Report
Vanarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 7th December 2019
By Max Passantino
Leamington stretched their unbeaten run, whilst bringing their home game period to an end, to 6 with a 2-2 draw at home to Spennymoor Town.
With an upbeat Brakes camp after an emphatic 3-0 win over one of Spennymoor’s fellow north eastern sides Darlington on Tuesday, Paul Holleran was forced into a change as a result of Stephan Morley’s red card 7 days ago against Guiseley. George Carline fitted into left back superbly, as Kaiman Anderson took to the wing.
Brakes wasted no time in starting quickly, as Josh March sprinted down the left hand side to put a teasing low ball into the middle of the box - Kaiman Anderson sliding home past Gould to put the Brakes one up, when not all of the crowd had taken their places!
The bright start continued, with Jack Edwards winning a free kick about 30 yards from goal. A teasing Dexter Walters delivery almost found a gold and black head, but the Moors cleared away and broke quickly past the halfway line - James Mace doing enough to get the shot away from the goal line.
Spennymoor found another way through the Brakes defence, and although the initial shot was cleared by Jack Lane, Rob Ramshaw stood on the edge of the box to volley past a helpless Weaver. It was Weaver whose long ball sent Josh March through on goal but the Brakes forward took slightly too long on the shot, allowing Jamie Chandler to hurry back and bundle over March but referee Marc Whaley stood uninterested.
Only 4 minutes later, the away side caught the Brakes defence snoozing again - Ryan Hall found space to drive into the box and curl the ball past Jake Weaver and turn the game around to send the strong following of Spennymoor fans in the stand into delirium. The visitors held out for half time with good possession based football, not allowing the Brakes much of the ball for the last 10 minutes of the first half.
Both sides started the second half slowly, but Spennymoor looked to carry on how they left off, as on the 55th minute, Glen Taylor ran through into the Brakes box - Jack Edwards stopping his run at the cost of a penalty. From the resulting penalty, Taylor looked to finish what he had earned but blasted the ball over the bar and into the roof of the Harbury Lane End to remarks from the Brakes fans of ‘Spenny miss a penny!’. Lucky we don’t have any stand roof lights!
The penalty miss seemed to give the Brakes confidence, and Jordan Murphy and Callum Gittings gave the Brakes some new fresh legs replacing both Coventry City loanees, Dexter Walters and Callum Maycock. Brakes settled further into the game, a succession of George Carline throw ins was only halted thanks to a dubious decision from referee Marc Whaley.
With 76 on the clock, Josh March was sent clear on goal only to be halted by an onrushing Chris Mason, the Spennymoor captain guilty of giving the Brakes a penalty. Cool as you like Josh March stepped up to do what Glen Taylor couldn’t 20 minutes earlier, sending Matt Gould the wrong way. Matt Gould was almost caught red faced only four minutes later, as Josh March volleyed the ball from 30 yards out, only to ricochet off the bar and straight to a Spennymoor defender.
Both sides couldn’t unlock each other’s defence for the last 10 minutes of the game with both defences standing resilient and a draw was probably the fairest outcome, with Paul Holleran praising his side for a ‘very good point against a strong Spennymoor side, who did something in the first half that no team has done to us for a long time (as they) smothered us’.
Holleran also praised the attacking side as, ‘the equaliser was coming… Josh March reliable as ever’ and also claimed that the Brakes were ‘happy with a point, Spennymoor deserved something out of the game’.
With no home game until Boxing Day, all at Leamington FC would like to take the chance to wish our fans a merry Christmas and hope to see as many Brakes fans at Telford as possible on Saturday, as we look to continue our trophy run.
Attendance: 359
Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, George Carline, Callum Maycock (16 Callum Gittings, 67), James Mace, Jack Lane, Kaiman Anderson (14 Connor Taylor, 89) , Joe Clarke, Josh March, Jack Edwards, Dexter Walters (15 Jordan Murphy 67)
Substitutes not used: Kieran Dunbar, Josh Martin
Spennymoor Town: Matt Gould, Carl Magnay, Chris Mason, Jamie Chandler, Nathan Buddle (12 Stephen Brogan 44), James Curtis, Ryan Hall, Shane Henry (16 Adam Boyes 82), Glen Taylor, Rob Ramshaw, Ben McKenna
Substitutes not used: Mark Anderson, James Roberts, Andrew Johnson
Referee: Mr Marc Whaley
Assistant Referees: Mr Tim Walker and Mr Jacob Lehane
Brakes Man of The Match: George Carline
