Vanarama National League North
Edgar Street
Saturday 28th December 2019

Brakes lavished more festive cheer on their delighted supporters as they bagged a third win of the season on their National League North travels in front of just under 2,000 at Edgar Street. They needed to dig their heels in and soak up plenty of pressure, and benefitted from a little good fortune at times, but were worthy of the three points in front of a raucous travelling support boosted by the visit of our German friends from SV Eichede.

Paul Holleran was forced into changes to his squad with George Carline having been recalled by parent club Solihull Moors on Friday, while Callum Gittings was unavailable and top scorer Josh March was not risked having taken a knock on Boxing Day against Gloucester, so Joe Clarke, Jordan Murphy and Kaiman Anderson all stepped into the starting eleven.

As is sometimes the case when Brakes turn out at former Football League arenas in front of large crowds, the hosts were first to settle, and the Bulls’ on loan Nottingham Forest striker Victor Sodeinde came close on three minutes when he watched the ball over his shoulder before cracking a fine first time volley across goal and only just wide of Jake Weaver’s far post.

The Hereford number 10 looked a lively customer and registered his side’s next effort on goal when he received the ball just inside the penalty area on the left and took on three defenders before thundering a shot towards goal that struck some part of Weaver on it’s way behind for a corner.

The Bulls were undoubtedly on top in the opening period but found themselves behind on 18 minutes when Leamington won a corner on the left which seemed to sail over everyone straight into the net from the boot of Dexter Walters to stun the already quiet Edgar Street crowd.

Sodeinde continued to pose the main threat for Hereford and was involved once more when his deflected effort fell perfectly for Peter Vincenti to strike first time, Weaver producing a stunning save to help the ball over the bar.

It was perhaps inevitable that the youngster would be the scorer of Hereford’s equaliser and he dragged his side level on 34 minutes, beating James Mace on the left before striding into the box a couple of paces and dispatching a fine rising drive past Weaver into the roof of the net.

The home side looked to have a gilt edged chance for a second shortly before the break when they somehow found themselves two on two inside the Leamington penalty area, but Jordan Nicholson was unable to get the ball under control and the opportunity was gone.

Brakes had not been at their best in the first forty five minutes but whatever it was Holleran said to them at half time paid instant dividends as they regained the lead inside a minute of the restart. Maycock fed fellow Sky Blues loanee Walters, whose quick footwork saw him beat two defenders and slip the ball left for Kaiman Anderson, who looked to have missed his chance to shoot but then rammed the ball into the roof of the net.

Walters curled a shot past the far post as he cut in from the left before Maycock almost wrongfooted Brandon Hall as his shot struck Kieran Thomas before trickling behind.

Sodeinde then turned on the afterburners as he set off in pursuit of a long clearance. Jack Lane was goalside and looked to have things under control but the striker still managed to get a shot away, the ball whistling across goal and just wide.

With around an hour gone the home crowd suddenly awoke from their slumber and the team responded, putting Brakes under concerted pressure once more. Edwards and Vincenti both went into Referee Simeon Lucas’ notebook after a coming together between several players from both sides just inside the Hereford half. The Brakes skipper thought he had missed a chance to add a third goal for his side when he smashed in a shot that was turned round the post well by Hall, but the offside flag was raised.

The sight of Sodeinde being replaced would no doubt have been a relief to the Leamington defence, but he was replaced by experienced goal getter Reece Styche as the hosts attempted to maintain the pressure, but they seemed to have lost their impetus and Brakes began to settle down again.

There were inevitably some hairy moments in the closing stages as Hereford attempted to salvage something from the game, with shots blocked and Weaver clinging on to the ball at the second attempt on two occasions, and while the final whistle brought boos from the home fans still left in the ground it signalled happy celebrations for the Leamington contingent, who can march into the new year on a wave of optimism. Well done lads!

Manager’s Reaction

‘Today was a big ask. Two games in 48 hours. With the games that went before that, a massive effort on Thursday (Boxing Day); followed up today with losing George, Calum and Josh. As I’ve stated before, we have a small squad but it’s a competitive squad, and I thought that the players who came in today were all tremendous. There wasn’t much in the game. Possibly the start of the first half and the start of the second half were key periods, and we just edged it but it was a massve effort. Even though Hereford are on a bit of a bad run they are a big club, they’ve got good players, a good manager, but they’re not getting the drop of the ball at the moment. Take nothing away from us though. When we were allowed to play we were expansive and looked a threat. I thought Jack Edwards was tremendous today - it was like having three players on the pitch.

‘I think two games ih 48 hours is very unfair on players at this level, especially with a small squad like ours when we’ve had a player recalled on the Friday. There’s lots of different ingredients required to win football games and we showed lots and lots of character, determination and grit today with a sprinkling of quality, and we’re absolutely delighted.

‘Edgar Street is a fantastic place to come. I enjoy coming here to watch a game of football. I’ve never won here before. We came here last year and played well and ended up losing 2-1. You take it on the chin and move on, and we’ve come here today and won 2-1, so it’s a great feeling.

‘I looked at it today and I did think it might be too much for the boys. Hereford are a big football club and they’re in the position where they can make changes in key areas and I thought that might tell as the game went on, but we grew into it and when we needed to find something we did so, and in the end I think we just about deserved it.’

Attendance: 1,930 (65 away)

Hereford: Brandon Hall, Kieran Thomas, Danny Greenslade, Tommy O’Sullivan, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, Jason Pope, Peter Vincenti (17 Taylor Allen 77), Stephen Dawson ©, Kelsey Mooney, Victor Sodeinde ( 16 Reece Styche, 70), Jordan Nicholson (12 Alex Bray, 59).

Subs not used: 14 Ben Pollock, 15 Jared Hodgkiss.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, Stephan Morley, Callum Maycock (15 Josh Martin, 87), James Mace, Jack Lane, Jordan Murphy (12 Kieran Dunbar, 72), Joe Clarke, Kaiman Anderson, Jack Edwards ©, Dexter Walters (14 Connor Taylor, 78).

Subs not used: 16 Josh March, 17 Tom James.

Referee: Mr Simeon Lucas

Assistant Referees: Mr Thomas Swift & Mr Karl Buckley

Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Edwards.