Vanarama National League North
The Horsfall Stadium
Saturday 12th December 2020

A visit to the Horsfall Stadium, though always looked forward to by Brakes fans due to the quality of the food on offer, had usually always ended in defeat in the past. No more though, as Paul Holleran’s side won here for the second season in succession to firmly put an end to that hoodoo.

The manager made one change from the starting eleven against Gateshead in the previous game, starting Forest Green Rovers loanee Taylor Allen in place of Danny Waldron.

After an inauspicious opening few minutes the game was sparked into life by a moment of quality from the Vanarama National League North Player of the Month Sam Osborne. Bradford had attempted to force the early pace, but Leamington grabbed the early advantage with 9 minutes played when Jack Edwards nodded on a long kick forward from Jake Weaver into the path of Osborne, who killed the ball dead before turning back on himself and driving a low shot through a defender and the goalkeeper into the back of the net for his eighth goal in twelve games since joining the club.

There was another chance soon afterwards as a poor clearance inside the Avenue penalty area dropped very kindly for Simeon Maye, who was perhaps surprised that the ball reached him at all, and his first time shot lacked the power to beat Atkinson.

A training ground routine free kick saw Osborne swing the ball to the far post for Edwards to flash a header inches wide. Bradford forged their first opportunity of the game when Mark Ross was afforded a little too much space for comfort at the far post as a left wing corner was played in, somehow placing his close range volley wide of goal. The offside flag was raised to spare his blushes however.

As the clock ticked into one added minute of additional time Leamington doubled their advantage with another direct attack that was laced with quality. Omar Sanyang saw a shot deflected behind at one end, Jake Weaver rising to claim the ball and set his side on the attack. Allen won the header deep inside the Bradford half and the tireless Lance Smith nudged the ball into the path of Maye, who strode on and confidently slotted low past Atkinson.

The second began in similar fashion to the first, with the hosts doing most of the pushing. However it was Maye who forged the first opportunity, seeing his shot blocked inside the box.

Avenue’s leading scorer Lewis Knight attempted to bend a shot into the top corner from some 20 yards out but his aim was off on this occasion. The pacey frontman was in the thick of things again as he took advantage of a moment's hesitation from Weaver as he came off his line, taking the ball past the goalkeeper only to be forced too wide to shoot, his cross was headed well over by Jake Hibbs.

The same two players were at it again when Hibbs cut out a poor pass from Osborne to set Knight towards goal. Kyle Morrison kept pace with him and Weaver read his intentions well, saving superbly at his feet.

The goal Bradford’s second half pressure had been threatening arrived with little over 20 minutes remaining. Weaver came off his line again but was beaten to the ball by Brad Dockerty, who clipped his shot past the stranded keeper into an empty net.

However, just when it looked like Leamington would be in for an almighty battle to hold on to their lead, Osborne, who had a relatively quiet afternoon by his high standards, popped up with an astonishing goal to settle the nerves. He was aided in full by some fantastic work from Smith, who did superbly to first keep the ball in play on the right touchline and then to play the ball forward for Osborne to run on to. He had to battle hard to stay goal side of his marker, but did so before unleashing a rocket of a shot that flew past the startled Atkinson before he had a chance to move.

Smith was left hammering the turf in frustration again as he came so close to a well deserved goal. He had done most of the hard work after tearing on to a pass down the left and rounding the goalkeeper, but saw his shot cleared off the line at the near post.

Morrison was then denied what would have been a tremendous goal as his overhead kick direct from a right wing corner was blocked on the goal line.

Avenue’s debutant substitute Reagan Booty forced Weaver into another good save as he wound up a fierce strike from distance, the Brakes keeper palming it behind for a corner, but it was Leamington who threatened to add to their lead, substitute Kaiman Anderson racing clear down the left before cutting inside and driving over the bar. Joe Clarke then sent another strike off target before Hibbs saw red in injury time for a high challenge on Anderson, leaving Holleran’s side to close out another satisfying afternoon on the road.

Manager’s Reaction

‘I thought we were very controlled in the first half. It was a really good 4G surface. They had a couple of players missing and we looked at that in the first half and got the ball quickly in and around Lance and Jack, and got runners off them. The first goal was a great little out and in run from Sam, which causes full backs and centre halves loads of problems - great finish, and the second goal was a great flick from Taylor Allen, great instinct from Lance. Taylor and Sam really caused them problems all afternoon and it was their movement probably off that phase of play that opened it up for Simeon Maye.

‘You always felt they were going to have a spell and they did. I think because of the way they play, which is so open and expansive, you’ve got to counter well, and we didn’t. We kept giving the ball away cheaply and letting them on to us, and to be fair, good goalkeeping and poor finishing meant that the game didn’t go to 2-2 when it probably should have done, but we found a way back into the game and then probably could have won at a canter in the last 20 minutes. On the counter attack we played really well then - we switched on to it, got people more organised. People say that 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in football and I think it probably is, but we showed great character at 2-1 and rally round again, and it’s another moment of brilliance from Sam Osborne. That goal was just unbelievable. As the weeks go by and we work with him in training and watch him - it’s mind boggling really. He’s so talented and he’s got the other bits to his game too. He does the dirty bits, he’s got good game understanding - he’s just got magic in his boots, it’s as simple as that. 

‘There’s been some big big performances today, but for all our deeper players to play well, when you’ve got Lance Smith holding the ball up the way he does, that’s the key thing - he’s not scoring goals - how he hasn’t got two today I don’t know - but the reason Sam and Simeon do so well to score those goals today is because of his link up play. 

‘I look at Lance Smith and Jack Edwards in the first half and think, wow. As a centre half you’ve really got to earn your money playing against those two. They know the game and they’re good, honest and hard working. It was a good performance against a good team, and I’m delighted. The run goes on.’

Bradford (Park Avenue): Dan Atkinson, Mark Ross, Harry Boyes, Luke Lyons, Luca Havern ©, Jordan Windass (16 Tabish Hussain, 76), Omar Sanyang (14 Regan Booty, 46), Jake Hibbs, Brad Dockerty, Lewis Knight, Nicky Clee

Subs not used: 13 Will Huffer, 15 Matty Downing.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Josh Martin, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke, Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Sam Osborne, Simeon Maye, Lance Smith, Jack Edwards ©, Taylor Allen (15 Kaiman Anderson, 82).

Subs not used: 12 Dan Meredith, 14 Danny Waldron, 16 Junior English, 17 Connor Taylor.

Referee: Mr John Mulligan

Assistant Referees: Mr Ashley Royston & Mr Henry Naylor

Brakes Man of the Match: Lance Smith.