Manarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Tuesday 1st October 2019

Brakes fell victim to what seems to have become a developing pattern in many of their recent games as they followed up a promising first half display with a disappointing second, ultimately falling to two goals from an efficient Hereford side who eased to their fourth successive win.

While Paul Holleran’s men were arguably the better side in the opening forty five minutes without seriously testing Bulls keeper Brandon Hall they didn’t seem to have the same cohesion to their play after the interval, and never really looked like threatening a solid Hereford defence led by Josh Gowling and former Brakes youth player Jordan Cullinane-Liburd.

There were several changes from Saturday, Stephan Morley slotting straight into the side following his return to the club while Callum Gittings, Kieran Dunbar and Reece Flanagan stepped up from the bench.

Callum Gittings drove an early effort across goal from distance as Leamington moved the ball around well in the opening exchanges, while Dunbar fired a good chance over the bar, hurrying his first time drive slightly after great work by Jack Edwards and Josh March to manoeuvre the ball into his path on the edge of the box following Morley’s free kick towards the Hereford penalty area.

Kaiman Anderson blocked a clearance to set March on a run towards goal, but his attempted return pass was cut out by Josh Gowling.

Brakes were enjoying plenty of possession, and almost engineered another opportunity when Morley floated another free kick into the Bulls’ penalty area, Edwards heading invitingly towards the far post where Junior English was rushing in, but the offside flag was raised to curtail any potential celebrations.

Precious little had been seen of the visitors as an attacking force with just over twenty minutes played, but Jordan Nicholson’s shot was rising as it cleared the Leamington crossbar following a free kick on the left.

They worked Jake Weaver with their next chance shortly afterwards however, Kieran Thomas sending the cross in from the right which was headed back by Peter Vincenti for Jacob Cane to thump in a powerful drive which the Brakes keeper pushed over the bar.

This sudden turn of pressure seemed to spark Hereford into life and they began to see far more of the ball, the game becoming a more open affair.

The impressive Anderson was able to take on Kieran Thomas for the first time early in the second half, and he whipped in low left wing cross which Dunbar missed by inches at the far post.

However moments later Leamington were behind. A contentious free kick was awarded just inside the Leamington half and floated into the box, Morley unfortunately heading the ball backwards which allowed Vincenti to direct a header into the corner to give Hereford the lead.

Gaining the advantage naturally galvanised Russell Slade’s men, who seemed to gain an extra zip to their play, and they doubled their lead twenty minutes in, centre back Gowling lashing home the loose ball after Jordan Nicholson’s shot had been blocked.

Brakes attempted an immediate response, Flanagan whipping a free kick just over the bar, and Leamington came as close as they had all evening to grabbing a goal when Anderson crossed from the right, March picking the ball up and lifting it across goal, Thomas doing very well to head over his own crossbar.

Attendance: 611

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, Stephan Morley, Callum Gittings (15 Jack Lane, 90), Jamie Hood ©, James Mace, Kieran Dunbar (12 Ravi Shamsi, 71), Reece Flanagan (14 Cieron Keane, 79), Josh March, Jack Edwards, Kaiman Anderson.

Subs not used: 13 Ben Newey, 16 Connor Taylor.

Hereford: Brandon Hall, Kieran Thomas, Jack Bodenham, Jason Pope, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, Josh Gowling ©, Peter Vincenti (16 Bradley Ash 73), Jacob Cane, Mike Symons (12 Rowan Liburd, 61), Tom Owen-Evans (15 Tommy O’Sullivan, 82), Jordan Nicholson.

Subs not used: 13 Kyle Finn, 14 Reece Styche.

Referee: Mr Jacob Myles

Assistant Referees: Mr Reuben Ricardo & Mr Matthew Clarkson

Brakes Man of the Match: Kaiman Anderson.

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Paul Holleran's Reaction

‘It was quite an advantage to be fair kicking towards the Harbury Lane End in the first half as there was quite a strong breeze which helps us pin teams in a little bit, but we were really bright and lively. With the suspensions and injuries we’ve got we’ve had to throw a few people in tonight and they’ve done well - Stephan in his first game for us was excellent and Reece, considering he hasn’t played a lot of football, looked really bright and lively. We really put them on the back foot first half and we’ve got into the final third in good areas time and time again, and we’ve got good quality into the box, but whether it’s a case that we haven’t been clinical enough, they’ve defended really well - Gowling was outstanding for them tonight - and possibly the difference between the first half and the start of the second half is that on a night like tonight when there’s decent quality set plays going in from both sides, we just haven’t got that second or third phase, that little drop in the first half, and they did straight away in the second. So the disappointing thing then is that you could see that they stepped up the pitch a bit more in the second half and asked a few questions of us, but it’s two set plays, that’s what we’ll ultimately be disappointed with. Five minutes after the restart in the second half it’s a straight ball into the box which we should do better with, and then the long throw, it’s that second or third phase, that one I’m on about where there’s that many bodies there you’re hoping one of your players reads it and you clear your lines.

‘It’s difficult when you’re two nil down against a good side, and the elements against you. We looked a bit leggy as well after Saturday. It’s been a frustrating night for us but we’ve done alright as well for long periods, especially in the first half when we were excellent and there were lots of good individual performances, and we put a really good side on the back foot for long periods as well, but like the Farsley game we’ve got to take our chances when they come along because with the quality they’ve got and their quality off the bench they’re always going to ask questions of you, but from open play we’ve dealt pretty well to be fair. It’s a bit disappointing but we’ve just got to recover now, get some rest into them, hopefully a couple might be back for Saturday, and we’ll look forward to that game.