Vanarama National League North
Brewery Field
Saturday 9th April 2022

A gritty, battling performance under the circumstances brought no reward for Leamington as they slipped to their fourth one nil defeat in succession.

A nightmare journey up to Spennymoor saw the team arrive at the Brewery Field stadium fifteen minutes after the game should have kicked off after the coach broke down just outside Doncaster. A near two and a half hour wait while a replacement was sought meant that instead of the scheduled breakfast stop the players were forced to make use of a nearby McDonalds for their pre match food. Not ideal preparations by any stretch of the imagination, but despite the setback Brakes gave a decent account of themselves and can feel slightly aggrieved not to have taken something from the game.

Paul Holleran made one change to his starting line up, welcoming Dan Turner back from injury to take the lone striker’s role.

With a 4.15pm kick off it was perhaps unsurprising that the game took a little while to warm up, with very little other than a Moors free kick dropping past the post in the opening ten minutes.

There were several chances for Leamington during the afternoon that they will look back on and feel that they might have taken, and the first arrived on 17 minutes. A free kick floated into the Spennymoor penalty area span behind Jordan Amissah as he attempted to punch the ball clear. Jack Lane controlled the ball and leathered it towards goal only to be denied by a fantastic goal line clearance from Moors top scorer Glen Taylor.

James Mace’s glancing header from the resulting corner appeared to strike an arm but the appeals were muted at best.

Joe Parker poked a shot wide as he connected with a low ball in from the left, while Steph Morley came closer as the ball arrived at his feet just outside the penalty area as Leamington pushed forward again - his low drive taking a nick off a home player on the way through to go behind for a corner just the wrong side of the post.

Brakes were enjoying probably their best spell of the game now, and Turner strode into the box before seeing his stabbed shot deflected behind for another corner.

Spennymoor pressed forward just before half time, Lane being forced to head over his own crossbar, before Claudo Ofusu crossed dangerously from the right, Taylor heading into the side netting at the far post.

Jude Oyibo fired across goal and inches wide as the hosts began to enjoy far more attacking play in the second half. Brakes retaliated, with Devon Kelly-Evans playing a fine ball out of defence for Turner to run onto. He cut inside but his shot was blocked by James Curtis. The ball ran loose for Jack Edwards, who could only fire wide.

Kelly-Evans saw a shot blocked before Spennymoor went close, substitute Ryan Hall crossing for Taylor to power a header straight at Callum Hawkins.

With ten minutes remaining the home side struck a crucial blow. The ball was played in to Oyibo, who turned well to fire beyond Hawkins into the top corner.

Hawkins was brave in preventing Taylor from doubling the lead soon afterwards as he dived ahead of the striker to claim Hall’s dangerous low cross. The on loan keeper then did superbly to pick his moment and pluck the ball away from Oyibo as the striker looked to dance past him to try and fire into an empty net.

The lively Charlie Williams saw a shot deflected behind as Leamington attempted a late rally in a bid to save the game. Lane headed over in the final moments of added time as Spennymoor recorded a victory which keeps them right in the play off hunt, while Brakes will look to regroup and figure out a way of ending the worst goal drought of Paul Holleran’s tenure as they welcome league leaders Brackley Town to Harbury Lane on Good Friday.

Attendance: 1,155

Spennymoor Town: 44 Jordan Amissah, 3 Ethan Pye (34 Charlie Hindson, 90+6), 5 Joe Tait, 6 James Curtis ©, 8 Ethan Brierley, 9 Glen Taylor, 10 Rob Ramshaw, 16 Claudio Ofosu (17 Ryan Hall, 66), 18 Jude Oyibo (15 Chris Mason, 90+4), 19 Kenton Richardson, 22 Luke Spokes.

Subs not used: 13 Harry Flatters.

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke, James Mace, Jack Lane, Joe Parker (14 Charlie Williams, 81), Adam Walker (12 Callum Gittings, 61), Dan Turner, Jack Edwards © (17 Junior English, 89), Devon Kelly-Evans.

Subs not used: 15 Melis Bushaj, 16 Connor Taylor.

Referee: Mr Ed Duckworth

Assistant Referees: Mr J Waters & Mr D Bradley

Brakes Man of the Match: Devon Kelly-Evans.