Vanarama National League North
Edgar Street
Tuesday 27th September 2022

By Paul Edwards 

Brakes battled and scrapped their way to another precious point on the road at Edgar Street as they bounced back from two successive defeats to keep themselves up with the early season pacesetters in the National League North.

Paul Holleran reacted swiftly to the huge blow of losing Dan Turner to injury by snapping up young striker Tom Hewlett on loan from Burton Albion, and he was thrust straight into the starting line up for his debut. Meanwhile Kieran Cook and Adam Walker replaced Ben Usher-Shipway and Alex Prosser.

Hereford came into the game on the back of a three goal victory over Blyth Spartans on Saturday, but they were made to defend in depth in the opening stages as Brakes started the game in positive fashion, pinning their hosts back into their own half. Bulls keeper Dino Visser was forced to push the first corner of the evening over his crossbar.

Gradually the home side began to feel their way into the game, and were only denied on one of their first forays forward by a superb challenge from Simeon Maye. Josh Gowling’s men created the first chance of the evening when Luke Haines sent a header towards goal at the far post from a right wing long throw-in, but the tireless Maye was in the right place to head off the line.

Jack Holmes then saw his effort deflected over the bar, while a free kick from Harry Pinchard landed on the roof of the net as Hereford began to get on top. However, Leamington did begin to push back before half time. Theo Streete directed an acrobatic effort from Cook’s right wing cross into the arms of Visser, but was unable to get enough on the ball to trouble the goalkeeper.

Jack Lane was required to clear a half hit shot from Ryan Mclean away from the line as the second half commenced, while a low strike from Jared Hodgkiss fizzed wide of the target as Hereford broke when Devon Kelly-Evans gave the ball away inside his own half.

Hewlett was working hard for the team despite not being presented with any opportunities, and he did well to win a corner after chasing down a loose defensive pass down the left.

A fine piece of play from Dan Meredith saw him beat his man down the right before driving a low ball into the centre. Unfortunately Jack Edwards’ attempted flick towards goal didn’t quite come off.

There were a couple of hopeful penalty shouts during a late flurry from the hosts, more from the fans than anything, but a draw was probably the right result as both teams largely cancelled each other out with well marshalled defensive displays.

‘I think it was a very competitive game,’ said the manager afterwards. “Both teams had their spells. People might say that goalmouth action was lacking in the game but I thought it was a really good competitive game with both sets of players giving everything to the game. There was some good approach play - certainly early doors we had our spells. You’ve got to say that both teams marshalled their final third well; but it was a Tuesday; we’re away from home; we’ve got one or two issues, particularly up the pitch - it’s a fantastic point for us. You have to take a step back sometimes, look at everything and look at who you’re going up against, and as much as they will say they were untroubled we were untroubled really. It was going to be a 1-0 game. I think it’s about right on the balance of the game. It’s another solid, hard working performance from us and another well disciplined clean sheet. An old saying in football is if you can’t win it don’t lose it, and at the moment that’s what we’re having to do. With a few home games coming up now we’ll have time to get a few people freshened up, and we’ll see how that goes.

Attention now turns to the rearranged fixture at home to AFC Telford United on Saturday.

Attendance: 1,779 (31 Leamington)

Hereford: 31 Dino Visser, 2 Jared Hodgkiss (18 Yan Klukowski, 88), 4 Luke Haines, 7 Ryan Mclean, 8 Ryan Lloyd, 10 Harry Pinchard, 15 Jethro Hanson, 23 Tyrone Barnett (9 Aaron Amadi-Holloway, 69), 25 Jack Holmes, 26 Jordan Thompson (11 Miles Storey, 80), 36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather.

Subs not used: 14 Mark Derricott, 19 Justice Campbell.

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall, Simeon Maye, Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Kieran Cook (12 Ben Usher-Shipway,  70), Adam Walker, Tom Hewlett (16 Joe Clarke,  73), Jack Edwards, Devon Kelly-Evans.

Subs not used: 14 Alex Prosser, 15 Stephan Morley, 17 James Mace.

Referee: Mr Neil Pratt

Assistant Referees: Mr Matthew Perry & Mr David Hinton

Brakes Man of the Match: Simeon Maye.