Vanarama National League North
The Jakemans Stadium
Saturday 19th January 2019

The home side may have felt that they deserved all three points after creating an avalanche of chances throughout, but a threadbare Leamington side scrapped and battled their way to a creditable point at the Jakemans Stadium as they frustrated their hosts with the kind of defensive performance that had seemingly deserted them seven days earlier in the second half at Southport.

Hamstrung by Connor Gudger and Jamie Hood’s suspensions and the unavailability of Joe Clarke and Reece Flanagan Paul Holleran’s squad was almost down to the bare bones, but those available to him gave every ounce as they added another digit to their National League North tally.

Brakes got off to the best possible start after just three minutes, but not before Junior English was required to get a vital foot in to deny Gavin Allott an almost certain goal as the Boston number 9 looked to have a tap in on the edge of the six yard box following the first corner of the afternoon.

Unperturbed by this Leamington moved upfield and won their first corner, Dunbar delivering into the six yard box where Colby Bishop met the ball with a glancing header which a defender and the goalkeeper were unable to keep out on the line. The striker spent a seven game goalless spell with the Pilgrims in 2014 prior to joining Leamington, so his 14th goal of the season would have no doubt been particularly sweet.

Already stretched to breaking point Leamington were dealt a further blow with just eight minutes played when Dunbar, clearly struggling, had to be replaced by Connor Taylor. Although initial diagnosis was a jarred right knee, physio Pete Denham said that it was too early to say how severe the problem was or how long it might sideline the player for.

Bishop headed down at the near post from Jordan Murphy’s right wing corner as Brakes settled back down after losing Dunbar, but James Mace was forced to concede a soft corner from which Ryan Qualter climbed all over English at the far post to head just wide.

The same player headed narrowly wide from the opposite side as the hosts, and was clearly marked out as the dangerman from set pieces as his next effort was cleared off the line by a combination of Tony Breeden and James Bowen.

Former Pilgrims striker Bishop engineered another opportunity for himself inside the box when he turned two defenders before seeing his shot blocked. The ball was then thumped back in towards goal low by Murphy, Bishop connecting first time and sending it flying just past the post.

Jack Edwards had the ball in the net again only for an offside flag to leave the celebratory cheers sticking in the throats of the away support.

Qualter fashioned yet another chance for himself as Brakes failed to clear their lines on the edge of the box, stepping inside a tangle of bodies to drive low towards goal, but straight at Breeden. Edwards responded with an effort from distance which was fielded by Boston stopper George Willis.

Boston had the chance to level things up on 36 minutes when they were gifted a penalty as Bowen needlessly lunged in on Max Wright on the edge of the box. Ben Davies stepped up and sent Breeden the wrong way from the spot.

Jay Rollins’ overhead effort inside the box was well blocked by Mace, the same player heading wide as the ball was delivered in from the left.

Bishop saw a low drive from distance fail to trouble Willis, but Boston’s tails were up now, and every time the ball was sent into the Leamington area they looked dangerous. Allott forced a fine full length save from Breeden with a powerful header, and was then denied by Mace as he looked to connect with another cross from the right. Rollins then thought he had put the home side in front but he too was thwarted by a raised flag from the assistant referee.

The aerial bombardment re-commenced seconds into the second half, Wafula doing well to get to the touchline on the left before delivering the cross for Rollins to head just past the post. In their next foray Mace produced a superb challenge to deny Allott, the home fans screaming for another penalty.

Taylor then saw a first time volley blocked as Brakes won their first corner of the half, then thumping another well struck effort into the side netting.

The hosts were a matter of inches from hitting the front when Rollins got in behind the Leamington defence and looked to have beaten Breeden only for the ball to hit the inside of the post and roll into the grateful arms of the skipper, who looked to have got something on the ball as it struck the frame of the goal. The number 10 then beat two defenders and saw another effort beaten away for a corner. Boston’s next effort wasn’t quite so close, Davies clearing the high roof of the terrace behind the goal.

Craig Elliott introduced all three substitutes as Boston continued to put the pressure on, Breeden required to push a dangerous cross away from the line, and the final twenty minutes was a real backs to the wall effort from Leamington as their hosts pushed for a late winner.

Jack Lane got a superb challenge in to deny Allott with the home fans screaming for a spot kick once more, while Breeden was alert twice more to deny substitute Nicky Walker and then to tip Lewis Gibbens’ header over the bar. Brakes were able to break forward and eat up
some valuable seconds in injury time, but they deservedly held on to what they had worked so hard to earn, proving once again that more often that not they always respond positively to a setback. They were warmly applauded from the pitch by those who had travelled, fully appreciative of the effort put in.

Attendance: 885

Boston United: George Willis ©, Ben Davies, Ashley Jackson, Andi Thanoj, Lewis Gibbens, Ryan Qualter, Max Wright, Brad Abbott (14 Spencer Harris, 66), Gavin Allott, Jay Rollins (16 Jordan Slew, 86), Jonathan Wafula (15 Nicky Walker, 77).

Subs not used: 12 Callum Chettle, 17 Andre Johnson.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, James Bowen, Jack Edwards, James Mace, Jack Lane, Kieran Dunbar (12 Connor Taylor, 8), Callum Gittings, Colby Bishop, Jordan Murphy, Ahmed Obeng.

Subs not used: 14 Tom James, 15 Martyn Naylor, GK Ben Newey

Referee: Mr Aaron Jackson

Assistant Referees: Mr Luis Griffiths & Mr Martyn Fryer

Brakes Man of the Match: Ahmed Obeng.