Vanarama National League North
The Walks Stadium
Saturday 27th August 2022

By Paul Edwards 

Brakes collected another point on the road at a promotion chasing side, whilst ending King’s Lynn Town’s 100% record in the process as the Linnets were left to rue missing a glut of clear cut chances, and were punished as Dan Turner clinically took the only one that came his way to level things up midway through the second half.

Paul Holleran named an unchanged starting eleven for the third consecutive game, Joe Clarke was named on the substitutes bench for the first time since the opening day.

The hosts, top of the table and looking for an immediate return to the National League, set out their stall early on, former Coventry City striker Jordan Ponticelli working well with strike partner Gold Omotayo to set up Theo Widdrington to fire a first time effort well off target.

A shot from Linnets skipper Michael Clunan went the same way, before Leamington won the first corner of the afternoon, which Jack Lane headed wide.

Lane was the busiest player on the pitch in the first half, winning everything in the air against Ponticelli as Leamington continued to soak up pressure from the home side.

A free kick won by the indefatigable Simeon Maye was delivered invitingly into the box by Devon Kelly-Evans but was not anticipated by anybody in Gold and Black, and King’s Lynn cleared comfortably.

Clunan sent another effort over the bar as the home side continued to boss proceedings, but Omotayo really should have opened the scoring when he headed down and inches over the bar from right in front of goal.

Another effort from the left flew over the crossbar, before the Linnets won a corner on the right just before the half hour from which Omotayo headed down at the far post for the in-rushing Widdrington to stab into the net before the Leamington defence had time to react.

Brakes pushed forward from the restart and Kelly-Evans found space to send a curling effort towards goal that took some kind of deflection to go behind for a corner.

The same player sent another effort wide moments later, before Ponticelli headed inches over the bar just before half time.

The striker was denied by a fantastic save by Callum Hawkins shortly after the resumption as he was played in on goal on the right, and then fired another strike from distance over the bar.

Ben Usher-Shipway won Leamington’s first corner of the second half which was headed over the bar by skipper Jack Edwards, who took something of a battering all afternoon with very little protection, and was then booked when he dared to voice his protests late on.

Ponticell continued his one man mission to score the hosts’ second goal, and was afforded a little too much space as he sent another effort wide of the target before being denied again by another fine save from Hawkins. From the resulting corner Omotayo clipped the outside of the far post with his header.

Leamington’s attacking opportunities were a little more frequent than they had been in the first half, but when Maye was just unable to control to take a shot at goal in space just outside the box, Dan Meredith was able to take the ball on, seeing his effort blocked.

Omotayo was left with his head in his hands again when he placed another free header inches the wrong side of the upright, Lynn substitute Josh Barrett then skimmed the post with another strike.

There was always a glimmer of a chance for Leamington the longer this game went on with just one goal in it, and so it proved, as Turner pounced when the ball was played in low from the right to spin and fire past a flat footed Paul Jones into the bottom corner to the delight of the travelling supporters on the far side.

Soon after this Brakes came close again. Kieran Cook had been introduced along with Joe Clarke, and he set off from half way on a counter attack before exchanging passes with Walker and driving a shot wide.

Barrett saw another shot deflected behind by James Mace before being set up by Cameron Hargreaves and sending another effort over the bar.

Turner was adjudged offside as he almost connected with a low ball in from the right by Meredith as Brakes looked for what really would have been the unlikeliest of winning goals. As it was, the home side continued to create openings right until the final whistle. Jones headed Coulson’s cross wide at the far post, while Hawkins saved his best stop for last as he denied substitute Ben Stephens with an outstretched leg.

Omotayo’s injury time header flying well over summed up his afternoon in front of goal, while a corner in the final throes was held by Hawkins.

Brakes certainly rode their luck at times in this one, but go into Monday’s local derby with Banbury United in good spirits now.

Attendance: 1,002

King’s Lynn Town: 1 Paul Jones, 17 Aaron Jones, 3 Tyler Denton, 5 Adam Crowther, 6 Josh Coulson, 7 Michael Clunan ©, 8 Theo Widdrington (15 Ben Stephens, 85), 14 Cameron Hargreaves, 12 Tai Fleming (10 Josh Barrett, 64), 9 Gold Omotayo, 38 Jordan Ponticelli (11 Zain Walker, 75).

Subs not used: 23 Spencer Keller, 24 Tyler Knowles.

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall, Simeon Maye (14 Joe Clarke, 71), James Mace, Jack Lane, Ben Usher-Shipway (12 Kieran Cook, 71), Adam Walker, Dan Turner, Jack Edwards ©, Devon Kelly-Evans (16 Junior English, 87).

Subs not used: 15 Alex Prosser, 17 Theo Streete.

Referee: Mr Gareth Thomas

Assistant Referees: Mr Callum Gough & Mr Christopher Darling

Brakes Man of the Match: Callum Hawkins.