Vanarama National League North
The Merseyrail Community Stadium
Saturday 12th January 2019

Brakes suffered a second half buffeting on the North West coast as in form Southport simply took them to the cleaners with a devastating display of finishing to inflict a heaviest defeat of the season on Paul Holleran’s side.

Hopes were high of a first win in eight National League North games at half time with Brakes having ridden their luck a little but generally defending very well. There was certainly no sign of the collapse that was about to unfold.

With few options open to him the manager stuck with the same eleven that had performed so well at Guiseley. They were already expecting a tough game with Southport having moved above them in the table with a midweek victory over Guiseley. They were certainly on an upward trajectory having only tasted defeat in national cup competitions since the end of October, and they went on to show exactly why.

Leamington had to do plenty of defending, and were fortunate not to find themselves behind in the opening few moments. Marcus Wood went to ground on the left wing and the free kick was swung in dangerously to the far post where Dion Charles connected with a powerful first time drive, but somehow directed it wide of the upright.

Kieran Dunbar forced the first corner of the afternoon on the left, Reece Flanagan sending the ball to the far post where James Mace headed up and onto the roof of the net.

The Sandgrounders came close again from their first corner when Andrew Parry’s backheader looped just wide of the far post. The hosts continued to pour forward, and Bradley Bauress smashed a shot against the post from close range inside the box on the left, Tony Breeden off his line to narrow the angle.

The home side appeared to be getting off lightly with some niggly challenges while Callum Gittings was booked, presumably for dissent, but Leamington were frustrating their hosts with some stout defending, and they stunned the Haig Avenue crowd by taking the lead on 34 minutes.

A free kick was won on the left, the perpetrator somehow escaping a caution, but punishment was exacted as James Bowen swung the ball in to the far post where Jack Edwards just managed to stab it over the line despite the attentions of a defender. The Referee did not initially signal a goal until alerted to his assistant on the near side.

Liam Watson introduced Devarn Brown at half time and the livewire wide man was instrumental in turning the game completely on its head. Within two minutes he had helped haul Southport level, finding too much space on the right to drive in a low cross that was met by Bauress, whose initial shot was only parried by Breeden, who was helpless to prevent the loose ball being rammed into the net from close range.

It took Brakes almost ten minutes to make any notable forward movement into the opposing half, Gittings driving a low effort wide after some neat play from Bishop and Murphy on the edge of the box.

The same player saw another effort deflected behind by Reagan Ogle as Flanagan rolled the ball into his path on the edge of the box. Meanwhile Sampson directed a poor header well wide from Bauress’ left wing centre.

Brakes almost benefitted from a corner kick that probably shouldn’t have been awarded, Bishop diving to send a header just wide of the post, but within sixty seconds the home side were in front, skipper David Morgan picking up the ball some 25 yards out from Green’s right wing cross and scooping the ball past a static Breeden into the top corner.

Three minutes later it was three, the dangerous Green afforded far too much time and space to deliver the cross in from the right again, Bauress likewise as he picked his spot from a central position just outside the box and curled his shot into the bottom corner.

The game was well and truly over on 78 minutes, the ball in from the right half cleared to the edge of the box, where Charles controlled and leathered back into the net.

Charles grabbed a second in the final minute, scything through a bedraggled Leamington defence and driving powerfully past Breeden to seal a heaviest defeat of the season.

Murphy blazed wildly over the bar and substitute Ahmed Obeng saw a shot blocked inside the box as Brakes toiled for a consolation but it was too late as the final whistle sounded on a dreadfully disappoiting afternoon.

Attendance: 892

Southport: Dan Hanford, Dean Winnard (13 Jordan Richards, 37), Reagan Ogle, Liam Edwards, Andrew Parry, David Morgan ©, Dion Charles, Marcus Wood, Jason Gilchrist (17 Deveran Green), Jack Sampson, Bradley Bauress (12 Morgan Homson-Smith, 84).

Subs not used: 15 Liam Davies, 16 Josh Tibbetts.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, James Mace, James Bowen (12 Connor Taylor, 83), Joe Clarke (15 Junior English, 79), Jack Edwards, Jack Lane, Kieran Dunbar (14 Ahmed Obeng, 79), Callum Gittings, Colby Bishop, Reece Flanagan, Jordan Murphy.

Subs not used: 16 Tom James, 17 Ben Newey.

Referee: Mr Stephen Copeland

Assistant Referees: Mr Kieran Johnson & Mr Oliver Noonan

Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Edwards.