Vanarama National League North
J Davidson Stadium
Saturday 7th September 2019

As good as August had been for Leamington September got off to the worst possible start as they shipped five goals at Moss Lane on a disappointing afternoon against an Altrincham side who gave their own start to the season a huge boost.

Paul Holleran named the same starting eleven that had kicked off against Blyth the previous Saturday while welcoming Jordan Murphy back into the squad after the on loan Solihull Moors man had completed his three match suspension for his red card at Boston.

Toby Mullarkey got an important touch on Jack Edwards’ nod on, with Josh March lurking with intent inside the box, before Sean Williams’ low drive proved straightforward for Jake Weaver to field.

The hosts believed they had two good shouts for a penalty within a matter of seconds, one shot being blocked and Weaver making a very good block from the other as the hosts made a bright start, which was rewarded on 14 minutes when a fine ball out to the right cut out the challenge of Cieron Keane, the ball being driven low across the box by Andy White for Jordan Hulme to slide in at the far post.

The Robins were forced into two changes inside the opening half an hour, firstly when Yusiu Ceesay, a former team mate of March at Alvechurch, went down awkwardly with no-one near him, and was subsequently stretchered off the field. Simon Richman then replaced Connor Hampson after the left back received lengthy treatment in his own half.

Leamington almost capitalised immediately, Kieran Dunbar cleverly making space for himself inside the box off a lovely flick from March before cracking a low shot against the near post, Callum Gittings stinging the palms of Tony Thompson with the follow up.

Dunbar came close again when his low deflected effort was parried by Thompson, who did well to get hold of the ball with Edwards closing in.

Brakes had arguably had the better of proceedings since the goal, but they gave themselves the proverbial mountain to climb as they went in two goals behind at half time, Johnston being given time to lose the ball and get it back again before delivering a great cross for Josh Hancock to head home.

The second half almost began on the worst possible note when Ashley Hemmings bent a rocket of a shot towards goal that crashed back off the underside of the bar with Weaver statuesque on the other side of his goal.

Altrincham were clearly boosted from doubling their lead before half time however, and extended it further following a debatable free kick awarded on the right edge of the Leamington box on the hour mark. The ball was played in low and bundled into his own net by Gittings for an unfortunate own goal. 

Holleran responded by introducing Ravi Shamsi, Murphy and Gift Mussa in the following ten minutes, but the fresh legs failed to spark any life into Leamington, efforts from March and Murphy flying high and wide, and their misery was compounded in the final minute when Alty substitute Tom Peers slotted home a low right wing cross from close range, followed by Hancock slamming in a fifth with the last kick of the game.

This was a bit of a reality check for Brakes after such a promising opening to the season, and they will need to regroup and prepare for the visit of newly promoted Farsley Celtic next Saturday.

Attendance: 1,025

Altrincham: Tony Thompson, Andy White, Connor Hampson (17 Simon Richman 29), James Jones, Toby Mullarkey, Jake Moult ©, Ashley Hemmings, Sean Williams, Jordan Hulme (14 Tom Peers, 76), Josh Hancock, Yusifu Ceesay (12 John Johnston, 20).

Subs not used: 15 Max Harrop, 16 Conor Branson.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, George Carline, Cieron Keane, Joe Clarke (16 Gift Mussa, 69), James Mace, Jack Lane, Kieran Dunbar (15 Jordan Murphy, 61), Callum Gittings, Josh March, Jack Edwards, Kaiman Anderson (12 Ravi Shamsi, 61).

Subs not used: 14 Connor Taylor, 17 Jamie Hood

Referee: Mr Dean Hulme

Assistant Referees: Mr Majid Ali & Mr Conor Brown

Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Lane.

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Managers Reaction

Paul Holleran gave his reaction to a hugely frustrating afternoon shortly after full time:

‘It was a really difficult afternoon for us. We didn’t start the game well at all and fell behind to what was from our perspective a poor goal defensively to concede, because we vacated an area that we shouldn’t have done and didn’t deal with the cross. After that we grew into the game and had a good spell from 20 to 40 minutes where we could have got back into it, we played with a bit more intensity and did well, but then with 47 minutes on the clock and half time looming, it’s a quick free kick and we haven’t stopped the cross and one of the smallest players on the pitch has got in between everyone and it’s 2-0. When you come to a team as good as Altrincham that’s always going to be enough. The third goal was always going to be important.

‘There’s been a couple of decisions have certainly not gone our way today which hasn’t helped us, but in certain situations we can do better and I think at 3-0, you’ve got a good possession side that are full of beans, and we looked deflated which is disappointing, and the two goals at the death are disappointing, so it’s a bad day all round. It’s the first time this season that the players have dropped their standards, and this is what happens in this division if you do - we know what happens, and the late goals were so sloppy. It’s very frustrating.’