Vanarama National League North
Gateshead International Stadium
Saturday 1st February 2020

Brakes made another fruitless journey to the North East, this time coming away from their first visit to Gateshead empty handed having taken an early lead through captain Jack Edwards. There were, as always, some positives to take away, having breached a defence that had kept four successive clean sheets in the National League North, but this was an afternoon of ‘firsts’ for the home side, as player manager Mike Williamson scored his first goal for the club, along with both Alex Nicholson and Jake Cooper.

The Heed did not make the sort of high octane start to proceedings that was witnessed at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium ten days earlier, despite forcing three early corners, and Leamington stole a march on their promotion chasing opponents as they stunned them by taking an eleventh minute lead with the first serious attack of the afternoon.

Callum Gittings utilised the wide open spaces of the International Stadium, spreading play wide to the left for Joe Parker to swing a dangerous cross into the six yard box. There were two or three blue shirted players converging on the ball, which dropped kindly for Edwards to steer a measured effort beyond Brad James into the far corner.

Gateshead were always likely to create chances and they forced a save from Jake Weaver when Greg Olley found himself bearing down on the Leamington stopper, who got a strong hand to the ball as he dived down to his left.

The hosts were level on twenty minutes, a dangerous free kick given away by Kaiman Anderson on the left creating havoc as it was played towards the far post. Williamson got the telling touch towards goal, the ball unfortunately striking Edwards’ shoulder on its way in.

Gateshead almost walked in a second goal, Mitch Curry and Jordan Preston involved, but Weaver collected the ball at his near post. The hosts were starting to produce the sort of play they had done at Leamington now, but Paul Holleran’s men pushed back and came very close to a second goal. Joe Parker had made a big impact when making his debut as a second half substitute in the reverse fixture, and a jinking run saw him into the penalty area on the left, his cut back towards Anderson and David Bremang crowded out by defenders.

Parker then picked up possession just inside the Gateshead half, and having inadvertently played a one-two with Elliot Forbes he continued his run and thundered in a shot that was matched by a flying save from James. The ball ran loose for Bremang, whose low driven shot was on target but was deflected agonisingly wide of the far post.

However, moments later Brakes found themsleves behind as Gateshead moved swiftly into attack, Scott Barrow’s cross cum shot being turned in at the far post by Alex Nicholson despite the best efforts of Weaver.

Matters got worse in added time as Preston added a third goal. With the pitch opening up in front of him he sent a stunning curling drive from 25 yards beyond Weaver to send his side into the dressing room with a comfortable two goal cushion.

The opening minutes of the second half were almost exclusively played out in and around the Leamington penalty as the visitors desperately tried to stay in touch with their hosts.

In a brief moment of respite Edwards flicked Parker’s left wing corner towards goal at the near post, but straight at James, but it was four for Gateshead on 66 minutes. As with the third goal, Jake Cooper was allowed too much time and space to cut in from the left and curl a great strike beyond Weaver following a half cleared corner.

The game perhaps predictably hit a lull after this, but the home side still looked dangerous every time they went forward. Holleran withdrew Anderson and Bremang and threw on Kieran Dunbar and Josh Martin, pushing Junior English into the attacking role, which helped to stem the flow of goals but did little to alter the flow of the game as Gateshead probed for more goals.

On an afternoon of both soft and impressive strikes it was Leamington who had the last word - substitute Connor Taylor beating Brad James with a stunning strike into the top corner from the edge of the area, but Brakes finished well beaten by a very good side who will doubtless be in promotion contention come the end of the season on current form.

Managers’ Reaction

‘I’m bitterly bitterly disappointed because I thought that for the first third of the game, we were in it - more so than we were in the home fixture. We scored a good goal, had a couple of good chances, and then sadly, in the second half of the first half, we’ve made too many mistakes. We’re talking about good experienced players who have made poor decisions, and from being well in the game, and being ahead in the game, we find ourselves 3-1 behind. I think the icing on the cake is that at 2-1 down in injury time in the first half, we end up trying to play a 50 yard cross field ball, in those conditions, which gets cut out, and we go from having possession of the ball in our own half - we just need to see it out, take the 2-1, regroup and go again - but we end up 3-1 down.

‘Goals change games and momentum. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. At that point there you’re against, certainly the best side at home in the league at the moment I think, but we came out, huffed and puffed a bit, kept a half decent shape, and we were in the game, but I think the last two Saturdays have taken a familiar pattern - we’ve conceded poor goals and we’ve been sloppy, and it’s something we need to address. We’re well aware we need to score more goals. To come here and score two goals…… if you get the defensive part right, you get something out of the game. We’ve been sloppy in and out of possession, and we’ve made too many poor decisions. So it was a really disappointing day. We got a bit of respectability to the scoreline in the end, but there’s a bit of work to be done this week, on and off the pitch, and we need to prepare for next Saturday.’

Attendance: 806

Gateshead: Brad James, Alex Nicholson, Elliot Forbes, Connor Oliver (12 Liam Agnew, 73), Jake Cooper, Mike Williamson (15 Dominic Tear, 82), Jordan Preston, Nicky Deverdics, Mitch Curry (14 Ruairi Keating, 69), Greg Olley, Scott Barrow ©.

Subs not used: 13 Sam Guthrie (GK), 16 Danny Greenfield.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, Stephan Morley, Callum Maycock, James Mace, Jack Lane, Kaiman Anderson (14 Kieran Dunbar, 68), Callum Gittings, David Bremang (15 Josh Martin, 68), Jack Edwards (12 Connor Taylor, 76), Joe Parker.

Subs not used: 16 Kyle McFarlane, 17 Dexter Walters.

Referee: Mr Dean Hulme

Assistant Referees: Mr Jamie Cann & Mr Matthew East

Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Edwards.