Vanarama National League North
Impact Arena
Saturday 1st April 2023

Brakes were unable to pick up anything from their trip to Derbyshire to take on Alfreton, and remain entrenched in the battle to avoid relegation after the hosts scored two second half goals to move menacingly into the play off places.

There was just one change to the eleven which started the game against Boston, with Jack Edwards dropping to the substitutes bench with Liam Cross returning, while Devon Kelly-Evans moved into the central midfield role.

Cann touched a long range strike from Bailey Hobson over his crossbar, but in the early stages Leamington looked busy and matched their play off opponents well. Strong running by Ollie Hulbert won a throw in which was played back in by Jack Lane before Adam Walker took command, charging down the left channel and cutting the ball back for Dan Turner, who directed a low first time effort a whisker past the post, much to his frustration. Cann then saved another low shot.

The West Bromwich Albion loanee held another low strike on his goal, but was grateful to a team mate for clearing off the line when the ball slipped from his grasp following a long throw into the box. He was called into action once more when he dived full length to push away a header from veteran striker Matt Rhead. The ball was then laid off for Hobson to have another go at goal, but his shot went horribly wide.

Kelly-Evans won a free kick around 25 yards from goal, stepping up to take it himself, and forced a fine save from George Willis, who also blocked a follow up effort before the offside flag was raised.

Going into the dressing room Brakes could be reasonably satisfied with their first half endeavours, but kicking up the slope in the second half things turned out to be somewhat different.

Cann saved an early effort down at his near post, before George Cantrill and Ollie Hulbert were both cautioned for squaring up to each other.

Leamington enjoyed their best spell of the half as they forced a string of corners and free kicks, which ended when Theo Streete dived to send a glancing header inches wide.

However, the fine margins on which many games are settled came back to bite Brakes just two minutes later. The moveable advertising hoardings which double as pitch side barriers on the far side of the Impact Arena come in very handy when you have an excellent long throw merchant as Alfreton do in Adam Lund, and when another of his propelled balls into the penalty area was not fully cleared, Hobson was set up to score, as he seems to do every time these two teams face each other, with a low drive into the net.

Rhead doubled the lead with fifteen minutes remaining when he rose at the far post to connect with a fantastic cross from second half substitute Dayle Southwell, powerfully heading the ball back into the opposite corner.

The game was well and truly up for Leamington now, and it almost got worse two minutes later when Dominic Smith forced the ball home, but the assistant referee’s flag spared Leamington, and the goal was ruled out.

Southwell provided another decent ball into the box, this time from a corner, but fellow substitute Conor Branson was denied by another flying save from Cann. Referee David McNamara then contrived to fall over, resulting in the corner having to be retaken. On another day the travelling support might have found it amusing, but not on this occasion.

Kelly-Evans struck a late free kick which was held by Wilis by his right hand post, but Brakes finished well beaten, and relieved that the results picked up by the sides around them keeps them in touch of safety.

Attendance: 529

Alfreton Town: George Willis, Connor Teale, Ahmed Salam (14 Dayle Southwell, 57), George Cantrill, Dominic Smith, Dwayne Wiley, Adam Lund (12 Conor Branson, 80), Peter Dearle, Matt Rhead ©, Yusifu Ceesay, Bailey Hobson.

Subs not used: 13 Jake Askew, 15 Jordan Thewlis, 20 Tom Denton.

Leamington: Ted Cann, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall, Sam Perry (14 Joe Clarke, 85), Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Liam Cross (16 Ben Usher-Shipway, 72), Adam Walker ©, Ollie Hulbert (15 Kelsey Mooney, 64), Devon Kelly-Evans, Dan Turner.

Subs not used: 12 Jack Edwards, 17 Junior English.

Referee: Mr David McNamara

Assistant Referees: Mr Mr W Ahmad & Mr A Burgess

Brakes Man of the Match: Ted Cann.