Highlights
Vanarama National League North
The Community Stadium
Tuesday 1st December 2020
Brakes were held to a fourth draw of the season by a Brackley side who were indebted to their goalkeeper Danny Lewis for some fine saves which gave them the chance to snatch a late leveller. Paul Holleran would have been frustrated that his side did not take their second half chances, but Kevin Wilkin would no doubt point to the fact that his team hung in there before arguably bossing the closing stages.
The manager made two changes to his starting eleven from Saturday’s victory over York, bringing Jack Edwards and Danny Waldron back in for Junior English and Kaiman Anderson, while Callum Gittings sat out the first game of his ban after his sending off against Fylde.
The opening twenty minutes or so were evenly matched, both sides having plenty of the ball without troubling goal particularly. The closest either side came was when Waldron’s attempted cross took a slight deflection and clipped the top of the crossbar.
The visitors certainly didn’t seem to be suffering from any kind of hangover as they got back to National League North action after their narrow defeat to League 2 Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup 2nd Round last Friday, and they began to ask questions of the Leamington defence, who responded in typically robust fashion. Some fine defensive work from Edwards and Joe Clarke prevented a potentially dangerous situation as Brackley threatened to break in numbers.
The game degenerated a little towards half time, with both sides and the visiting bench in particular constantly in the ear of Referee Kristian Silcock and his assistants every time they perceived a decision had gone against their side.
Mercifully the half time interval bought time to reflect on another moment of pure quality from Sam Osborne, who had a quiet first 45 minutes by his recent standards, but exploded into life again to put Leamington ahead as he latched onto a loose ball just inside his own half before motoring upfield into the penalty area, checking back as two defenders attempted to close him down before curling a sumptuous strike over Lewis into the far corner.
The goal clearly gave the former Notts County youngster fresh impetus, as he produced a cheeky touch to beat Connor Franklin on the right touchine before driving the ball in low, Smith unable to adjust himself as it struck him in the six yard box.
The Leamington number 9 was holding his head in his hands once more as Lewis produced a fine save to deny him from close range as he connected first time with Waldron’s left wing cross. Edwards then dragged another shot wide when the ball was eventually played back in.
James Armson pounced on a stray pass from Edwards to surge forward, sending a low drive skidding past the upright. Lewis was then called upon to produce another good save as Clarke wound up a stinging effort from 25 yards.
Saints defender Ethan Coleman went into the Referee’s notebook for a crude challenge in the centre circle which left Osborne in a heap.
Edwards had another opportunity when Osborne stood up a cross to the far post, Maye heading it towards goal. The clearance only went as far as the skipper 20 yards out, and his powerful drive was charged down by the Brackley defence.
Osborne himself went close again when chasing a loose ball out to the right, driving back towards goal before his low curling strike through a sea of legs was parried well by Lewis.
Brackley then began to look as threatening as they had done all evening, coming very close to levelling when a shot from outside the box was blocked, substitute Wes York’s shot on the turn somehow being deflected over the bar.
With eight minutes remaining the goal Brackley had been threatening arrived when a flick on to the far post from a right wing corner was met by Lee Ndlovu, who rammed his shot into the roof of the net.
The visitors threatened to take all three points back down the M40 when good work from substitute Ashley Chambers on the left saw Armson’s strike saved well by Weaver, as both sides shared the points from an entertaining contest.
Leamington: Jake Weaver, Josh Martin, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke, Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Sam Osborne (14 Taylor Allen, 87), Simeon Maye, Lance Smith (12 Kaiman Anderson, 83), Jack Edwards ©, Danny Waldron (15 Junior English, 90+2).
Subs not used: 16 Dan Meredith, 17 Connor Taylor.
Brackley Town: Danny Lewis, Reiss McNally (12 Ellis Myles, 71), Connor Franklin, Shane Byrne, Ethan Coleman, Gareth Dean ©, Matt Lowe (15 Ash Chambers, 60), Shep Murombedzi, Lee Ndlovu, Tre Mitford (14 Wes York, 71), James Armson.
Subs not used: 16 Akeem Hinds, 17 Jordan Cullinane-Liburd.
Referee: Mr Kristian Silcock
Assistant Referees: Mr Ian Jackson & Mr Lewis Saunders-Johnson
Brakes Man of the Match: Kyle Morrison.
