Vanarama National League North
Horsfall Community Stadium
Monday 21st February 2022

This really was a cliched ‘game of two halves’ as Brakes put a kamikaze opening to the evening behind them to almost turn the tables, but ultimately they paid the price for their pedestrian start to the game as an electric opening from Bradford Park Avenue earned them all three points.

The Horsfall Stadium had been a happy hunting ground for Leamington on their previous two visits, but they have also suffered more than their share of frustration on the long trip up to West Yorkshire over the years, and unfortunately this would prove to be another one of those nights. However, Brakes deserve credit for the way they attacked the second half after the home side had completely bossed the opening 45 minutes.

Paul Holleran named an unchanged starting eleven, with Joe Clarke returning to the squad, taking his place on the substitutes bench.

The weather was a great deal calmer than it had been when the team coach departed the Midlands, with the dry conditions and very little wind making it perfect for football, if a little cold.

The home side were out of the traps faster than a greyhound, Lewis Knight heading Nicky Clee’s left wing centre just wide inside the opening minute.

Around a minute or so later Bradford were ahead. Oli Johnson cut in from the left and danced through a statuesque Leamington defence before sliding the ball into the centre for Brad Dockerty to poke home from close range.

Jake Weaver was forced into a save as Knight had another early effort on his goal, which was leading a charmed life as his team mates struggled to get any kind of foothold in the game.

The second of successive corners for Bradford saw the ball played back to Sam Fielding, who saw his shot well blocked by Jack Edwards, but from the resulting flag kick Luca Havern reacted quickest to meet the ball ahead of Weaver and put Mark Bower’s men two goals up inside thirteen minutes.

To their credit after this double early setback Leamington did begin to stem the flow of attacks from their rampant hosts, and started to work the ball forward without creating anything clear cut.

Bradford oozed confidence from the first whistle, and looked a threat every time they went forward, with Brakes seemingly unable to find a way to cope with the speed of the Avenue attacks. Weaver rushed from his line and then appeared to freeze as Knight was played in to fire across goal and just wide of the far post.

Leamington’s first serious effort at goal arrived three minutes before half time as they broke up a Bradford attack, Adam Walker powering through midfield and feeding Kelsey Mooney, who cut onto his right foot and curled in a strike that proved relatively straightforward for George Sykes-Kenworthy. Referee Claudio Gavillucci then bought play back for a free kick after Edwards was fouled, but Devon Kelly-Evans fired the dead ball well wide of the target, which neatly summed up a disappointing first half for Brakes.

Whatever had been said in the dressing room certainly prompted an improvement in the second 45 minutes as Leamington pushed their hosts back into their own half, but a brief scramble in front of goal was the best they could muster early on. However, it was a big improvement on what had gone before. The effort, endeavour and workrate was now evident, and Mooney fired a warning shot as he stung the palms of Sykes-Kenworthy with a volley.

The striker was then presented with the ball twenty yards from goal but with defenders to beat he was unable to get enough purchase on his shot to trouble the goalkeeper. The home fans were becoming restless however, having seen their team boss the first 45 minutes.

Successive corners were forced, ending with a wild shot from Edwards that saw movement on the bench which saw Clarke introduced to the action in place of Callum Gittings.

Dan Meredith was beginning to find plenty of space on the right, and it was from a delightful first time cross that Edwards reduced the arrears as he arrived right on cue to thump an unstoppable header past Sykes-Kenworthy from close range to set up an interesting final quarter of an hour.

Clee fired Avenue’s only effort of the second half straight at Weaver before Edwards hooked a shot onto the roof of the net as a recycled corner was played back in by Devon Kelly-Evans.

Leamington continued to dominate going forward as the game entered its closing stages, and some neat build up ended with a disappointingly scuffed shot from substitute Sam Wilding when he looked well placed to hit the target. Dan Turner worked the keeper in the next attack however with a fierce drive which Sykes-Kenworthy could only turn behind. From the corner Jack Lane headed back across goal for Walker to head into the goalkeeper’s arms. Sykes-Kenworthy was put under plenty of pressure late on, but the equaliser just wouldn’t come.

Attendance: 397

Bradford Park Avenue: George Sykes-Kenworthy, Mark Ross, Mitch Lund,, Harrison Hopper (12 Ryan Toulson, 83), Luca Havern ©, Sam Fielding, Lewis Knight, Simon Richman, Brad Dockerty, Oli Johnson (16 Rob Guilfoyle, 21 (17 Adam Nowakowski, 76), Nicky Clee.

Subs not used: 14 Akeem Hinds, 15 Lucas Odunston.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley, Callum Gittings (15 Joe Clarke, 69), Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Dan Turner, Adam Walker, Kelsey Mooney (12 Joe Parker 82), Jack Edwards ©, Devon Kelly-Evans (14 Sam Wilding 82).

Subs not used: 16 James Mace, 17 Junior English.

Referee: Mr Claudio Gavillucci

Assistant Referees: Mr Peter Brown & Mr Alexander Beckett

Brakes Man of the Match: Dan Meredith.