Vanarama National League North
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 4th January 2020

With Football League bound top scorer Josh March looking on from the sidelines, Leamington slipped to their second narrow defeat in four days against a very good Altrincham side with their sights set fully on the top six after a slow start to the season.

Brakes had come unstuck in a five goal thrashing in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, and at times they simply had to sit and soak up relentless pressure for long spells, while struggling to make their own mark on the game, but to their credit they kept battling and restricted their visitors largely to half chances throughout.

The visitors dominated the opening stages and struck the post through Andrew White as Leamington struggled to get to grips with their in form visitors. Holleran’s men were simply not given the chance to settle into the game as Altrincham, backed by a noisy travelling support, poured forward.

Three successive corners ended with Jake Weaver saving a close range shot as Brakes somehow emerged from the first twenty minutes on level terms, and finally started to gain a foothold in the game.

Kaiman Anderson set up Callum Maycock for a low drive which was simple for Robins’ keeper Tony Thompson, and Leamington’s confidence began to return as possession became more even.

The visiting fans were furious when their skipper Jake Moult went into the Referee’s notebook for a challenge on Dexter Walters, feeling that worst had gone unpunished on their players.

Max Harrop sent an acrobatic effort wide of the target from White’s left wing cross, and Tom Hannigan directed a diving header well wide from another corner as the visitors ended the half as they had started it.

Despite being forced into an early second half change the visitors continued where they left off, and Weaver blocked well from Jordan Hulme as the striker almost bludgeoned his way through a crowded penalty area and through on goal.

Brakes forged their best chance of the afternoon when Jack Edwards met Stephan Morley’s left wing cross with a downward header that bounced just wide, but Altrincham kept coming, Morley making a timely intervention to deny White as he latched on to Shaun Densmore’s cross inside the six yard box.

The goal the visitors had threatened all afternoon finally arrived on 56 minutes as Densmore’s low left wing cross was swept home by the right boot of Josh Hancock to spark jubilant celebrations from the visiting bench.

Perversely Leamington began to enjoy what was probably their best spell of the game after the goal, but were unable to forge any real chances on goal to trouble the visitors. Jack Lane pushed forward to screw a shot well wide while Jordan Murphy threaded a promising ball through into the penalty area for fellow substitute Connor Taylor, who turned well but was unable to get any purchase on his shot.

Meanwhile Altrincham continued to push forward but the only thing really missing from their display was more goals; Lane clearing a dangerous ball across goal to prevent a second, but one was all they required to claim a second win of the New Year. Meanwhile after a busy few days Brakes will now be able to focus on rest and recuperation before their FA Trophy tie at Kingstonian next Saturday.

Managers’ Reaction

‘We had to hang on in there in the first half. It’s been a long time since a visiting side have had such prolonged spells on top in a game here, and we struggled to get a grip of their quality and their movement, but you’ve got to stick in there. We’ve had a decent December, and even in the couple of games we’ve lost, we’ve had decent chances, we’ve had spells of possession, and it’s probably the first time in a long time where we’ve probably been starved of the ball really, and I think a lot of that is down to them (Altrincham). It’s alright me saying this, that and the other but I think from our point of view you’ve got to look at it and say you’re going to have times like that in this league. They are probably one of the few sides that have done it to us here this season - they are definitely the best side we’ve come across here this season. You’ve got to find different ways to win - we needed to stay in the game a bit longer. You always know that after 65-70 minutes it’s going to open up, and it did open up a bit, but we huffed and puffed without showing any real quality I think.

‘As I’ve just said to the players, we actually didn’t look too bad in the game heading towards the hour mark, but we haven’t put enough leg work in today, and sometimes when you’re starved of the ball, and the opposition have got good quality, at times you’ve got to show bits of character and desire, and at times that was a little bit lacking today. I think when we look at their goal, they’ve had the whole of the right side of the pitch to run into. I think at times their movement has been good but I think at times we’ve got to do better defensively. In a game like today where we are second best - we’ll accept that - if you get to 70-75 minutes it’s a different ball game. Goals change games and the first goal is going to be massive. It’s a good goal from them with the overload but I think when we look back we could have tracked them and defended our front post a little better, so it’s disappointing but as I just touched on, we’ve done alright, we’ve played a lot of football. December has been a tough month. We’ve won four games, which you would take in any calendar. It’s been a tough run, we’ve lost a couple of good players, we’ve got a couple strapped up at the moment and we are desperate for this weeks’ rest.

I'm certainly not going to blame the schedule today because Altrincham were deserved winners but I think we just need a little breather. I need to look at the group as well. We know that with George going back, and Josh, I’m well aware that the group needs a little bit more, and it’s something we’ll try and get done this week.

‘We’re in a strong position. We’ve really played well in December, even with the couple of results we didn’t get, but we were found wanting today, and that happens a little bit in this league. I think in a lot of games we’ve had a fair bit of the ball, and we’ve slightly changed our dynamics a little bit. We needed to get back to the good old DNA of Leamington but we were just a little bit short today, and the group has to learn from it. In this league every now and again you’ve got to roll your sleeves up and hang on in there with the good sides and wait for your moment. I think we could have done better but I’m certainly not criticising the group because they’ve put some minutes and miles in over the last month, so we’ll have a little break and look forward to some super games in January.

On Josh March leaving the club:

‘Obviously we’re going to miss him. Any player that has the impact that Josh has had at the football club in the six months he’s been here… Finding goalscorers at any level is difficult enough, and there’s teams at this level, below and above that are paying a hell of a lot of money to try and solve those problems. We’ve been very fortunate over the last few years with some of these boys we have picked up.

‘Josh is a great example for any young player, any non league player in their late teens/early twenties. I think he was released three times from pro clubs by the age of 14. He played park football then for a couple of years; went and played at Step 7, went and played at Step 6, had a few years at Step 3 and 4 and then he’s made the step up this year; so it’s a great story, and like Colby Bishop he thoroughly thoroughly deserves it. We’re just glad to play our part really. We’re obviously going to miss him, but it’s a great story and it couldn’t happen to a nicer kid.’

Attendance: 615

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, Stephan Morley, Callum Maycock, James Mace, Jack Lane, Callum Gittings (14 Jordan Murphy, 69), Joe Clarke, Kaiman Anderson (12 Kieran Dunbar, 86), Jack Edwards ©, Dexter Walters (15 Connor Taylor, 69).

Subs not used: 16 Josh Martin, 17 Josh Allen.

Altrincham: Anthony Thompson, Shaun Densmore (15 Connor Hampson,76), Andrew White, Tobias Mullarkey, Thomas Hannigan, Jake Moult ©, John Johnston, Simon Richman, Jordan Hulme (12 Luke Wall, 86), Joshua Hancock, Max Harrop (16 Thomas Peers, 48).

Subs not used: 14 Glen Walker, 17 Joel Torrance.

Referee: Mr Michael Barlow

Assistant Referees: Mr Ashley Clarke

Brakes Man of the Match: Stephan Morley.