Report

Vanarama National League North
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Saturday 18th February 2023

 By Paul Edwards

The wretched run without a victory is finally over. When they needed it most, Brakes dug deep to produce a performance full of effort, determination, endeavour, and most importantly a refusal to lie down and accept defeat when it looked as though things were going to go against them yet again.

Every single player stepped up to the plate; from Ted Cann, who conceded a contentious looking penalty before redeeming himself with a tremendous save to keep the scores level, to second half substitute Ben Usher-Shipway, who set up Leamington’s late winner with his rocket propelled long throw-in.

There was a delicious sense of déjà vu as Kelsey Mooney, on for the final ten minutes after his return from the ACL injury sustained at Farsley last March, scored within four minutes to mirror Colby Bishop’s return against the same opposition after the same injury back in October 2018.

If that hadn’t ramped up the atmosphere enough, Jack Lane’s injury time winner was met by the loudest roar heard on Harbury Lane for quite some time as the Brakes support savoured the sweet taste of victory for the first time in almost four months.

That it came against a promotion chasing outfit in Darlington may not come as such a surprise to long time supporters, as Paul Holleran’s teams have made a habit of upsetting the apple cart against teams seeking the exit door at the top end of the National League North. Pre match there was more hope than expectation of Brakes getting a result against a side that had only seen a seven match winning streak away from home in league games ended at Boston United the previous Saturday, but within thirty seconds of the kick off that hope sprang eternal as Leamington laid out their intentions for the afternoon.

Dan Turner was played into the penalty area of the left and was denied a shooting chance by a defender, before Ollie Hulbert saw a shot on the turn blocked from the resulting corner.

While there was nothing else in the way of scoring chances in the opening twenty minutes it was evident that Leamington’s start to the game had the visitors rattled, with Hulbert in particular making a real nuisance of himself.

The only thing letting Brakes down was their final ball or decision making, but it was not for the want of trying. Sam Perry bulldozed through midfield to feed Hulbert, who in turn attempted to set up Turner, whose shot was blocked.

There had been no threat from Darlington until the 36th minute, when former Brakes man Kaine Felix won the ball in the air ahead of Dan Meredith before turning past him and attempting to pick up possession again. Cann had anticipated the danger, and raced from his line to the left edge of his penalty area, punching the ball away before Felix went down over his outstretched arms.

Referee Harry Warner awarded a penalty, to the dismay of the Brakes players. The league’s top scorer Jacob Hazel stepped up, starting his run on the turn from the edge of the box, and fired straight down the middle, but Cann turned hero with a spectacular save with his legs.

Leamington broke quickly, and came very close to taking the lead themselves. Turner and Hulbert were involved before captain Adam Walker turned inside and drove a low strike just wide of the far post.

Devon Kelly-Evans fired low and wide from the edge of the box just before half time, but there was plenty to hearten the home support.

Liam Cross curled a good effort just past the far post early in the second half, before Turner did well to bring the ball down inside the box before being crowded out by Niall Brookwell and Nathan Newall.

Darlington then began to get into the game more than they had done previously, winning a corner from which a frantic scramble ensued in the six yard box. A penalty claim went unheeded before another corner was conceded by Leamington, but it was dealt with well by Lane, and after losing the ball it was handed back to them by a stray pass, and Adam Walker set Meredith free down the left to advance before firing a well struck effort over the bar.

Cann then did well to save a shot from the edge of the box by Jack Lambert, but could only parry, and Lambert’s follow up effort was cleared off the line by Perry. The visitors were having their best spell of the game now however, and Cann sprang to his left to push a curling strike from Brookwell behind.

Despite all their best efforts things took a turn for the worse for Leamington with a little under twenty minutes remaining. The Quakers worked the ball around well on the left before Lambert curled the ball in to the far post, where Felix headed it back across for Hazel to watch it over his shoulder and unleash a fierce overhead effort past a startled Cann into the net to the delight of the travelling support behind the goal.

Brakes were a hair's breadth from hauling themselves level when Cann’s clearance up to the edge of the box was headed in towards goal by Lane, and Usher-Shipway was a whisker away from stabbing it home.

The game was well inside the final ten minutes when Mooney made the return he would have dreamed of when taking the long road back to fitness almost 12 months ago. He met a right wing free kick from Kelly-Evans and directed his header in off the post, the ball rolling inside the upright on the other side of the goal. This was the cue for an outpouring of joy from Mooney, his team mates, the Leamington bench and of course the supporters.

To be level again was the very least Brakes deserved, but they were not finished there. As the clock ticked into added time Usher-Shipway propelled the ball into the box from in front of the home dugout, and Lane rose majestically between Newall and late Darlington substitute Jake Lawlor to direct the ball neatly into the far corner. It was a moment of high emotion as the players and supporters celebrated wildly.

All Leamington needed to do now was see out the remainder of injury time, and that they did to ensure jubilant celebrations from those of a Gold and Black persuasion.

Brakes now have the opportunity to back up this much needed three points when they travel to Telford on Tuesday evening.

Attendance: 723

Leamington: Ted Cann, James Mace, Dan Meredith, Sam Perry, Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Liam Cross (12 Ben Usher-Shipway, 74), Adam Walker ©, Ollie Hulbert, Devon Kelly-Evans, Dan Turner (15 Kelsey Mooney, 80).

Subs not used: 14 Junior English, 16 Jack Sang, GK Ben Moore.

Darlington: 1 Tommy Taylor, 7 Ben Hedley, 8 Adriano Moke ©, 9 Jacob Hazel, 16 Ben Liddle (32 Theo Williams, 56), 17 Jack Lambert (6 Jake Lawlor, 81), 23 Alex Purver, 27 Kaine Felix, 28 Niall Brookwell, 29 Nathan Newall, 31 David Wheater.

Subs not used: 4 Danny Rose, 21 Jarrett Rivers, 26 Kallum Griffiths.

Referee: Mr Harry Warner

Assistant Referees: Mr Shaun Barry & Mr Alex Perkin

Brakes Man of the Match: Sam Perry.