Report
Vanarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Tuesday 3rd December 2019
Brakes recorded their most emphatic win of the season so far as they put Darlington to the sword at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium to move within three points of the top half of the National League North table.
Alun Armstrong’s visitors had already tasted victory on the Harbury Lane turf in the FA Cup this season but they were distinctly second best in this contest as they failed to trouble the Leamington goal all evening.
‘The level of our performance tonight all over the pitch, against one of the better clubs in this division, was a good moment for us really,’ said Paul Holleran. ‘We’re all working hard and one or two players have benefitted from game time. I’m really pleased with them.’
The manager made two changes to his starting eleven, restoring skipper Jack Edwards and Dexter Walters while Stephan Morley was available to play despite his red card against Guiseley.
Jack Lane was presented with a glorious opportunity to open the scoring as Darlington gave away a corner in the opening five minutes but was just unable to get any real contact on his header as the ball flashed past the far post.
With the visitors having arrived a little later than they would have liked due to traffic problems en route they took a few minutes to settle into the game, but the opening goal on sixteen minutes followed a few minutes of patient pressure from the Quakers. The ball was played high up to the edge of the penalty area by James Mace, and while Darlington skipper Terence Galbraith hesitated and keeper Chris Elliott rushed to the edge of his box to try and claim, Edwards had the presence of mind to nip in and head the ball over the pair of them into the empty net to give Leamington the lead.
The skipper momentarily thought he had bagged a quickfire double when he powered home another header from an inviting free kick by Morley, but he didn’t quite delay his run long enough and the offside flag was raised.
The visitors enjoyed goods spells with the ball after this without being able to test Jake Weaver, and Leamington were able to work themselves more into the game. A short back pass from Jack Lane saw Weaver forced to dart to the edge of his penalty area to clear inches ahead of Adam Campbell.
With the Darlington support cranking up the volume in an attempt to galvanise their side and Brakes fans beginning to find their voices the game developed into an open affair in the second half with both sides getting forward, but it was Leamington who doubled their lead 11 minutes in when Junior English won a corner on the right, George Carline winning the ball on the penalty spot before James Mace seemed to slightly mis-hit a shot that bounced down off the bar, and with the assistant referee signalling it had crossed the line the goal was awarded.
Dexter Walters had a quiet game but suddenly burst into life when receiving a pass from fellow Coventry loan man Maycock on the left wing. He cut inside and thundered a powerful effort against the crossbar.
Brakes almost presented Darlington with an opportunity as a lapse pass from Edwards saw substitute Justin Donowa charge into the Leamington half, but he was halted by a firm challenge from the imperious Mace.
Carline almost added a third for Holleran’s side when his header was cleared off the line, but with twelve minutes to go he added a third for Leamington with his first goal for the club. Some fine pressure play saw Edwards win the ball back some 25 yards from the Darlington penalty area, and March received the ball with his back to goal. There seemed to be few options for him but he wriggled clear and drove to touchline before delivering a cross at a perfect height for Carline to meet first time, the ball flying into the net.
Morley saw a free kick deflected behind, while the visitors became more frustrated, Campbell going into the book for pulling back Maycock after losing the ball as he looked to scamper clear, Mace in once again with a fine challenge.
Brakes were able to see out the final minutes with ease as they moved above their opponents in the table.
Attendance: TBC
Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English (16 Kieran Dunbar, 85), Stephan Morley, Callum Maycock, James Mace, Jack Lane, George Carline, Joe Clarke, Josh March (15 Kaiman Anderson, 89), Jack Edwards (12 Callum Gittings, 83), Dexter Walters.
Subs not used: 14 Jordan Murphy, 17 Connor Taylor.
Darlington: Chris Elliott, Ben Hedley, Jordan Watson, Josef Wheatley (16 Osagi Bascombe, 72), Alex Storey, Terry Galbraith ©, Jarrett Rivers, Will Hatfield (14 Jack Lambert, 72), Adam Campbell, Omar Holness (12 Justin Donowa, 62), Stephen Thompson.
Subs not used: 15 Cameron Holliday,.
Referee: Mr Dean Watson
Assistant Referees: Mr Reuben Ricardo & Mr Matthew Jackson
Brakes Man of the Match: James Mace.
