Vanarama National League North
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Saturday 6th August 2022

by Paul Edwards

Whether it is a statement of intent only time will tell, but Leamington sit top of the embryonic National League North table after their biggest opening day win for 59 years.

Paul Holleran was without Steph Morley and new signing Theo Streete for this opening day clash, while recent recruit Louis Hall was a frustrated onlooker as international clearance prevented him from a potential debut just days after signing for the club. Dan Meredith switched from right to left back, while Junior English slotted in on the right and James Mace partnered Jack Lane in central defence.

Summer signing Ben Usher-Shipway made his debut, while returnees Alex Prosser and Kieran Cook took their places on the substitutes bench.

The absentees certainly did not look to have affected Brakes’ opening day ambitions as they enjoyed a very positive opening 45 minutes.

Jack Edwards flicked on Usher-Shipway’s first long throw of the afternoon across goal, but Dan Turner was just unable to keep the ball in play.

Edwards then forced the first corner of the game, which was headed clear by the visiting defence. However, the skipper was directly involved in the first goal scored in the National League this season after ten minutes.

Turner began the move, doing well to get the better of his man on the edge of the box before laying the ball back for Devon Kelly-Evans, who shaped to shoot, but found Edwards at the back post, who moved the ball across goal for Turner to ram home.

Turner worked Celtic keeper Max Dearnley soon afterwards with a neat header from a superb ball in from the right by Adam Walker.

Jimmy Spencer was denied Farsley’s first effort on target when Lane got in the way of his vicious strike at the expense of a corner, which Andy Butler got his head to but was only able to direct the ball over the clubhouse roof into the car park.

With twenty minutes played Leamington moved two goals ahead. Turner was involved again as he laid the ball back for Dan Meredith to flight the ball into the box. Walker connected with a fantastic header which clattered off the upright, onto the back of the luckless Dearnley and into the net.

Simeon Maye playing his first competitive game in almost 11 months, showed just what a big miss he has been for Brakes as he got back tirelessly to block a dangerous cross.

Leamington were certainly thriving at the other end in the first half however, and it was a joy to watch given that the worry from the supporters was where the goals would come from other than Turner. Edwards looked frustrated after seeing a header spin over the bar, with Dearnley having got up well with him to put the pressure on.

Turner was proving a real nuisance for the visiting defenders, and a fantastic spin on the dead ball line took him clear of his marker, his cross finding Edwards just inside the box, only for a Farsley man to clear the danger.

Adam Clayton picked up the only yellow card of the afternoon for scything down Turner as he looked to run at goal once more, and the visitors’ first half misery was compounded further as Lane looped in a fine headed effort from the right of the penalty area right on half time to put Leamington in a commanding position.

Holleran’s men did not let up there either, grabbing a fourth goal two minutes after the restart. Maye broke clear down the right and centered superbly for Turner, who hardly had to break stride as he arrived at the far post to crash the ball home.

The game was up for Farsley at this point but to their immense credit they refused to give in, and were the better side for long periods after the final goal. Frank Mulhern had run at the Brakes defence straight from the resumption, but was unable to fully extend Callum Hawkins with a low curling strike from just inside the box.

Edwards then came so close to a fifth when Kelly-Evans recycled Usher-Shipway’s initial cross from the right, flighting the ball into the box for the skipper to thump a powerful header against the crossbar.

At the opposite end some slick footwork by Jimmy Spencer bamboozled Lane, but unfortunately for him he did not have the shot to match, blazing the ball high over the bar.

Two further blocked shots for the visitors lead to a Leamington counter attack, but Turner’s low rasping strike was gathered by Dearnley at the second attempt.

Farsley’s assistant player/manager Dave Syers was introduced, and came close to grabbing one back for his side when he latched onto Spencer’s flick on with an audacious lobbed effort that dropped past the far post.

Mulhern then came closest to beating Hawkins - his first shot being blocked, but a follow up header extended the Brakes keeper fully for the only time in the afternoon as he arched to push the ball over his crossbar.

A rocket of a strike from Walker was bravely blocked by a defender in the closing stages, but ultimately the outcome of this game had long been decided, and Brakes were able to toast a resounding opening day success.

Attendance: 423

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Junior English, Dan Meredith, Simeon Maye (14 Joe Clarke, 72), James Mace, Jack Lane, Ben Usher-Shipway (Kieran Cook,62), Adam Walker, Dan Turner, Jack Edwards ©, Devon Kelly-Evans (15 Alex Prosser, 77).

Subs not used: 13 Tom Day (GK), 16 Connor Taylor.

Farsley Celtic: Max Dearnley, Lewis Turner, Lewis Butroid, George Hornshaw, Andy Butler, Adam Clayton, Jacob Gratton (12 Dave Syers, 65), Chris Atkinson ©, Jimmy Spencer, Frank Mulhern (15 Mwiya Malumo, 81), Luke Parkin.

Subs not used: 13 Tom Morgan (GK), 14 Matty Ingram.

Referee: Mr Samuel Read

Assistant Referees: Mr Kieran Forrest & Mr Jason Porter

Brakes Man of Match: Dan Turner.