Report

Vanarama National League North
The Community Stadium
Saturday 2nd January 2021

Brakes were forced to share the spoils with league leaders Gloucester City in the first game of the New Year at The Community Stadium as they took advantage of former skipper Liam Daly’s red card to cancel out an unfortunate first half goal for the visitors, who battled well to prevent them from taking all three points.

Paul Holleran restored Joe Clarke to his starting eleven, Callum Gittings dropping to the bench, while Gloucester’s recent signing Keanu Marsh-Brown started with regular scorer Matt McClure missing.

Tommy O’Sullivan blasted the first effort of the afternoon high over Jake Weaver’s goal as both sides attempted to feel their way into the game in the freezing conditions, but there was a long stoppage with just five minutes played as both Jack Edwards and Tigers’ custodian Rhys Lovett received treatment after Edwards tried to capitalise on a fumble as the goalkeeper rose to claim the ball at the far post. The Brakes skipper was booked for his part, while Lovett lasted only a few minutes more before being helped gingerly off the pitch to be replaced by Niall Maher.

Tahvon Campbell shot low through a congested penalty area and wide before good work from Danny Waldron saw his cross to the near post met by a neat touch from Taylor Allen which took him away from a defender and allowed him to shoot, Maher blocking at the expense of a corner.

Sam Osborne and Steph Morley were off beam with further efforts on the Gloucester goal, O’Sullivan likewise at the other end. Osborne came closer when he cut in from the right to drive low across goal and just past the far post, which was left rattling shortly afterwards when Joe Clarke took aim some 25 yards out and sent a low drive along the ground which pinged back off the upright.

Marsh-Brown inexplicably opted to try and cross when shooting looked a far better option after he had sped away into space down the right as Leamington gave the ball away inside the Gloucester half. His faux pas was soon forgotten by the visitors however when his strike partner Campbell gave them the lead with a strange goal on 38 minutes. Weaver looked to be right behind the young forward’s effort as he hit it powerfully towards goal some 8 yards out, but somehow the ball went through him into the net.

Jack Lane’s shot on the turn inside the box was blocked as half time approached, while a yellow card for former Brakes favourite Daly was something that would come back to haunt him in the second half.

Still limping a little from the challenge on Lovett in the first half, Edwards was replaced by Junior English with just three minutes of the second half played.

Osborne came close with a powerful first time drive that flashed past the post from just outside the box before the visitors were reduced to ten men when Daly was needlessly dismissed for an alleged handball in the eyes of the match officials. Possibly kicking the ball away did not help his cause.

English powered a header over the bar from the dead ball but he was right on the money on 63 minutes when Osborne was the architect of Leamington's equaliser, his mazy run down the right ended with him beating his man and delivering a fine ball to the near post which was slammed first time into the roof of the net by the substitute.

Allen was denied by the outstretched leg of a defender soon afterwards as he volleyed towards goal inside the penalty area. The tireless Simeon Maye then saw a shot deflected just past the post, Allen headed just over the bar from a left wing cross while another effort from Osborne was deflected up and into the arms of Maher.

Danny Waldron saw a late effort parried by Maher, but in truth the league leaders finished the game well, and did not look like they were a man light.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Josh Martin, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke, Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Sam Osborne (16 Callum Gittings, 87), Simeon Maye, Taylor Allen, Jack Edwards © (17 Junior English, 48), Danny Waldron (12 Kaiman Anderson, 90)

Subs not used: 14 Dan Meredith, 15 Connor Taylor.

Gloucester City: 1 Rhys Lovett (19 Niall Maher, 15), 23 Ben Morgan, 5 Liam Daly ©, 8 Josh Thomas, 17 Jack James, 14 Tommy O’Sullivan, 16 Lewis Brunt (21 Jordan Young, 67), 15 Jack Burroughs, 7 Kevin Dawson, 20 Keanu Marsh-Brown (6 Fabian Robert, 76), 9 Tahvon Campbell.

Subs not used: 12 Alex Hainault, 2 Jamie Bremner.

Referee: Mr Jon Kenny

Assistant Referees: Mr Kurt Bartlett & Mr Josh Hackett

Brakes Man of the Match: Sam  Osborne.

Photos by Sally Ellis. More images from the game from DC Photography can be found on our facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/leamingtonfc/posts/2756206671319277