Highlights
Vanarama National League North
The Community Stadium
Monday 28th December 2020
The year 2020 will live in the memory for various reasons, the latter stages particularly from a Brakes perspective, but this game will be firmly filed in the ‘one to forget’ category.
It was an insipid, niggly affair throughout, played in freezing conditions with neither side ever able to gain the upper hand, and ultimately both were forced to settle for a point.
Paul Holleran named the same eleven that started at Gloucester on Boxing Day while welcoming Joe Clarke back into the squad. Lance Smith was unable to feature against his old club due to the injury he picked up at Wrexham, and is hoping to discover the extent of it after a scan on Wednesday.
The opening ten minutes were end to end but Leamington managed to create the first two opportunities of the afternoon. The first was of slightly unorthodox creation; Kyle Morrison’s headed clearance turning into a great ball for Taylor Allen to chase down the right, the youngster cutting inside before curling a shot into the arms of Bulls keeper Brandon Hall.
Allen was set up by Sam Osborne and forced a save from Hall as he fired towards goal from a tight angle. With Callum Gittings and Danny Waldron rushing in to try and take advantage of any loose ball the keeper did well to push it away from goal. In between times Chris Camwell screwed Hereford’s first effort of the afternoon high and horribly wide.
The visitors were a whisker away from taking the lead when Tom Owen Evans’ left wing cross fizzed across the goalmouth with skipper Jared Hodgkiss inches from connecting as he slid in.
The game swung rapidly from end to end without any real quality. Both teams and benches seemed intent on getting the attention of Referee Dean Watson as loudly as possible every time a perceived wrong-doing went against them. This intensified towards half time, with the interval giving both sides a chance to calm down and refocus.
Camwell’s second effort of the afternoon was an improvement on his first but was still wide of the target, while Waldron’s shot to the near post was held easily by Hall. Owen-Evans then curled in a shot from the left that Jake Weaver flung himself to his left to save as a forgettable first half drew to a close.
Hereford’s recent signing from Halesowen George Forsyth headed just wide from the first corner of the second half, while an equally good opportunity came Kelsey Mooney’s way when Camwell’s cross found him unmarked and in space inside the box, his neat turn and shot saw the ball just clear the crossbar.
As an attacking force Brakes were practically non-existent in the second forty five minutes, but while Hereford largely bossed possession they failed to truly test Jake Weaver.
Defences were undoubtedly king in this contest, with Jack Lane and Kyle Morrison outstanding once more, while Jamie Grimes was impressive at the back for the visitors.
Brakes will now need to rest and regroup, ready to face leaders Gloucester again on Saturday.
Leamington: Jake Weaver, Josh Martin, Stephan Morley, Simeon Maye (16 Joe Clarke, 74), Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Sam Osborne (14 Dan Meredith, 90+1), Callum Gittings, Taylor Allen, Jack Edwards, Danny Waldron (12 Kaiman Anderson, 78).
Subs not used: 15 Connor Taylor 17 Junior English.
Hereford: 20 Brandon Hall, 2 Jared Hodgkiss ©, 3 Luke Haines, 6 Jamie Grimes, 17 Ryan Lloyd, 5 George Forsyth (16 James McQuilkin, 76), 7 Chris Camwell, 8 Giles Coke, 10 Tom Owen-Evans (24 Dylan Jones, 87), 34 Kelsey Mooney, 11 Kyle Finn.
Subs not used: 1 Paul White, 32 Samir Nabi, 22 Richard Whittingham.
Referee: Mr Dean Watson
Assistant Referees: Mr Andrew Ellis & Mr Ashley Clarke
Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Lane.
