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Saturday 11th December 2021

An out of sorts Brakes spurned a glorious chance to take all three points late on after they had hauled themsleves level against a lively Bradford Park Avenue side who picked up their first ever point on Harbury Lane as they took a second half lead and looked comfortable at times.

There were changes to the eleven which started the unfortunate defeat at Chester the previous Saturday, most significantly in goal as Matt Sargeant made his debut in place of the injured Jake Weaver. The keeper had initially been signed on dual registration forms from Southern League neighbours Alvechurch at the beginning of the season in anticipation of Weaver’s unavailability for an opening game of the season which was subsequently postponed due to Covid 19.

Kelsey Mooney and Kaiman Anderson also stepped into the starting eleven in place of the injured Devon Kelly-Evans and Joe Parker, who dropped to the bench. There was a welcome return to the squad for James Mace. The long serving defender had been involved in all 22 of Bromsgrove Sporting’s games having joined the Southern League Central Premier Division side on dual registration forms as part of his recovery from the ACL injury he sustained in March 2020. 

Dan Turner came mightily close to opening the scoring on ten minutes, twisting and turning inside the box before getting a powerful strike off that cannoned back off the left hand upright.

Bradford broke quickly from this, forcing Sargeant into his first work of the afternoon with a save from Brad Dockerty’s shot out on the left.

It was Dockerty who threatened again as Avenue embarked on a lengthy spell of pressure in the Leamington half; collecting a cross from the left by Oli Johnson before working an inch of space for a shot that Steph Morley did well to block behind at the expense of a corner. From the dead ball a shot was sent in from outside the box which took a deflection, forcing Sargeant to change direction and produce a fine save to push the ball to safety.

Holleran was forced into an early change when skipper Joe Clarke was forced off injured, replaced by Callum Gittings, who slotted into a more familiar central midfield position than the one he had found himself in at Chester the previous Saturday.

Having absorbed this long spell of pressure Leamington did at least manage to push forward before half time, forcing a corner from which Turner laid the ball back to Gittings, whose first time right footed strike from distance was charged down. Anderson saw a further effort blocked before Morley’s fierce strike flew into the arms of the goalkeeper. Moments before half time Anderson almost played Turner in, but his shot was blocked.

Mooney was sent clear in the early moments of the second half as Leamington looked to raise their game, but seemed to lose his footing a little as he skewed his shot well wide.

Dockerty then latched on to a high ball forward, leaving it for Johnson. Sergeant had raced from his line to try and avert the danger but overcooked it. Fortunately for him Johnson lifted his attempted lob high over the crossbar.

The visitors moved ahead on 54 minutes, and it was a goal largely of Leamington’s own doing. A loose pass from Jack Lane was seized upon by Isaac Marriott, who slid the ball through for Dockerty to slip a low shot past the advancing Sargeant into the far corner.

It looked very much as though it was going to be one of those frustrating afternoons where little went right for Brakes, but they found themselves level on 70 minutes when a dangerous left wing cross from Morley appeared to go through Sykes-Kenworthy as he looked favourite to collect it at his near post, leaving the inrushing Mooney to connect first time with the ball from right in front of goal to bundle it into the net.

Brakes had an excellent chance to take the lead when a hopeful looking ball into the area found substitute Joe Parker in on goal. Sykes-Kenworthy did well to smother the shot, the ball running loose to Dan Meredith, who sent it high over the bar.

Mooney looked to have provided Leamington with a chance to go ahead with five minutes remaining when he was felled as he darted into the box. There appeared to be some discussion as to who would take the spot kick, with Mooney perhaps understandably wanting the ball having won it, but he reluctantly relented, and would no doubt have been doubly frustrated as Turner’s well struck shot was kept out by a fantastic save from Sykes-Kenworthy.

Mooney almost capitalised as Sykes-Kenworthy dropped a harmless looking ball into his box, but a defender somehow got back to put the ball behind for a corner. Bradford then broke swiftly, the impressive Dockerty racing up the left before feeding substitute Luke Rawson, who was denied by a smothering save from Sargeant.

Attendance: 301

Leamington: Matt Sargeant, Dan Meredith, Steph Morley, Joe Clarke © (16 Callum Gittings, 22), Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Kaiman Anderson (12 Joe Parker, 62), Alex Prosser, Kelsey Mooney, Junior English, Dan Turner.

Subs not used: 14 Kieran Cook, 15 James Mace, 17 Ben Maxwell.

Bradford (Park Avenue): George Sykes-Kenworthy, Mark Ross, Reece Staunton, Isaac Marriott, Luca Havern ©, Frank Maguire (17 Adam Nowakowski 74), Dylan Mottley-Henry, Simon Richman, Brad Dockerty, Oli Johnson (16 Luke Rawson, 74), Nicky Clee (15 Nicksden Gomis, 90).

Subs not used: 12 Jordan Windass, 14 Lucas Dunston.

Referee: Mr Tom Kirk

Assistant Referees: Mr Sam Weeson & Mr Gareth Viccars

Brakes Man of the Match: Kelsey Mooney.