Vanarama National League North
Nethermoor Park
Saturday 5th January 2019

Brakes picked up another precious National League North point, their sixth in seven games, at Nethermoor Park to frustrate hosts Guiseley, and but for the width of a crossbar, could have travelled back from Yorkshire with all three.

Paul Holleran was forced to shuffle his pack as Connor Gudger and Jamie Hood began three match suspensions, bringing James Bowen into the starting eleven while Jack Edwards moved back into central defence to partner Jack Lane, a position he is not unfamiliar with having played there earlier in his career. Joe Clarke started in midfield while Reece Flanagan pushed forward to support Colby Bishop.

The opening exchanges saw Guiseley go close to an opening goal when veteran striker Kayode Odejayi held the ball up well just inside the penalty area before turning Edwards and firing a shot just wide of the upright.

James Mace turned the ball behind as Cliff Moyo looked to threaten down the right but Leamington broke quickly from the resulting corner kick through Jordan Murphy, who took on and beat Moyo, his cross just evading the lurking Bishop.

The Lions moved in front on 18 minutes, former Football League striker Odejayi using his giant frame to shield the ball as it was headed down from a long throw in from right wing by Niall Heaton, before quickly scrambling a shot past Tony Breeden from just outside the six yard box.

Breeden almost manufactured an opportunity for Bishop as he took a free kick from inside his own half, the ball bouncing over the last Guiseley defender Will Thornton inside the penalty area but just out of reach of the striker as he stretched to try and poke it past Marcus Dewhurst.

Brakes’ 13 goal top scorer was denied again as a neat move by Leamington saw Callum Gittings receive the ball from Joe Clarke on the left wing and exchange passes with Bowen before cutting back inside and delivering an excellent cross which the impressive Moyo only just managed to get there ahead of Bishop to clear the danger.

Just as Guiseley looked to be going in ahead at half time they were stunned by a Leamington equaliser. Flanagan did well to make space for himself on the right side of midfield before playing the ball behind the Guiseley defence for Kieran Dunbar to run on to. His low cross intended for Bishop travelled just behind the striker but found Solihull Moors loanee Murphy, who controlled the ball before stepping inside and curling a shot beyond Dewhurst into the net.

There was still time for a controversial moment before the interval, Odejayi appearing to connect with an elbow on Bowen as he attempted to clear in midfield. It was unclear what the match officials saw, but the striker received a yellow card.

After dragging themselves level at a pivotal time in the game Leamington seized the initiative in the second half, playing some neat football at times. One such move saw Breeden’s throw out to Gittings moved on to Bishop, who found Dunbar running in behind the Guiseley defence with an audacious overhead pass, a low ball into the box just missing Murphy at the far post.

Murphy was to be presented with the opportunity for a second goal for himself and Leamington just prior to the hour mark when he bore down on goal on the left, forcing a save from Dewhurst as he shot from a tight angle. Thornton blocked the follow up effort from Bishop, and a second effort from Murphy was cleared off the line by Moyo.

Moyo came to the Lions’ rescue once more as Gittings and Murphy combined on the right to send a low ball in towards Flanagan, who looked to have a tap in only for the Guiseley man to get there first.

Defender Alex Purver got a shot on target for the hosts after a long throw was not fully cleared but the effort was comfortable for Breeden, whose clearance saw the ball bounce kindly for Bishop, who shifted to his right past his marker and drove just over the angle of bar and post from 20 yards.

In what had been an end to end second half Marcus Bignot threw on all three of his permitted substitutes in an attempt to snatch a winner in the closing stages, but it was Brakes who came closest to claiming all three points. Flanagan had already seen Dewhurst collect one well struck free kick from just right of centre a few yards outside the box after substitute Ahmed Obeng had been fouled, but the former Walsall man came within inches of his first goal since returning to Leamington when he struck another free kick from a similar distance, this time from the left side of the penalty area, only for the ball to cannon back off the crossbar.

It may have been some time since Leamington tasted victory in a league fixture, but the points they are accumulating are currently keeping them in twelfth place, some ten points away from the drop zone. There is still far too much of the season remaining to predict a finishing position, but they are developing a reputation as a tough nut to crack, which will stand them in good stead for the months ahead.

Attendance: 683

Guiseley: Marcus Dewhurst, Cliff Moyo, Niall Heaton, Alex Purver, Will Thornton, Andy Halls ©, Kaine Felix, Kingsley James, Rowan Liburd (15 Lewis Walters, 75), Kayode Odejayi (16 Paul Clayton, 75), Scott Smith (14 Curtis Morrison, 82).

Subs not used: 12 Nathan Newall, 13 Joe Green.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, James Mace, James Bowen, Joe Clarke, Jack Edwards, Jack Lane, Kieran Dunbar (14 Ahmed Obeng, 82), Callum Gittings, Colby Bishop, Reece Flanagan, Jordan Murphy.

Subs not used: 12 Connor Taylor, 15 Junior English, 16 Tom James, 17 Martyn Naylor.

Referee: Mr Mike Barlow

Assistant Referees: Mr Jamie Rhodes & Mr Martin Parker

Brakes Man of the Match: James Bowen.