Vanarama National League North
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Monday 29th August 2022

By Paul Edwards 

Brakes used all of their experience and knowhow to do what several of the big guns in the National League North have already failed to do, and handed newly promoted Banbury United their first defeat of the season.

The Puritans arrived in Warwickshire having had a tremendous start to the season that saw them kept off the top of the table only by goal difference prior to kick off.

It was a tight contest, and while the visitors, backed by a hugely vociferous following, were always in with a chance, Leamington put in the kind of defensive display that is becoming a benchmark of Paul Holleran’s teams.

There were three changes to the starting eleven following Saturday’s draw at King’s Lynn, with the manager handing a debut to Theo Streete, while bringing in Kieran Cook and Joe Clarke, with James Mace and Ben Usher Shipway dropping to the bench, while skipper Jack Edwards was missing through injury.

Connor Roberts tried his luck from long range on three minutes, the ball running through to Callum Hawkins despite the best efforts of Ben Acquaye.

This aside, the opening ten minutes were uneventful until Leamington won three successive corners, the last of which Simeon Maye headed into the arms of Banbury keeper Jack Harding.

The confidence which Banbury have clearly carried into the new season following their emphatic Southern League title win was evident in their early forward play, which was dynamic and pacy, without creating any real issues for the Brakes defence.

The first flashpoint arrived on 22 minutes, when Simeon Maye was sent tumbling in the Banbury penalty area. The pleas for a spot kick were immediately waved away by Referee Jonathan Maskrey, and the ball was played up the left, where Joe Clarke conceded a free kick and Cook and Puritans skipper Giorgio Rasulo indulged in a spot of handbags that was quickly halted by the man in charge.

Jay Williams sent a flicked header wide of goal from a left wing corner for Banbury, who enjoyed good spells with the ball but were well marshalled by the Leamington defence.

Jack Lane had the best opportunity of the half when he directed his header from a free kick wide from a good position. Banbury attempted to play the ball out from the back and it was cut out by Cook, his snapshot ricocheting off the legs of Williams before bouncing behind for a corner.

Leamington engineered another good chance five minutes before half time, pressing high and winning the ball back through Cook, who fed Devon Kelly Evans on the left. He shaped to shoot but fed Adam Walker, who turned and drove high over the bar.

Brakes won a free kick just right of centre outside the box through Maye a couple of minutes later, but Kelly Evans struck the defensive wall with his attempt.

However, with half time looming, Leamington hit the front. Breaking down the left through Kelly Evans, play was switched to the right to Dan Meredith, whose lofted ball to the far post was met majestically by a towering header from Louis Hall that thundered into the far corner past a startled Harding. A fine goal, made all the more impressive by the fact that it was Hall who stopped the Banbury attack with a header before running the length of the pitch to emphatically finish off the Brakes attack.

After a busy half time interval in which the sizeable crowd swapped ends, and a mindless minority of the visiting support decided it would be fun to rip down a Brakes flag and fling it onto the pitch, the second 45 minutes commenced. Morgan Roberts sent an early drive onto the roof of the clubhouse.

The visitors won a free kick within striking range, to the delight of a now packed Harbury Lane End, but Rasulo could only send the ball just over the bar.

Dan Turner came as close at the other end as he turned and sent in a low effort that bobbled just past the upright.

Some patient and prolonged build up play from Banbury saw the ball played to the far post by Acquaye, where Jak Hickman slammed the ball high over the bar while slightly off balance.

The visitors broke dangerously from a Leamington attack, Harding’s clearance finding substitute Harry Parsons, who got the luck of the bounce and forced a sprawling save from Callum Hawkins, the clearance being completed by Lane.

A neat attack from Leamington saw Kelly Evans and Hall combine down the left, the latter sending in a cross that Cook watched all the way before sending a bicycle kick over the bar. Banbury immediately surrendered possession, and the ball was played square for Maye to strike first time and wide from 20 yards or so.

Banbury’s Burton Albion loanee Ben Radcliffe arrowed a strike at goal from long distance which was comfortably held by Brakes’ own Burton loan man Callum Hawkins.

A game that had been played out in relatively good spirits almost boiled over when Kelly Evans and Williams sparked a brief melee by the corner flag on the left as they landed in a heap.

Half chances came and went for Leamington, Maye seeing an effort blocked before substitute Alex Prosser blazed the loose ball over the bar.

Turner went down inside the box as he headed for the touchline to try and get a cross in; the screams for a penalty coming more from those on the North Bank than anyone on the pitch.

The game ran into five minutes of additional time, and with the visiting support roaring on their side Brakes were always going to have to soak up some late pressure, and the visitors were holding their heads in their hands as a fierce strike from Parsons struck one of his team mates.

Leamington were able to see out the remaining seconds to celebrate a hard earned three points.

Attendance: 1,211

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall, Joe Clarke ©, Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Kieran Cook (17 Junior English, 71), Simeon Maye, Dan Turner (14 Ben Usher-Shipway, 90+1), Adam Walker (12 Alex Prosser, 76), Devon Kelly-Evans.

Subs not used: 15 Connor Taylor, 16 James Mace.

Banbury United: 1 Jack Harding, 2 Connor Roberts, 4 Joshua Smile, 6 Jay Williams, 7 Henry Landers (9 Harry Parsons, 59), 8 Giorgio Rasulo ©, 10 Morgan Roberts, 11 Ben Acquaye, 12 Jak Hickman (18 Charlie Williams, 76), 15 Ben Radcliffe, 19 Alex Babos (14 Jack Stevens, 59).

Subs not used: 5 Kelvin Langmead, 13 Ben Taylor.

Referee: Mr Jonathan Maskrey

Assistant Referees: Mr Joshua Brookland & Mr Michael Wright

Brakes Man of the Match: Theo Streete.