Vanarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Tuesday 6th August 2019

Paul Holleran’s players did him proud on a memorable evening as the Leamington manager celebrated his 500th competitive game in charge, scoring in each half to down a strong Brackley Town side. An on pitch presentation was made to the manager prior to kick off to mark the occasion. 

Recent fixtures between the two sides have been typically close run affairs and have nearly always ended in draws but a goal in each half and a fine goalkeeping display by Jake Weaver on his home debut ensured that Brakes opening two results interestingly mirror the ones from the beginning of last season.

The manager made just one change from his starting eleven at Kidderminster naming Kaiman Anderson in place of Cieron Keane, who made his home bow in the second half. Josh March and second half substitutes Gift Mussa and Reece King also made their home debuts.

The visitors saw Kelvin Langmead head an early corner wide while Glenn Walker’s half volley cleared the bar. Leamington had to do plenty of defending throughout, but they were organised and resilient, for the most part reducing Brackley to shots from distance that were off target or held by Weaver.

The opening stages had been fairly even until the visitors were rocked back on their heels with 17 minutes played. A free kick won by Junior English saw Joe Clarke’s free kick played into a congested penalty area, Jack Edwards rising superbly to head into the path of Jack Lane, who thumped home a close range header to score his first goal for Leamington.

The goal stung Brackley into a response, and Weaver was forced into a good save as Lee Ndlovu’s powerful run across the edge of the Leamington penalty area saw him lay off to Shane Byrne, who thunderous strike was parried well by the Brakes keeper.

Walker’s shot in from the left was well held by Weaver, who was being given ample opportunity to show his new fans what he could do. The tried and tested defensive unit in front of him was at its hard-working best too, and Brackley continued to be frustrated in their efforts as half time approached, and they could have gone in two goals down when Edwards met a knock on from March to head just past the upright.

Weaver somehow managed to keep Leamington level early in the second half, somehow managing to claw Ndlovu’s header away from the line with the away support half cheering for a goal.

Anderson did well to take down a ball out to the left from Edwards in his stride and motored forward before playing a dangerous low ball into the centre, Callum Gittings firing first time over the bar.

Baker curled a free kick just past the post after Clarke was booked for conceding it, infuriating Brakes fans who just seconds earlier had been expecting one of their own when a Brackley defender virtually took a ride on Edwards’ back to win a header.

March is already showing a knack of getting into good scoring positions, and received a cross from English inside the box, controlling the ball well before turning to shoot straight at Danny Lewis.

Brakes roused the home fans with a sweeping move, breaking down the right with English and Gittings, Jordan Murphy also involved as play was spread across to the left wing where Connor Gudger swept in a cross that was met by a deft back header from Edwards that dropped inches past the post.

There was little time to dwell on that chance however, as Murphy collected the ball on the right and advanced towards the box before touching the ball past his marker and arrowing a precise low drive inside the near post to double Leamington’s lead.

Fine footwork from March had the home fans applauding once more as he danced into the box before the ball was blocked out for a corner, from which Edwards powered a header over the bar before the whistle went for some kind of infringement.

Brakes were almost caught on the hop as Gittings lost possession in his own half but the shot driven in to the near post was held by the imperious Weaver, who produced a fine parry on the next effort from Shepherd Murombedzi as he drifted in from the left.

The final effort from the visitors, another free kick from Byrne, nestled safely in the arms of the Leamington goalkeeper, and Brakes were able to celebrate a very good three points against a team that will doubtless be in the promotion mix come the end of the season.

Attendance: 608

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, Connor Gudger, Joe Clarke, James Mace, Jack Lane, Jordan Murphy (15 Gift Mussa, 83), Callum Gittings (14 Reece King, 86), Josh March, Jack Edwards, Kaiman Anderson (12 Cieron Keane, 75).

Subs not used: 16 Ravi Shamsi, 17 Jamie Hood.

Brackley Town: Danny Lewis, Ellis Myles, Connor Franklin, Shane Byrne, Kelvin Langmead (17 James Armson, 63), Gareth Dean, Matt Lowe, Glen Walker (16 Luke Fairlamb, 73), Lee Ndlovu, Carl Baker (14 Tiendai Daire, 63), Shep Murombedzi.

Subs not used: 12 Dan Holman, 15 Thierry Audel.

Referee: Mr Aaron Bannister

Assistant Referees: Mr Reece Davies & Mr David Constable

Brakes Man of the Match: Jake Weaver.