Vanarama National League North
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Saturday 4th September 2021

The bounce from Leamington’s opening game win against Spennymoor felt like a distant memory as they were well beaten by Curzon Ashton.

With Joe Clarke ruled unfit shortly before kick off Paul Holleran was forced into a reshuffle in midfield, Simeon Maye taking his place while Devon Kelly-Evans moved into the centre; Kieran Cook stepping in to make his first start for the club.

There was an opportunity for Brakes inside the opening two minutes. With both sides surrendering possession Maye picked up the ball in his own half and sent a ball forward for Kelsey Mooney, who bought it under control and sprayed a pass out to Kieran Cook on the right. The former Alvechurch man showed some nimble footwork to evade a couple of challenges before driving in low to the near post, Curzon keeper Chris Renshaw making the save.

The visitors looked lively, and were very unfortunate not to take the lead on 15 minutes when Jack McKay smashed a shot against the inside of the post having got goal side of Steph Morley. The ball ricocheted across goal, Alex Curran seeing his follow up blocked. The same player saw another effort blocked from a long throw, but the ‘Nash worked the ball back into the six yard box and it was forced over the line by Adam Thomas to hand the visitors the lead.

On 25 minutes it was two. Thomas’ header from a right wing cross was met by a superb save from Weaver, but he could only palm the ball across goal, and Dominic Knowles, who bagged a hat trick here for Burton Albion in a Birmingham Senior Cup tie almost 8 years ago simply could not miss at the far post, side footing first time into an unguarded net.

Weaver was a busy man as he held a header from Knowles, who met Thomas’ right wing free kick with a firm header. Some form of retaliation arrived from Leamington when Jack Lane met Kelly-Evans’ free kick with a glancing header that dropped just wide of the far post.

There was a further blow for Brakes before half time when Morley limped off to be replaced by Josh Martin.

Mooney was denied a first goal for Leamington in first half injury time when he stretched to meet Dan Meredith’s cross from the right, but Renshaw denied him with an unorthodox but impressive save, swiping the ball behind with a strong hand.

It was certainly an improved start to the second half from Brakes, but without the end product; the Curzon defence standing firm and frustrating their opponents with timely blocks and challenges. They then rubbed further salt into the wound with a third goal just past the hour mark, Dale Witham squeezing a header between Weaver and the far post from a right wing corner.

Maye set up second half substitute Callum Gittings to put his laces through a powerful low drive which was met by the diving Renshaw, who denied Edwards late on when the Brakes skipper drove a powerful volley straight at him.

 ‘It was a well deserved defeat,’ said Paul Holleran after the game. ‘They’ve done to us probably what we’ve done to us against Spennymoor last Saturday. They’ve absolutely executed their gameplan a treat; they’ve smothered us all over the pitch, their set plays were on a button, they’ve put us under a lot of pressure and we’ve cracked. We looked second best all over the pitch today, which is frustrating, because seven days ago I thought we looked really good as a group. We defended set plays well, we defended our box well, and then when you earn the right to play football and the game opened up a little bit we scored some good goals, but then you look at the difference between last Saturday, Monday and today - you go two nil down against good sides like Brackley and Curzon - it’s tough to come back from.’

Attendance: 622

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley (12 Josh Martin, 38), Simeon Maye, Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Kieran Cook (14 Callum Gittings, 64), Devon Kelly-Evans (16 Joe Parker, 68), Kelsey Mooney, Jack Edwards ©, Dan Turner.

Subs not used: 15 Kaiman Anderson, 17 Junior English.

Curzon Ashton: 1 Chris Renshaw, 2 Matt Challoner, 3 Matt Waters, 4 Marcus Poscha, 5 Harry Flowers, 7 Adam Thomas, 8 Dale Witham, 9 Dominic Knowles © (17 Luke Daly, 81), 10 Alex Curran (19 Craig Hobson, 68), 11 Jack McKay, 21 Craig Mahon (16 Jordan Lussey, 74).

Subs not used: 24 Jack Dyce.

Referee: Mr Sam Mulhall

Assistant Referees: Mr Alan Cox & Mr Ryan Anderson

Brakes Man of the Match: Dan Meredith.

Photos by Sally Ellis