Vanarama National League North
Edgar Street
Saturday 25th September 2021

Brakes saw three points ripped from their grasp at the death as Hereford’s second half performance earned them a deserved share of the spoils.

Paul Holleran opted to stick with the same squad which travelled to Alfreton on Tuesday evening, and they were fortunate not to fall behind inside the opening couple of minutes, Jake Weaver having to react smartly as a right wing corner was whipped dangerously into the centre, Ben Pollock directing towards goal but straight at the Leamington goalkeeper, who still had to make himself big to keep the ball out.

The hosts then won a corner from which Levi Andoh lashed a rising drive over the bar. Brakes broke forward quickly from this and won a corner of their own as Kelsey Mooney saw his close range effort put behind.

Miles Storey was at the centre of Hereford’s promising forward movements in the early stages, and stung the palms of Weaver with a well struck strike from just outside the box on the quarter hour mark.

Leamington had the ball in net when a free kick was lifted into the penalty area, Jack Lane heading against the bar, but while Kelsey Mooney put the loose ball into the net the Assistant Referee on the near side had already raised his flag.

As is usually the case in the wide open spaces of Edgar Street this was an open and entertaining contest, with both sides seeing plenty of the ball. Brakes won another corner and almost scrambled the ball home from close range, Jack Edwards eventually seeing his volley deflected over the bar.

Hereford were looking dangerous from corners, and Kyle Morrison and Weaver had to be alert to defend two dead ball deliveries from the right. Their third however, from the opposite side, sailed out of play for a throw in. Morrison was almost caught out as he shaped to square it for Dan Meredith, but was fortunate to see the challenge from James Mclean deflect it straight into his team mate’s path. Meredith powered into the Hereford half and after exchanging passes with Parker, was impeded on the right edge of the penalty area.

Parker flighted the ball into a crowded box, where Edwards arrived at the far post to powerfully head back across goal into the net to the delight of the 50 or 60 travelling Leamington fans in the Len Weston Stand.

There was a lengthy stoppage moments before half time when Luke Haines appeared to land awkwardly having gone up for an aerial challenge with Edwards on the edge of the Hereford penalty area. The home fans behind the goal were understandably baying for blood, but Referee Tom Kirk brandished the yellow card after a brief chat with the Leamington skipper. The injury was clearly a serious one however, with the player prostrate on the turf for over ten minutes before it was deemed safe to move him from the pitch. Haines was able to give a thumbs up to the crowd as he left the pitch, while Edwards, who was clearly seen as the instigator by the Bulls support, received a chorus of boos as he went to check on him.

The start to the second half was no less lively, Mooney almost firing Leamington further ahead from Steph Morley’s cross, Hall having to make the save. Meredith then flighted the ball in from the right, clipping the top of the bar with Hall possibly unsighted by the late afternoon sun.

The home side suddenly seemed to find an extra gear, and began to exert some pressure on the Brakes defence. They came very close to levelling things up when Maziar Kouyhar, who came on for Haines just before half time, and appeared to have his own personal fan club in the main stand, held off challenges with some neat footwork, the ball eventually being diverted inches past the far post by Dan Smith.

Brakes then enjoyed a little spell of their own, Edwards playing Parker into space on the right, the former Gloucester man driving into the box and forcing Hall to parry his goalbound strike.

A header towards goal was cleared away from the line as the Bulls pressed again, and while the home crowd responded in kind as their side probed for a way back into the game they were frustrated as a resilient Leamington defence repelled cross after cross.

Substitute Kaiman Anderson almost grabbed a second when Mooney directed the ball into his path, Andoh getting in a vital challenge to divert the ball over the bar.

Hereford continued to push and probe, Pritchard sending a long range curling effort drifting just past the far post.

It was beginning to look as though Leamington had done enough to hold out for all three points but they finally buckled with two minutes remaining when Smith powered home an equally impressive header from a great ball in from Kouhyar.

There were no more chances for either side after this, though hearts were in mouths for a split second as Pollock went down inside the box, but the Referee sounded the final whistle to the relief of the Brakes players.

Attendance: 1,197 (54 Leamington)

Hereford: 1 Brandon Hall, 2 Jared Hodgkiss, 4 Luke Haines (19 Maziar Kouyhar, 40), 7 Ryan Mclean, 11 Miles Storey (22 Ollie Hulbert, 58), 12 Levi Andoh, 14 Ryan Lloyd, 16 Ben Pollock, 21 Dan Smith, 24 Patrick Fini (3 Mitch Hancox, 84), 29 Harry Pritchard.

Subs not used: 13 Nykah Liburd-Hines.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke, Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Joe Parker (15 Kaiman Anderson, 65), Simeon Maye, Kelsey Mooney (17 Junior English, 87), Jack Edwards © (16 Callum Gittings, 84), Dan Turner.

Subs not used: 12 Devon Kelly-Evans, 14 Kieran Cook.

Referee: Mr Thomas Kirk

Assistant Referees: Mr Matthew Wilkes & Mr Andrew Ellis

Brakes Man of the Match: Kyle Morrison.