Vanarama National League North
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Tuesday 28 December 2021

by Max Passantino

Leamington ended the year letting a 2 goal lead slip against the side sitting in 22nd, AFC Telford United, to ensure the visitors and their raucous visiting support would go back to Shropshire happy with a valuable point in their battle against the drop.

Paul Holleran made one change in midfield, with Callum Gittings dropping out for Junior English, with Gittings the latest name in a large injury crisis at the club with several players out. Former Telford man Steph Morley was the only old Bucks player in the Brakes starting 11, with Kaiman Anderson, another former Buck, on the Brakes bench.

It didn’t take 20 seconds for Telford to win their first corner of the game and they almost made it count. Shotton rose highest in a melee of players around the penalty spot and made contact, needing former Telford man Steph Morley to head off the line.

Kelsey Mooney won the Brakes their first corner of the half just before the 10 minute mark, turning and seeing a shot blocked. Telford’s returning goalkeeper Russ Griffiths easily able to catch the ball, his first action in an afternoon that would see him play the role of pantomime villain. The Bucks custodian was next in action seven minutes later, as Kelsey Mooney saw his shot from a tight angle saved.

Jason Oswell has always been hard to keep quiet in front of goal in his expansive CV and he was next to have an effort on Jake Weaver’s goal, his acrobatic goal not troubling the Brakes keeper. The next real Telford chance fell to Dom McHale, he was having some joy down the Telford left hand side and drilled a low shot into the side netting after getting past James Mace on the Brakes right.

Telford looked to be having the play, as James Mace was there to clear off the line, but with a minute left of the first half, Junior English gave the Brakes the lead. The visitors cleared a Joe Parker free kick but didn’t react to the second ball as Brakes returned the ball into the box where Junior English found himself onside, unmarked six yards out to tap the ball past Griffiths, making sure Leamington would be in front at the break.

The second half was a slow starter with no real efforts testing either goalkeeper. Telford saw a Williams cross that led to a Brakes counter attack, Dan Meredith’s speculative shot looping up into Griffiths’ hands. Jake Weaver made a crucial save to keep the Brakes ahead not long after, getting fingertips to Shotton’s header from a corner. A lengthy stoppage played out after a clash of heads from West Brom loan man Jamie Andrews and Chorley loan man Mace Goodridge. Bucks’ keeper Russ Griffiths was sure that Andrews had used an elbow and made his point very clear to the referee, Griffiths lucky to get away without a caution from his strong protests.

Brakes had a penalty shout waved away as Junior English went over in the box, Griffiths not happy with the linesman’s decision to say English was onside and once again made his thoughts known. A free kick looked to be heading over the heads of everyone, but Jack Lane was brought down by a Telford player running into the box and referee Dale Wootton, who had a very good game overall, pointed to the spot.

Further antics from Griffiths ensued, not stepping away from Dan Turner who was set to take the penalty. The Telford goalkeeper retreated to his line after being warned by the referee and started pointing low into the bottom left corner from Dan Turner’s view. Turner duly obliged to take Griffiths’ recommendation and placed a low penalty into the bottom left to give the Brakes a two goal lead.

Telford started building pressure in the final ten minutes and their never say die attitude looked to be starting to pay off as they got a goal back, however Brakes will feel it was a goal that could’ve been stopped. An eighty seventh minute Brendan Daniels cross looked to be comfortably caught by Jake Weaver, but the Brakes keeper dropped the ball behind him into his own net to give Telford that hope they would be able to salvage a point from the fixture.

The comeback was complete in the second minute of five added on. A scramble in the box was not cleared by Jake Weaver or the Brakes defence, and Brendan Daniels turned on the ball and smashed the ball into the back of the net causing wild celebrations in the car park terrace that saw a mini pitch invasion from the Bucks’ fans.

Kai Williams was put through in the 95th minute and went over in the Brakes penalty area however it was suggested he needed diving practice as everyone in the ground, including the officials, saw the dive - Williams being booked by the referee which was the last real action of an eventful second half.

Attendance: 595

Leamington: Jake Weaver, James Mace, Steph Morley, Dan Meredith, Kyle Morrison (c), Jack Lane, Joe Parker (15 Devon Kelly-Evans, 83), Junior English, Kelsey Mooney (12 Kaiman Anderson, 94), Jamie Andrews, Dan Turner

Subs not used: 14 Kieran Cook, 16 Jack Sang, 17 Joe Clarke

AFC Telford United: 1 Russ Griffiths, 2 Arlen Birch, 3 Ross White, 5 Zak Lilly, 8 Adam Walker (c), 9 Jason Oswell, 10 Dom McHale (11 Brendan Daniels, 80), 14 Kai Williams, 20 Brad Bood, 23 Mace Goodridge, 26 Saul Shotton (24 Ewan Bange, 78)

Subs not used: 4 Jed Abbey, 13 Ted Cann, 19 Kyle Bennett

Referee: Mr Dale Wootton

Assistant Referees: Mr Scott Chalkey & Mr Andrew Ellis

Brakes Man of the Match: Dan Meredith

Photos courtesy of Sally Ellis