Vanarama National League North
The Tameside Stadium
Saturday 30th May 2022

It’s been a long hard season on the road, but Brakes finally bagged their second win of the campaign in their penultimate away game, their second in successive seasons at Curzon Ashton thanks to early goals in each half from Dan Turner and Joe Parker.

With four games in quick succession in a hectic final week of the season Paul Holleran made three changes for the trip to Tameside, resting Stephan Morley and Jack Edwards and bringing in Melis Bushaj and Charlie Williams, while Jake Weaver returned in goal.

Having not scored in open play since the win over Guiseley in March, Leamington broke that duck with just two minutes played. Turner punished Curzon for a loose defensive pass and sprinted in on goal, slotting clinically past Chris Renshaw to delight what was, for the first time in a while, a sizeable and noisy travelling support.

The first corner of the afternoon resulted in Jack Lane and Williams having shots saved by Renshaw as Leamington looked to turn the screw, but the hosts were soon on the offensive. A cross from the left flashed across the goalmouth and out of play for a throw in, but the ‘Nash were soon testing Weaver, Tom Peers firing low and straight at the Brakes stopper as his defenders dithered a little in front of him in getting the ball clear.

The siege began to gather pace, James Mace deflecting another effort behind for a corner, which was pushed over the crossbar by Weaver, while Craig Hobson fired just wide following a dangerous ball into the area from the right.

Leamington were defending stoutly but were not getting many opportunities to break forward, and they were indebted to Weaver as he pushed a fierce shot from a tight angle over the bar, and then from the corner saved a header from point blank range. The ball was headed towards goal again, striking the bar before going back into play, being headed against the bar a second time before going behind.

Having soaked up the almost relentless pressure from their hosts Leamington went close twice before half time, first through Turner, who did well to swivel and strike powerfully towards goal despite being off balance. The ball was deflected behind. Jack Lane then came even closer as he found himself in on goal on the left close to the touchline. With the angle tight he cleverly clipped the ball over the advancing Renshaw, only for Scott Wilson to head off the line.

The home side were not so fortunate just a minute after the restart. Williams whipped a superb ball in from the right which was met by Turner in the centre. He executed a clever backheel which saw the ball trickle towards goal, but it had enough on it to evade the dive of Renshaw, only to strike the post. However, Joe Parker was on hand to snaffle up the loose ball from a couple of yards out to put Leamington two goals clear.

Pushing forward once more Brakes won a corner, the ball only being cleared as far as the edge of the box were Williams met it with a fierce strike that was heading for the back of the net until Hobson got in the way to clear off the line.

The game then began to settle into a similar pattern to the first half as Curzon Ashton went in search of a goal that might hand them a route back into proceedings. Jordan Richards drove low but straight at Weaver, while Williams cut inside his marker on the edge of the area and fired for goal once more, the ball being deflected behind for another corner.

‘Nash substitute Connor Dimaio almost had an instant impact when he played the ball in from the left to Alex Curran just outside the box, but his shot was diverted behind.

Another ball cut back from the left resulted in a shot wide of the target, while Joseph Nolan drove a low effort just wide of the upright. Peers then did well with a shot on the turn but was denied by a good save from Weaver.

Former Coventry City man Adam Barton was unable to take advantage of a dangerous ball to the far post as he spooned his effort wide, while substitute Dale Witham thumped the crossbar with a fine diving header.

The hosts deserved a goal at the very least for the amount of chances they created, and they got one with a minute of normal time remaining when Marcus Poscha bundled in Richards’ corner.

There was still time for Weaver to make an incredible close range save at his near post from point blank range, but Leamington held on for four minutes of added time to celebrate a rare success on their travels.

‘We showed lots of character,’ said Holleran after the game. You can see that Adam (Lakeland, Curzon manager) has put his stamp on the team here. It’s was a contrast of two different styles really, but what I thought we could do today, and what we did in patches, was the counter attacking. ‘What a fantastic playing surface - credit to the people here , they deserve a real pat on the back because we’re at the end of a 50 odd game season, and this pitch is unbelievable.

‘I thought we broke really well at times. We’ve scored two and had two or three really good opportunities. Don’t get me wrong, Curzon deserved something from the game, there’s no ifs and buts about that, but from our perspective we’ve had players missing, we’ve brought in boys like Melis and Charlie, who were excellent. We showed lots of character, we had a really good go, and I’m just delighted to get the win. On the balance of chances they’ll feel hard done by, of course they will, but at the same time we’ve had some really big chances to go two and three nil. I thought we looked a threat all afternoon against a good side and I’m just delighted for the players because they deserve it. They’ve come off on the wrong end of some one nils, been a little bit unfortunate. We’ve been having to put some square pegs in round holes, rotate a little bit with the games this week so I’m just delighted for everybody really. We’ve had great support here too today so it was lovely for them to see that.

Moving on to the subject of Monday’s home game with Kidderminster Harriers, the manager said ‘I’ve got to be up front with everybody - we’ve got some cracking young players at the football club in the Under 23’s - and we’ve got to make changes - there’s lot of players here that after a 50 game season, they can’t play Saturday - Monday - Wednesday - Saturday. Wednesday is a massive game for us - the fans, the occasion, so the team selection on Monday will reflect that. Even with today, a couple of selections I’ve made with this week in mind with the squad the way it is - the injuries, the niggles. With four games in seven days it’s tough, but that’s what you get with these boys - they’ll always keep going for you, and I’m so proud of them today.’

Attendance: 247

Curzon Ashton: 1 Chris Renshaw, 2 Matthew Challoner, 4 Marcus Poscha, 10 Alex Curran, 11 Tom Peers, 15 Scott Wilson (18 Matthew Rain, 85), 17 Jordan Richards, 19 Craig Hobson (12 Connor Dimaio, 54), 21 Craig Mahon ©, 22 Adam Barton, 27 Joseph Nolan (8 Dale Witham, 77).

Subs not used: 16 Jordan Lussey, 24 Connor Teale.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Melis Bushaj, Joe Clarke ©, James Mace, Jack Lane, Charlie Williams (14 Junior English, 69), Adam Walker, Dan Turner (15 Connor Taylor, 79), Joe Parker (12 Callum Gittings, 66), Devon Kelly-Evans

Subs not used: GK Callum Hawkins, 16 Jack Sang.

Referee: Mr Claudio Gavillucci

Assistant Referees: Mr Karl Buckley & Mr Neil Evans

Brakes Man of the Match: Jake Weaver.