Vanarama National League North
New Bucks Head
Tuesday 21 February 2023

by Max Passantino

Despite limiting AFC Telford United to zero shots on target, Leamington were forced to settle for a score draw at New Bucks Head in the first of five consecutive away Tuesday night matches.

Paul Holleran made one change to his Leamington starting XI who started Saturday’s victory over high flying Darlington. Ben Usher-Shipway replaced Liam Cross who dropped to the bench and Joe Clarke returned to the matchday sixteen after serving a three game ban for a straight red card.

As one would expect with a crunch relegation tie, the game started slowly with nothing of note for the first quarter of an hour. Former Telford captain Adam Walker captained the Brakes in absence of Jack Edwards and had the first real chance after Theo Streete - another former Buck in the Brakes lineup - saw his header cleared away, Walker waiting on the spot to unleash a ferocious volley blocked by a Telford leg.

The hosts had their first effort of the game as we approached the 20 minute mark. Harry Flowers rose highest from a deep free kick but his header was guided past the far post of Ted Cann’s goal and into the Leamington fans behind the goal.

Despite the slow start, Leamington had all of the ball and made use of that with half an hour gone. Dan Meredith broke down the left wing and played a low ball into the Telford box for Dan Turner to prod past Joe Young, ending his goal drought that went back as far as Boxing Day.

Brakes continued their dominant play with the game being played in the hosts’ defensive half, Jack Lane next to get an effort on goal but his header was saved by Joe Young. The final chance of the first period fell to Dan Turner who saw his effort well saved again by Young after being played in by Adam Walker.

The second period started a lot like the first with a lot of the game being played in the middle of the park with no chances at either end. Adam Walker was given the first yellow card of the game after tripping Jamie Allen.

Telford started to try and find some sustained possession around the hour mark. Brendan Daniels fired a free kick over the bar before Montel Gibson hit the stanchion with a far post effort, with the angle too tough to get his effort on target.
Paul Holleran looked to his bench for the first change of the game to combat Telford’s change in formation at half time. Joe Clarke was introduced in place of Ben Usher-Shipway and with one of his first touches set Devon Kelly-Evans up with a half volley opportunity, however the former Telford trialist struck his effort into the 50 or so Brakes fans behind the goal.

Telford were level with just less than 20 to play, and it was through one of the poorest goals the Brakes are likely to concede this season. Jack Lane looked to clear a hopeful ball into the Leamington box away, but instead of clearing into touch his attempted clearance bounced off of the back of a startled Dan Meredith which gave Ted Cann no option but to watch the ball fly past him at speed and into the back of the net.

The equaliser had shaken Leamington back into action, but to no success as a number of crosses evaded Ollie Hulbert in the box before he was brought off for Kelsey Mooney, still returning from his ACL injury, to play the last five minutes. James Mace and Sam Perry both received yellow cards in the time during Telford’s equaliser and Mooney coming on.

Brakes had two chances to win the game with less than three minutes on the clock. First Dan Turner flashed an effort just wide of goal before Adam Walker was put through by Devon Kelly-Evans but the Leamington captain failed to beat Joe Young who blocked the effort with his knee, the last chance in a game where Leamington had all of the chances, but failed to convert.

Attendance: 1,019

AFC Telford United: 13 Joe Young, 2 Luke Burke, 5 Jordan Piggott, 6 Harry Flowers, 7 Luke Rowe, 10 Jamie Allen, 11 Byron Moore (31 Nathan Cameron, 60’), 14 Prince Ekpolo (12 Robbie Evans, 60’), 17 Brendan Daniels, 18 Montel Gibson, 21 Kai Williams (22 Lewis Salmon, 88’)

Subs not used: 1 Josh O’Brien, 3 Brad Bood

Leamington: Ted Cann, James Mace, Dan Meredith, Sam Perry, Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Ben Usher-Shipway (14 Joe Clarke, 68’), Adam Walker ©, Ollie Hulbert (16 Kelsey Mooney, 86’), Devon Kelly-Evans, Dan Turner

Subs not used: 12 Liam Cross, 13 Dan Moore, 15 Junior English

Referee: Mr Stuart Morland

Assistant referees: Mr Francis Sibley & Mr Brandon Scaife

Brakes Man of the Match: Dan Turner