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Sunday 2nd January 2022

Brakes’ recent poor run continued as they slipped to a single goal defeat against Gloucester City in their first game of the New Year.

Perhaps more worryingly it is the fifth time Leamington have failed to score in their last ten games, and while the endeavour of the players cannot be questioned it is evident that the midfield influence of Jack Edwards, Joe Clarke and Simeon Maye is being sorely missed.

Paul Holleran brought in returning loanee Sam Wilding, the Sunderland youngster slotting into central midfield while Dan Meredith moved forward to take the place of Junior English, who dropped to the bench. James Mace started his third consecutive game to move level with Josh Blake as the club’s record appearance holder of the modern era.

The game got off to a much livelier start than the Boxing Day clash had done, and Kelsey Mooney played what looked like a perfect ball through for Dan Turner in the opening minutes but his team mate lost his footing as he shaped to shoot, and the chance was gone.

Gloucester responded with a stinging strike from the returning Matt McClure that stung the palms of Jake Weaver.

Dan Meredith’s low strike was saved by Jake Cole as the game swung quietly from end to end before the visitors opened the scoring on 16 minutes. It was a disappointing goal to concede from a Leamington perspective as the giant Ben Gerring was left unmarked from a left wing corner, the veteran former Weymouth and Woking man stooping to head home at the near post.

Mooney was making things happen when Leamington were able to attack, and after a spell of Glocuester pressure, played Turner into a good position only for him to be denied by a fine block from Gerring, who was there once more to head the resulting corner powerfully away from goal.

Steph Morley produced a fantastic challenge to prevent Danny King from sprinting clear down the right, particularly as it looked as though the Gloucester man's pace had just taken him ahead of the Brakes left back.

The visitors continued to look threatening on the counter but Leamington went close when Jamie Andrews forced a diving save from Cole as he looked to bend the ball into the bottom right corner.

Kevin Dawson’s free kick from out on the right sailed through a crowded penalty area and out of play at the far post without a touch from anyone as Gloucester enjoyed most of the early possession in the second half.

A shot from Bernard Mensah which from this reporter's position didn’t look to travel close to any player as it bobbled wide of the far post earned Gloucester a corner kick which Brakes struggled initially to get clear.

Mooney came mightily close to snatching a leveller when a free kick from inside the Leamington half from Weaver was latched onto by Mooney, who was denied by a fine save from Cole.

Kyle Morrison headed into the arms of Cole from close range after substitute Kieran Cook had won a free kick in a dangerous position out on the left. Brakes were only threatening sporadically however; and were unable to put together a sustained period of pressure on the Gloucester goal to look like rescuing the game. 

Attendance: 625

Leamington: Jake Weaver, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Sam Wilding, Kyle Morrison ©, Jack Lane, Joe Parker (12 Keiran Cook, 76), Dan Meredith, Kelsey Mooney, Jamie Andrews (14 Junior English, 64), Dan Turner (17 Devon Kelly-Evans, 71).

Subs not used: 15 Jack Sang, 16 Kaiman Anderson.

Gloucester City: 1 Jake Cole, 12 Daniel Leadbitter, 23 Ben Gerring (5 Jordan Thompson, 68), 24 Ben Nugent, 16 Ryan Galvin, 7 Kevin Dawson, 14 Tommy O’Sullivan, 11 Bernard Mensah (18 Max Sheaf, 83), 19 Danny King, 8 Oliver Hulbert, 10 Matt McClure.

Subs not used: 21 Liam Armstrong, 20 Jordan Young, 29 Dejon Noel-Williams.

Referee: Mr Michael Crusham

Assistant Referees: Mr Ian Andrews & Mr Tim Walker

Brakes Man of the Match: Kelsey Mooney.