FA Trophy 2nd Round
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Saturday 27th November 2021

Brakes interest in the Buildbase FA Trophy ended at the first hurdle on a bitterly cold afternoon in Warwickshire as they were knocked out by divisional rivals Alfreton.

With the remnants of Storm Arwen continuing to cause havoc around the county a very strong wind buffeted the stadium throughout the afternoon, making conditions difficult for both sides.

With Jack Edwards absent through injury and Josh Martin still absent through illness Paul Holleran made just one change to his starting eleven, Callum Gittings slotting in to central midfield.

The visitors made a fierce start to the game, Dayle Southwell forcing Jake Weaver into a smart save down to his left with a powerful strike from just outside the penalty area inside the opening 20 seconds.

The game was very stop-start in the opening quarter but it was the visitors who began to settle first, seeing headers blocked from crosses into the Leamington box. Brakes were never really able to get a hold of possession for any length of time, inviting their visitors onto them. They finally put together a meaningful attack on 25 minutes as Devon Kelly-Evans nicked the ball away from Conor Branson on the edge of the Leamington area, and set Dan Meredith away down the right. Some neat interplay between the former Coventry youngster, Meredith and Gittings saw Alex Prosser turn the ball out to Steph Morley, whose vicious strike was blocked before it had left his boot.

Adam Lund was cautioned for a late challenge on Prosser some 25 yards from goal in a central position on the half hour. It was ripe for Morley to take a pot shot at goal and he did just that, whipping the dead ball up and down towards the bottom corner. George Willis got down well to save but Kelsey Mooney was quickly onto the loose ball, and looked certain to nudge it home only for an unbelievable clearance to somehow divert it over the bar for a corner.

Weaver watched an early high ball onto the roof of his net before saving from a Matt Rhead header. Conor Branson then curled a first time effort wide of the target as the visitors looked to take advantage of having the wind at their backs. Half time substitute Harvey Grice then set up Adam Lund to curl another effort over the bar.

Branson’s vital intervention prevented Gittings from a strike on goal as Leamington produced their first promising attack of the half, but they were behind just past the hour when Josh Clackstone’s perfect right wing cross was met by Bailey Hobson, who neatly headed inside Weaver’s far post to put Alfreton in front.

Holleran threw on Kaiman Anderson and Junior English in search of a route back into the game, and English sent a ball in from the right that saw Dan Turner come within inches of a leveller as his top corner bound header was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Willis.

The visitors appeared to have made the game safe with 13 minutes to play when a ball over the top was collected by Rhead with no apparent danger, but with Weaver out of his goal and the defence playing a high line, the veteran striker lifted it across to Hobson, who calmly slotted it into the net.

Leamington then forged two glorious chances to get themselves back into proceedings. Joe Clarke’s right wing cross was missed by Clackstone, giving Turner the chance to pick up possession and turn towards goal, but his shot was still rising as it flew over the bar.

Brakes then carved out an even better opportunity, Jack Lane feeding Gittings, whose scuffed effort was diverted into the path of Kelly-Evans, who it appeared just needed to run on to the ball and slot it past Willis, but instead put it past the far post.

This signalled the end of the tie, as within seconds Hobson had sent a low shot past a wrong footed Weaver to put Alfreton out of sight.

Attendance: 242

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke ©, Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Devon Kelly-Evans, Alex Prosser (14 Kaiman Anderson, 68), Kelsey Mooney (16 Junior English, 68), Callum Gittings (15 Kieran Cook, 83), Dan Turner.

Subs not used: 12 Joe Parker, 17 Josh Beeson.

Alfreton Town: George Willis, Josh Clackstone, Josh Wilde, Connor Branson ©, Ritchie Sutton, Dwayne Wiley (15 Dominic Smith, 62), Dayle Southwell (14 Harvey Grice, 45), Adam Lund, Matt Rhead, Bobby Johnson (12 Danny Preston, 87), Bailey Hobson.

Subs not used: 13 Alfie Smith-Eccles, 16 Rob Evans.

Referee: Mr Dale Baines

Assistant Referees: Mr Andy Ellis & Mr Ashley Clarke

Brakes Man of the Match: Devon Kelly-Evans.