Vanarama National League North
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Saturday 12th February 2022

A stunning strike from Kelsey Mooney ensured that Leamington built on 4 points from their previous three games with a well earned victory at Your Co-op Community Stadium.

Their latest challenge arrived in the form of a Chorley side firmly ensconced in the play off places and on the back of an 11 match unbeaten run in the National League North which had begun back in November when they edged Brakes out by a single goal at Victory Park.

Paul Holleran shuffled his pack after a change of formation at Kettering, reverting to his usual 4-5-1 formation and restoring Devon Kelly-Evans to the starting line up in place of James Mace.

Brakes got off to the perfect start with less than a minute played as Steph Morley’s perfect right footed left wing centre was met by Dan Turner, who sent a looping header beyond Matt Urwin into the net before most people had settled into their positions for the first half.

Adam Senior and Connor Hall both went close to levelling things up quickly - the former heading wide from a flick on, while Hall went through on goal but was closed down by Jake Weaver, and fired over the bar.

The second Leamington goal came as a result of quick thinking from Kelly-Evans. As Leamington broke up a Chorley attack he looked up before sending a long ball out of defence for Mooney to run on to. He still had plenty to do but turned Lewis Baines before sending a peach of a strike curling into the far corner.

Mooney looked full of confidence after his goal, and hared up the right before turning inside and sending a shot behind off defender Scott Leather for a corner, from which Kyle Morrison headed just wide.

Another flag kick from the left by Kelly-Evans was placed just wide by the head of skipper Jack Edwards, while Mooney came close to a second goal as he struck wide with Urwin coming off his line to close down.

Even at two goals in front Brakes would have been well aware that the game was far from over, and with the wind at their backs Chorley ensured that the second half would be a contest from the beginning as they pulled a goal back within three minutes of the restart.

A long throw into the penalty area from the left was flicked on, and while it looked a routine claim for Weaver he unfortunately did not get full hold of the ball, and Brad Holmes was not about to pass up the opportunity, stabbing home from a yard out.

Mooney was the width of a post from restoring Leamington’s two goal advantage when another good delivery from Morley on the left was intelligently nudged into his path by Turner, and Mooney’s first time rising effort cannoned off the upright and back into play.

Kelly-Evans’ free kick flew into the arms of Urwin, before the visitors pushed hard to find the equaliser; Jon Ustabasi’s run saw him knock the ball back for substitute Ollie Shenton to drive in a low effort that was blocked well by the legs of Weaver. Holmes then sent in a fierce strike that the Brakes keeper pushed over his crossbar.

The visitors continued to press but were met by a stubborn Leamington rearguard that refused to buckle, and dug in to record another welcome victory which pushes them further into the sanctuary of mid table.

After the game the manager was full of praise for his troops. ‘It’s always a hard earned three points against a side like Chorley,’ he said. ‘I’ve said before, I think they epitomise what you would expect a National League North side to be like - they’re full of experience, know how; and have a sprinkling of quality. You’ve got to go toe to toe with them if you’re going to have any joy. We don’t have joy against them too often, but the conditions played a big part today. I would say we played the conditions better than they did - I think that would be a fair assumption.

‘I thought first half we were just fantastic. You know you’re going to get a little bit of space down the side of the centre halves because of the full backs stepping in. I thought we played it brilliantly - the three lads on the high line - Kelsey, Dan, Devon - we exploited it well. It didn’t take us ten-fifteen minutes to get into the game; we got into it straight away, we got the conditions straight away. It was a really intelligent performance from us first half, and we were probably unfortunate to only be two nil up to be fair.

‘The game’s going to change in the second half isn’t it? Conditions dictated that. But I thought against the wind - especially in the first part of the second half; we’ve played it well again.

`We've made an error, and it’s disappointing, but then you look at the individual and the team after that, and that’s all you can ask for then. You want people to stand up and be counted, chest out, and have a bit of arrogance about them when they make mistakes; and the response was positive from Jake and the back four. We always knew it was going to be tough at the end. It was difficult to counter because of the wind, but Chorley did what Chorley did - they put the ball in good areas, they put players in good areas. They make you defend and they don’t waste too many balls, but do you know something? As good as we were for the first hour, the last half hour we showed the other side, that grit and determination. And when you’re a team that’s been on the kind of run we’ve been on during December/January, the sort of character we’re showing now, with a bit of tinkering and a bit more work on the training ground; it’s really pleasing for me because it’s a young group of players for this level. It’s fantastic because they haven’t gone hiding when it’s got tough; haven’t looked to point the finger. They’ve taken responsibility. I think we’re all just doing the basics better, managing the game better and they’re getting their just reward. Especially Kelsey, who was fantastic today, and has so deserved that goal. It was a really really good day for us.’

On the squad in general: ‘I’m hoping it’s just an impact injury with Callum Gittings, as he’s done really well for us today. His experience in the middle of the park, his physicality, and he’s good in both boxes.

‘Simeon Maye is making good progress, Joe Clarke is making good progress - we’re hoping to have him back in the fold next weekend. On the loan boys - we’ve extended Sam Wilding’s loan for another month, while Dylan Barkers has gone back to Cheltenham. We wish him all the best as he’s a super young man.’

Attendance: 512

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley, Callum Gittings (12 Sam Wilding, 90+5), Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Dan Turner (14 Joe Parker, 88), Adam Walker, Kelsey Mooney (16 Junior English 90+4), Jack Edwards, Devon Kelly-Evans.

Subs not used: GK Ben Maxwell, 15 James Mace.

Chorley: 1 Matt Urwin, 5 Scott Leather ©, 6 Lewis Baines, 7 Billy Whitehouse, 8 Mike Calveley, 10 Will Tomlinson (13 Ollie Shenton, 45), 11 Jon Ustabasi, 16 Adam Blakeman, 20 Adam Senior (22 Harry Scarborough, ), 27 Connor Hall, 32 Brad Holmes (3 Harvey Smith, 88).

Subs not used: 29 Liam Birchall.

Referee: Mr Michael Crusham

Assistant Referees: Mr Daniel Pattison & Mr Dave Hinton

Brakes Man of the Match: Callum Gittings