Southern League Premier Division Central
UK Flooring Direct Stadium
Saturday 9th September 2023

Brakes snatched two late goals in the scorching Leicestershire sunshine to win a game that for 80 minutes was searching for a spark to bring it to life. The scoreline was a little harsh on Barwell, who contributed fully to a game in which both sides have to be commended for their effort in sweltering temperatures that were upwards of 30 degrees, but you would be hard pressed to find anybody of a Gold and Black persuasion complaining, as Leamington chalked up a second away win on the bounce for the first time in almost three years. It was also the home side’s first defeat on their own turf since February, which was no mean feat given that they have already beaten the two sides that came down with Brakes from the National League North, Telford and Kettering.

On another day they could quite easily have completed the hat trick, but found the Leamington defence, with Jack Lane making his 200th appearance for the club, in a stubborn mood, and they restricted the Canaries to long range efforts and free kicks throughout.

The opening exchanges were played out largely in the Barwell half as Leamington looked to pick up an early advantage, but the closest they came to goal was a blocked shot inside the penalty area from Henry Landers.

The hosts broke quickly from this, winning a free kick that was fired into the defensive wall. The loose ball was lifted into the area, where Callum Smith claimed it under pressure from an attacker.

Leamington’s best effort of the first 45 minutes came from the boot of Devon Kelly-Evans. There was a question of handball as he initially attempted to move play to the right wing just outside the Barwell penalty area. The ball eventually found its way to the opposite side and Adam Walker, who squared it for Kelly-Evans to take a touch and drive low towards goal, but it was saved by the Canaries’ young goalkeeper Harry Griffiths.

Barwell were beginning to impose themselves on the game as half time approached, going close from another free kick, but Brakes moved forward well, Cally Stewart seeing a shot blocked out to Landers, who fired wide.

Early in the second half a left wing cross was headed towards goal by Canaries skipper Brady Hickey that was cleared away from the line by a Leamington man. Dan Meredith then turned back towards his own goal and was robbed, the ball being played dangerously and low across goal before being scrambled away.

The pacy Beck-Ray Enoru was always likely to provide a threat with his direct running, and the number 7 danced past challenges before dragging a shot wide.

The Leamington defence was caught out as the ball was played into the box, where Tom Cursons controlled it, but was crowded out by Meredith and Junior English before he had the chance to shoot.

An unorthodox free kick routine from the hosts saw a crowded penalty area ignored as the ball was driven low towards goal, where Smith held onto it well.

Jack Edwards was introduced as he made his first return to Barwell after leaving to join Leamington in 2014, and was harshly booked after making his first challenge.

Hickey sent a shot over the bar for the hosts, while half time substitute Tyrone Barnett won the ball well midway through the hosts half before playing a neat pass through for Stewart to run on to, but his clipped effort was straight at Griffiths.

As the game entered its final ten minutes and it looked as though it would end in a goalless stalemate, Brakes came to life. Keeping it around the Barwell penalty area, a cross was eventually slung in by Josh Quaynor which saw Barnett thump a header against the crossbar. Canaries substitute Deen Master belted his attempted clearance against Stewart, the ball looping just over the bar.

Barwell were unable to get out of their own half however, and when Barnett received the ball on the right inside the box, he sent it low across goal, where three blue shirts arrived at the far post; Kelly-Evans being the one to slot it into the back of the net.

Straight from the restart, Barwell pushed forward, and were awarded a penalty when Smith clattered into an attacker, but the young goalkeeper atoned for his error as he dived to his left to save Hickey’s spot kick.

As the game moved into added time, Leamington were awarded a penalty of their own when Stewart was sent tumbling as he picked up the loose ball following a surging run into the box by debutant Ewan Williams, who was brought to a halt by substitute Dom Brown-Hill. Stewart picked himself up and drilled his fourth goal of the season powerfully past Griffiths to seal the points.

The youngster almost turned provider moments later when playing Williams into the box, but the midfielder, who played as though he had been at Step 3 for years, lifted his shot agonisingly over the bar.

Speaking to BBC CWR’s Brian Halford afterwards, Paul Holleran admitted the game had been a battle. ‘The conditions were difficult for the players but it was a good, energetic game. It was one of the reasons I picked the team I did - I just wanted to have more legs on the pitch, and I think it worked, in the first half certainly. Second half we lost our way a little bit.

‘The game’s turned in moments hasn’t it? We get the goal, and then it’s poor defending on our part for the penalty but we get a lifeline and then go up the other end and win a penalty. It could have been a different story. They’re a good team, Barwell. They’re really fortunate that they’ve got a good management team and some really young exciting players.

‘It was a really disciplined, hard working performance, and then we just showed a little bit of quality in periods and moments of the game. Did we deserve to win the game? I’m not sure, but we’ll take it.

Attendance: 314

Barwell: Harry Griffiths, Micah Edwards (14 Deen Master, 66), Josh Flanagan, Ruben Freeman, Kyle Rowley (16 Miguel Ngwa, 90+2), George Ward, Beck-Ray Enoru, Tom Cursons, Jahvan Davidson-Miller (12 Dom Brown-Hill, 55), Brady Hickey ©, Sid Kerr.

Subs not used: 17 MJ Kamara.

Leamington: Callum Smith, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Ewan Williams, Junior English, Jack Lane, Henry Landers (12 Jack Edwards, 69), Adam Walker ©, Callum Stewart, Devon Kelly-Evans, Ben Usher Shipway (14 Tyrone Barnett, 46).

Subs not used: 15 Connor Taylor, 16 Jiah Medrano, 17 Dan Baldwin.

Referee: Mr Daniel England

Assistant Referees: Mr Callum Timperley & Mr Ian Croston

Brakes Man of the Match: Ewan Williams.

To see more of Jan Koscielski's photos from the game, click here