Vanarama National League North
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Saturday 3rd September 2022

By Paul Edwards 

Paul Holleran opted to shuffle his pack for this one, with a full squad to choose from, meaning that while James Mace and Connor Taylor sat this one out, Jack Edwards and Ben Usher-Shipway returned to the starting eleven; Simeon Maye and Kieran Cook dropping to the bench.

There was a familiar face in the Avenue starting line up in the shape of Jacob Blyth, who last appeared in Brakes colours a little over ten years ago before moving on to Leicester City.

Leamington enjoyed a strong opening spell without particularly troubling the visitors’ defence, though there was plenty of promising build up play in the final third to get enthused about.

Devon Kelly-Evans came close to opening the scoring just before the quarter hour mark as he won the ball superbly from Sam Fielding twenty yards or so from goal before sending a powerful low drive that fizzed inches past the upright.

Play switched quickly to the other end and Bradford were inches from their first goal in three matches when Will Longbottom poked the ball through the legs of Callum Hawkins, who was relieved to see Jack Lane on the line behind him to stab clear.

Brakes swiftly attacked again, Kelly-Evans lifting the ball to the far post for Dan Turner to direct a downward header straight at George Sykes-Kenworthy, who still needed to make the block.

Leamington grabbed the lead their opening deserved on 21 minutes through Theo Streete, making just his second appearance for the club. More good play saw Louis Hall recycle the ball to the far post where Usher-Shipway headed down for Streete to slam first time into the back of the net.

The goal clearly spurred Brakes on, and they knocked the ball around with confidence. Dan Meredith tried his luck after cutting in from the right, firing straight at Sykes-Kenworthy.

A smart take down by Clarke on the left set Leamington off on the attack once more as he found Hall, who neatly nutmegged Lucas Odunstun before sending in a left wing cross that Turner headed over the bar

As good as Leamington had been in the first half, they almost found themselves pegged back on 40 minutes when Fielding cut out a ball out of defence and fed Harrison Hopper, who lifted the ball over Hawkins towards goal only to see Lane back there to clear off the line.

Kelly-Evans tested Sykes-Kenworthy with another low strike that had some power behind it; the keeper getting down well to hold onto the ball.

To their credit the visitors improved as the half went on, and would have been cursing their luck at having not got on the scoresheet, but Brakes were well worth their lead as half time arrived.

The second half was not up to the same standard as a spectacle. Avenue’s Sheffield United loan man Andre Brooks screwed a shot wide of the target, while skipper Gianluca Havern thought he had equalised for a split second, but was denied by a raised flag due to an adjudged foul in the build up, which left the visiting bench incensed.

Edwards played Turner in on the left with a neat ball, and the striker cut in before aiming for the near post with a low drive which found the side netting. Kelly-Evans then forced another save from Sykes-Kenworthy with another strike from a similar position.

Usher-Shipway was played in on the right by Adam Walker and drove a cross-shot just wide of the far post, before Blyth screwed his only clear opportunity of the afternoon wide at the other end.

Hawkins had to stretch to claim a header from the former Brakes striker in the closing minutes, while in the final throes of added time the visitors believed a shot had been deflected behind by a Leamington arm, but the officials disagreed and the hosts were able to see out time shakily to earn another three points.

‘I thought we were tremendous in the first 35 minutes,’ said Paul Holleran afterwards. ‘We came out of the blocks really well. We spoke beforehand about trying to impose ourselves on the game, play with aggression with and without the ball. Our play probably deserved more than a 1-0 lead. Bradford came into the game more, and then the second half became difficult. Both sides struggled to get any rhythm in the game - we certainly did.

‘When all is said and done we’ve had an excellent start. I thought the two wide boys were really excellent in the first half. We scored a really good goal, where we’ve kept it alive, probably a third phase goal; and when you flip it round you have to earn points in lots of different ways in this league. We’ve had to dig deep. It’s another clean sheet. We were resolute when we needed to be; we’ve had to defend our box, and I think we’ve just about edged it at the end.’

Attendance: 412

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall, Joe Clarke (12 Simeon Maye, 81), Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Ben Usher-Shipway (14 Kieran Cook, 77), Adam Walker, Dan Turner, Jack Edwards ©, Devon Kelly-Evans (16 Junior English, 79).

Subs not used: 15 Alex Prosser, 17 Stephan Morley.

Bradford (Park Avenue): George Sykes-Kenworthy, Lucas Odunstun, Reece Staunton, Mitch Lund, Luca Havern ©, Sam Fielding, Andre Brooks (16 Oli Johnson, 77), Will Longbottom (14 Lloyd Smith, 65), Jacob Blyth, Eddie Church, Harrison Hopper.

Subs not used: 13 Liam Hall, 15 George Smith.

Referee: Mr Jamie O’Connor

Assistant Referees: Mr Hayden Lavender & Mr Callum Fisk

Brakes Man of the Match: Adam Walker.