Vanarama National League North
The Jakemans Stadium
Tuesday 13th August 2019

The packed August fixture schedule is already taking its toll on Paul Holleran’s small squad as his Brakes side narrowly lost out at York Street to Boston United. More concerning however will be a second red card in three days for Junior English and another for Jordan Murphy as a melee late on in proceedings led to both sides losing two men each.

With Connor Gudger and Cieron Keane missing through injury club captain Jamie Hood started his first game of the season, while Connor Taylor and Kieran Dunbar made a welcome return to the squad.

Brakes looked confident in the early stages, English winning a corner on the right which found its way back out to him, Murphy taking over and driving into the centre before driving towards goal, Peter Crook holding it comfortably.

Jack Edwards charged down a clearance from the goalkeeper that did not drop too far past the post before Kaiman Anderson picked up possession some 25 yards out and unleashed a blistering strike that Crook did well to push away.

As always Boston used the width of the pitch as they attempted to gain the upper hand but over fifteen minutes had passed before Jake Weaver was forced into a save, blocking with his legs as Simon Ainge struck a shot into the ground that appeared to take a deflection towards goal. The on loan stopper then held a header from debutant Dominic Knowles.

Weaver then came off his line bravely to punch away with Rollins breathing down his neck as Knowles shot towards goal. Boston kept up the pressure, Brad Abbott driving low across goal and inches past the far post.

The home side were stepping things up now and probably should have made more of a chance after some neat approach play, but Rollins could only help the ball wide after Jordan Thewlis and Knowles had helped it into the box.

Knowles was denied by a superb block from Brakes skipper Jamie Hood as he cleverly let the ball run across his body on the edge of the six yard box. Mace then produced an equally good challenge to prevent Wright as he advanced into the box on the right.

The Pilgrims were well on top now, Jack Lane timing his challenge right to prevent another cross into the box at the expense of a corner.

Leamington finally got hold of the ball for a period just before half time and Josh March almost engineered a chance for himself in spectacular fashion, hooking Jack Edwards’ cross from the left back over his head with his first touch, but Crook was alive to the danger and sprang from his line to take the ball. Brakes forced a corner with the last action of the half but Crook claimed the ball once more as the two sides went in level.

Knowles almost gave Boston a dream start to the second half when he drove in a low angled effort a matter of seconds after the whistle, but Weaver was there to deny him with an outstretched foot.

The hosts did have a chance to move ahead just three minutes in however when James Mace conceded a penalty for a foul on Thewlis, who stepped up to smash the kick beyond Weaver despite the goalkeeper going the right way.

The York Street crowd were howling for another spot kick as Boston poured forward once more straight from the restart,

March suddenly found himself in the clear as a mishit pass put him in on goal only for Ainge to crudely take him out, receiving a booking for his trouble. Joe Clarke placed the resulting free kick just over the bar.

Thewlis looked to be in with a chance of his and Boston’s second as he bundled his way clear from the left with the aid of a fortunate deflection, but Weaver stood tall to deny him with a fantastic save.

Brakes finally pushed deep into Boston territory and won a free kick in a dangerous position through Anderson, Boston conceding a corner which March put behind at the near post.

Paul Holleran threw on Reece King and Ravi Shamsi to try and swing the balance Leamington’s way, and a neat nutmeg from Anderson set Shamsi away down the left, his driven cross directed straight into Crook’s waiting arms.

A second Boston goal looked ever more likely when Mace misjudged his attempted pass back to Weaver, letting substitute Shaun Tuton lift a first time effort agonisingly wide of the post.

The game degenerated into a shambles with minutes remaining when a challenge between English and Rollins resulted in a melee involving practically every player on the pitch. After what seemed like an eternity, Rollins and English received straight red cards, followed by Thewlis and Murphy. It is difficult to know whether to criticise or praise the officials as it was impossible to tell what went on and who did what, but there certainly didn’t seem much in the initial coming together to spark what followed.

There was one final chance for Leamington to salvage a point as a corner was won on the left, Jack Lane’s shot taking a deflection, but as if to sum up the evening for the travelling contingent, Referee Dean Watson blew for full time.

Boston were deserved winners, no question, but the consequences of the late drama may come back to bite both sides in the coming weeks.

Attendance: 1,083 (27)

Boston United: Peter Crook, Karl Byrne, Alex Whittle, Tom Platt, Simon Ainge, Luke Shiels ©, Jay Rollins, Brad Abbott (15 Ashley Jackson, 90), Jake Wright (14 Shaun Tuton, 74), Dominic Knowles (16 Andi Thanoj, 90), Jay Thewlis.

Subs not used: 12 Tom Clare, GK George Willis.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, Jack Lane, Joe Clarke, Jamie Hood ©, James Mace, Jordan Murphy, Callum Gittings (12 Reece King, 72), Josh March ( 14 Ravi Shamsi, 72), Jack Edwards, Kaiman Anderson (16 Connor Taylor, 90).

Subs not used: 15 Gift Mussa, 17 Kieran Dunbar

Referee: Mr Dean Watson

Assistant Referees: Mr Matthew Tyers & Mr Daniel Jarvis

Brakes Man of the Match: Jake Weaver.

Many thanks to Russell Dossett for allowing us to use some of his photos from the game. Check his Sports Pictures.Online  website to see further images from the match.