Vanarama National League North
Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium
Tuesday 28 February 2023

by Max Passantino

Leamington ensured that they would not be beaten by their noisy neighbours from Oxfordshire this season, coming back from behind twice to secure a point on Tuesday night which, with a little more luck and clinicality, could have easily become all three points.

Manager Paul Holleran was forced into a change with Adam Walker out suspended, Joe Clarke coming into the holding midfielder role. Theo Streete was restored to the starting lineup in the place of James Mace and Louis Hall returned following his three match ban, meaning Liam Cross dropped to the bench.

As was the case in the first meeting of the two sides this season, it took a while for both sides to get into the game. Slavi Spasov had the first effort of the game but on loan Brakes custodian Ted Cann was equal to it.

A common occurrence recently has seen Leamington start games slowly. They were 2 down after eleven minutes in Scarborough on Saturday and fell behind to the Puritans with 10 minutes on the clock. A right wing run by Rasulo was cut back to Jack Stevens who slotted under Ted Cann into the bottom corner. 

Conceding the early goal kicked some life into Leamington, who won a corner at the other end. Dan Turner looked to volley home, but the experienced Kelvin Langmead got his body in between the ball and the goal to block. The Puritans then broke, with Babos next to try a volley which dipped well wide into the 80 Leamington fans behind Ted Cann’s goal. 

Sam Perry twisted and turned on the edge of the box and saw his shot blocked, and not long after Ollie Hulbert was sent racing through the Banbury defence but couldn’t pick a side and ended up putting his effort straight at the stand-in Puritans keeper Ben Taylor.

Taylor did all he could to stop Leamington’s next chance, but his hand was not enough. A deep free kick from the left by Devon Kelly-Evans was met by the head of Jack Edwards, his free header sneaking under the hands of the United custodian and into the bottom corner to the relief of the Brakes skipper and fans.

Edwards’ goal was the last real action of the first period with both sides heading into the changing rooms level at the break.

Another slow start to the second half for both sides meant it was ten minutes until the first real chance. Henry Landers broke well but couldn’t force his effort past Ted Cann. He followed that effort up only a minute later, this time his shot flew over the bar and stand and onto the factory roof behind the Town End. 

Leamington were masters of their own undoing again however, as Jack Lane looked to deal comfortably with a Banbury long ball forward but couldn’t angle his header to either Theo Streete or Ted Cann but instead fed the ball into the path of Slavi Spasov who still had to slot the ball through Cann’s legs to restore the hosts’ lead.

Paul Holleran looked to change things up for the final twenty minutes. Liam Cross and Kelsey Mooney entered the pitch in place of Joe Clarke and Ollie Hulbert. Cross from the right hand side immediately looked for Mooney inside the box with a cross but the ball in just evaded the striker coming back from an ACL injury and was caught by Taylor.

Devon Kelly-Evans returned to his favoured middle of the park position with the introduction of Cross and his volley from the edge of the box dropped just wide. 

However, with so many attempted volleys but none finding the back of the net - it was only destiny for that to change. Liam Cross’ right wing ball was cut out as far as Sam Perry, he headed towards Dan Turner who took a touch on his chest and swiveled, unleashing a fine volley into the top corner to send the vocal away support into raptures. 

Both teams had a penalty shout going into the final minute. Dan Turner looked to be brought down by Langmead while advancing into the 18 yard box but referee Niall Smith was unmoved, as he was for Ben Acquaye who took a similar tumble to Turner only a minute later.

That wasn’t the final of the discipline drama of the evening as Banbury manager Andy Whing saw red, presumably for his protestations at Leamington being awarded a free kick. The dismissal of the home manager saw Whing launch a water bottle out of the ground before having to walk in front of the Leamington fans, who offered handshakes to the former Coventry City man, to leave the pitch.

In the final minute of added time, Brakes thought they’d won it. Jack Edwards saw his headed effort headed away, falling to Liam Cross who beat keeper Taylor but a Banbury body on the line ensured that the hosts stole a point out of the fixture with the last action of the game.

Attendance: 701 (80 Brakes)

Banbury United: 21 Ben Taylor, 3 Sam Brown, 5 Kelvin Langmead, 7 Henry Landers, 8 Giorgio Rasulo ©, 10 Jack Stevens, 11 Ben Acquaye, 12 Jak Hickman, 14 Cody Johnson, 18 Slavi Spasov (9 Jaanai Gordan, 68’), 19 Alex Babos

Subs not used: 1 Alfie Talbot

Red card: Andy Whing (Manager)

Leamington: Ted Cann, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall, Joe Clarke (14 Liam Cross, 70’), Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Devon Kelly-Evans, Sam Perry, Ollie Hulbert (15 Kelsey Mooney, 70’), Jack Edwards ©, Dan Turner

Subs not used: 12 Ben Usher-Shipway, 13 Dan Moore, 16 Junior English

Referee: Mr Niall Smith

Assistant referees: Mr Harley Hetherington & Mr Jack Shepherd

Brakes Man of the Match: Dan Turner