breeden with a vicious low drive that the Brakes skipper held on to well at his near post. He also saved a shot that Shane Byrne will probably feel he should have done better with in the closing stages, but Leamington saw out four minutes of stoppage time in reasonable comfort to gain another point and extend their unbeaten run to eight matches.

Remarkably this was Brakes’ fourth two goal draw in six games, and their seventh this season. They have surrendered advantage in some of them and rescued a point in others, but it certainly illustrates that they are more competitive this season, if nothing else. They will certainly require more of the never say die spirit if they are to take this run into the New Year, with a tough trip to AFC Telford United the final fixture of 2018 on Saturday.

Attendance: 570

Brackley Town: Danny Lewis, Ellis Myles (17 Shaun Jeffers 84), Glenn Walker, Shane Byrne, Connor Hall, Gareth Dean ©, Matt Lowe, James Armson, Lee Ndlovu (15 Daniel Nti, 82), Liam McAlinden (12 Luke Fairlamb, 61), Adam Walker.

Subs not used: 14 Shepherd Murombedzi, 16 Ben Morgan.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, Connor Gudger, Joe Clarke, James Mace, Jack Lane, Kieran Dunbar (14 Ahmed Obeng, 88), Callum Gittings (12 Reece Flanagan, 65), Colby Bishop, Jack Edwards, Connor Taylor (15 Jordan Murphy, 59).

Subs not used: 16 Jamie Hood, 17 James Bowen.

Referee: Mr Barry Lamb

Assistant Referees: Mr Ryan Williams & Mr Alan Cox

Brakes Man of the Match: Junior English.