Vanarama National League North
The Citadel
Tuesday 22nd March 2022

Brakes slipped to a disappointing defeat in Yorkshire as Farsley Celtic hauled themselves off the bottom of the table with a solitary first half strike.

There were three changes to the starting eleven from Saturday’s win over Guiseley - Jake Weaver returning in goal, while Joe Parker replaced the injured Dan Turner (hamstring). Burton Albion loanee Charlie Williams stepped in for his debut in place of Devon Kelly-Evans. Connor Taylor, who returned to the squad having been with Southern League Bromsgrove Sporting this season, took his place on the bench.

The evening did not get off to the best of starts for Leamington as they fell behind on six minutes. A ball down the right channel looked harmless enough, but when Jack Lane looked to let it run through to Weaver, Luke Parkin nipped in to take it past the stranded keeper and finish well into the far corner from a tight angle to the delight of the home support.

On the quarter hour there was a further blow as Brakes lost Kelsey Mooney to injury. The young striker looked set for a fair battle with Kennedy Digie, but fell to the turf clutching his knee in pain as the two tussled for the ball on the left just outside the penalty area. After lengthy treatment he was stretchered off, to be replaced by Junior English.

Williams was quickly involved in Leamington’s early forward movements, showing a good touch and nimble feet, and curled a decent effort just over the angle of post and bar.

English was also putting himself about, and when Williams fed Adam Walker, who hit the touchline and crossed low into the six yard box from the left, the substitute got there just ahead of Digie but could only steer the ball behind.

English was there when the first corner of the evening was played in from the right, the ball appearing to strike him two yards out before bobbling wide.

The game entered a scrappy period with half time approaching, with neither side looking like taking a stranglehold on proceedings, but Farsley would have been happy with how things were panning out.

Both sides traded free kicks as the game entered five additional minutes, Frank Mulhern sending his into the arms of Weaver, while Williams stepped up to strike from a central position just outside the ‘D’, the ball whizzing just the wrong side of the post.

There was more injury woe during the half time interval, with Steph Morley unable to continue, forcing a defensive reshuffle as Dan Meredith moved across to left back, with Taylor coming on at right back.

Jack Edwards sent a volley flashing over the bar in the opening seconds as Leamington immediately pressed forward, but the second half was to be a story of frustration.

Meredith’s left wing cross saw Parker head over the bar, while at the other end Parkin sent a low strike across goal and just wide.

Mulhern darted into the penalty area but sent his shot straight into the arms of Weaver before Leamington came as close to scoring as they would all evening. Lane saw a shot charged down just inside the box before the ball ran loose to Parker, who fired in a first time drive with the outside of his right boot that cannoned back off the inside of the post.

English was then denied a strike at goal by Lewis Butroid before Farsley staged a one man counter attack as a Leamington attack broke down from a right wing corner. Mulhern won the ball back and set off at pace from inside his own half, only to run out of steam as he reached the penalty area and sent his shot straight at Weaver.

The same player then fired at Weaver once more before sending another effort over the terrace behind the goal.

Brakes attempted a late rally, forcing Kyle Trenerry into a save from Lane’s looping header and another from a low strike by Williams, but Farsley held out for an important three points in their battle against the drop.

Paul Holleran was understandably a little downbeat after the game, saying ‘I was disappointed with the goal early doors. It seemed to take us twenty minutes or so to get used to the game. We knew what was coming, but we finished the half strongly and were unlucky not to go in level. In the second half sadly the conditions dictated to a percentage. We had some good chances that fell to Joe and Charlie, and on another day we take one or two of them and it’s a different story, but I’m bamboozled by the fixture lists in this division, I really am. They’ve ended up with injuries tonight, we’ve ended up with injuries tonight, but we’ll have to assess where we are now and we’ll go again on Saturday.

Regarding the injuries to Kelsey Mooney and Steph Morley, the manager said ‘Obviously Kelsey is going to require some kind of scan. It doesn’t look too good. At the moment we don’t know whether Steph has tweaked something or whether it’s a bit of cramp; coming back to the point I made about lads being at work all day and then having to sit on a coach for three, three and a half hours. It does make me laugh when I see the higher end of football moaning about their schedule. You’re always going to struggle with Covid and cup replays, I get that, but the Farsley game at Leamington kicked off at 8.45, and there've been three muscle injuries tonight between the two teams, so it’s there in black and white really.’

Attendance: 380

Farsley Celtic: 1 Kyle Trennery, 4 Lewis Turner, 16 Kennedy Digie, 6 Adam Clayton, 14 Lewis Butroid, 8 Chris Atkinson, 18 Sam Walker, 11 Luke Parkin, 7 Dave Syers © (10 Jerome Greaves, 60), 3 Will Hayhurst (15 Jacob Gratton, 77), 20 Frank Mulhern.

Subs not used: 19 Harry Jessop, 26 Rhys Westcarr (GK), 32 Jean Leroy-Belehouan.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley (15 Connor Taylor, 46), Joe Clarke (12 Callum Gittings, 81), James Mace, Jack Lane, Joe Parker, Adam Walker, Kelsey Mooney (14 Junior English, 19), Jack Edwards ©, Charlie Williams.

Subs not used: 16 Devon Kelly-Evans, GK Callum Hawkins.

Referee: Mr Michael Crusham

Assistant Referees: Mr Matty Wright & Mr Alex Sawden

Brakes Man of the Match: Dan Meredith.