Buildbase FA Trophy 5th Round
Edgar Street
Saturday 6th February 2021

Brakes agonisingly exited the FA Trophy at the last sixteen stage for the second consecutive season, as an early free kick saw Hereford through.

The Bulls largely bossed the first half but it was a different story in the second as Leamington pushed hard to get back into the game, but they were unable to break down a gallant defence, and slipped to just their fifth defeat in the twenty games they have played this season.

Paul Holleran named an unchanged starting eleven from the previous round as Brakes bid to reach the Quarter Finals of the competition for the first time since 1984.

Hereford were quickly on the offensive, winning a string of free kicks in the opening moments, and it was from the last of these that Chris Camwell curled a peach of a free kick into the top corner beyond the diving Jake Weaver to give the Bulls the perfect start to the afternoon on four minutes.

Brakes slowly began to settle, Dan Meredith winning a corner on the right from which Jack Edwards planted a header into the arms of Brandon Hall. Hereford sprang forward quickly, Kyle Finn forcing Weaver to dive to his right to parry.

Both sides traded bookings as Hereford enjoyed the lion's share of possession without really radually Leamington began to see more of the ball in attacking positions. Hall did well to spring across his goal to keep out a flick from Edwards from a free kick before confidently claiming another good ball into the box.

Brakes were forced to play out the closing minutes of the first half with ten men after Steph Morley took a boot to the head from Finn and was forced off for treatment with blood pouring from the wound, returning minutes later swathed in bandages.

Leamington made a double change before the second half commenced, replacing Morley with Junior English and Joe Clarke with Callum Gittings, meaning a switch in personnel at the back.

Finn beat Martin down the left before crossing for Owen-Evans to clip a first time effort wide, but Brakes started the half far better than they had the first. English looked to have a shout for a penalty when he was bundled to the ground inside the box but nothing was forthcoming, and he did well to hold the ball up for Anderson to send a rising drive over the Hereford crossbar. Gittings then got a decent connection on a half volley on the edge of the box that might have caused problems for Hall had it been anywhere other than straight at him.

Holleran made a third change, bringing on Connor Taylor for Anderson, while Camwell’s attempt with the outside of his left boot sailed past the far post as Hereford pressed once more. At the other end Kyle Morrison powered a header over the bar from a corner as Leamington continued to push hard for that chance that might get them back in the game.

Time ticked away with Hereford seemingly content to protect what they had and invite Leamington to attempt to break them down but try as they might it just wasn’t happening for them where it mattered.

Gittings’ low drive was right where Hall would have wanted it as Hereford used every trick they could to run the clock down, but the home side still created another chance, Camwell’s shot deflecting into the arms of Weaver.

Brakes efforts in added time were in vain, as Hereford edged through to the Quarter Finals for the first time.

It remains to be seen whether this will be the final game of the season for Leamington, with many issues still to be resolved, and while if it is it would be a disappointing way to bow out. However, when viewing the overall picture Paul Holleran has put together a close knit squad with plenty of potential, who have left their mark on the pitch this season.

Reaction

Martyn Naylor was disappointed but philosophical after a testing afternoon for the team:

‘It wasn’t a great game really. We just didn’t get going in the first half, which was disappointing when you look at how well we played in our last game against Kettering, albeit with a two week break.

‘Every club at our level has had the same problem with the stop/start nature of the season, and certainly from our perspective today has highlighted the potential problems it can cause. Sadly everything that could go wrong, did. We’ve got four players carrying muscle injuries - and these are not injuries that will clear up quickly either. Joe Clarke has done his achilles, Dan Meredith has a muscle injury, Kaiman Anderson has done his hamstring; Connor Taylor came on for him and within a few minutes the same thing had happened to him. Danny Waldron was off the pitch being treated having pretty much had his nose broken, and obviously Steph Morley has had to go to hospital to have 16 stitches in a head wound. It was a nightmare!

‘It’s a shame to lose the game as we have put in some good performances in the competition this season, but that’s football. We wish Hereford well in the Quarter Finals and hope that they get a good draw.’

*Steph Morley was released from hospital on Saturday evening having had his head wound stitched up.

Hereford: 20 Brandon Hall, 2 Jared Hodgkiss ©, 4 Ben Pollock (18 Jan Klukowski, 73), 6 Jamie Grimes, 7 Chris Camwell, 8 Joey Butlin, 10 Tom Owen-Evans, 11 Kyle Finn (21 Samir Nabi, 90),, 12 Kennedy Digie, 16 James McQuilkin (24 Dylan Jones, 87), 17 Ryan Lloyd.

Subs not used: 1 Paul White, 15 Toby Raison, 22 Whittingham.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Josh Martin, Stephan Morley (16 Junior English, 46), Joe Clarke (14 Callum Gittings, 46), Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Dan Meredith, Simeon Maye, Kaiman Anderson 17 Connor Taylor, 57), Jack Edwards ©, Danny Waldron.

Subs not used: 15 Lance Smith, 18 Ben McLean.

Referee: Mr Daniel Middleton

Assistant Referees: Mr Scott Chalkley & Mr Robert Evans

Fourth Official: Mr Neil Pratt

Brakes Man of the Match: Dan Meredith