Report

Whisper it quietly, but this season is starting to bear the hallmarks of previous promotion campaigns under Paul Holleran. Brakes travelled South to Hitchin on a freezing December afternoon with the first real throes of winter setting in, and came away from a notoriously difficult place to win with all three points from their first meeting with the Canaries since the Play Off Final of May 2017.

The hosts may not have had any players left in their side from that day, but manager Mark Burke remained, and would no doubt have been keen to get one over on his counterpart, but Holleran’s men put in a hugely impressive shift to extend their current unbeaten sequence to nine games in all competitions, while sending out a message to the rest of the division that they have fully found their feet since relegation.

Leamington started like a train; Henry Landers dr\illing in a shot on the half volley inside the opening minute as they pushed Hitchin back from the kick off.

Josh Quaynor’s half volley was deflected through for a team mate to stab towards goal, but the offside flag had been raised. Jack Edwards headed over, and Will Shorrock’s low strike was held by keeper Charlie Horlock, as the high tempo start continued, while Ewan Williams’ header was comfortable for the Yellows’ stopper, who saw a great deal of the ball in the opening 10 minutes.

Another shot from Landers’ struck an arm at close range, but Referee James Hall, who tried to allow the game to flow throughout, waved away the brief claims for a penalty.

The opening goal on 19 minutes came after another bombardment of the Hitchin goal in which more shots were blocked, but the ball was deflected back towards Horlock by one of his defenders, which caught him off guard and though he blocked Cally Stewart’s initial effort the striker had the presence of mind to snaffle up the rebound before dashing to celebrate with the jubilant travelling support behind the goal.

At the opposite end Callum Hawkins was called into action for the first time on 25 minutes as he saved a low drive from Isaac Galliford. Aside from this Leamington were well on top at this stage, and Quaynor felt he had a shout for a spot kick after a mazy run that took him into the penalty area was halted by an industrial challenge.

Hitchin have a decent start to the season however, and by the time the whistle sounded for half time they had hauled themselves back into this contest. Daniel Idiakhoa saw a low strike held by Hawkins, while another shot was blocked by Jack Lane, but were it not for a superb stop by Horlock they could have gone into the dressing room two goals behind. Dan Meredith, who saw plenty of the ball during the first half down the right, linked up superbly with Landers, playing him in with a cheeky backheel, but the goalkeeper got down very well to deny him. Horlock then saved a free kick from the same player.

Brakes came out looking match the intensity of their first half opening, and came close again when a powerful run to the touchline by Meredith saw Horlock save with his legs. When the ball was played back in again Williams ducked to let it run through for Will Shorrock, who drove it back across goal to Meredith, who was unfortunately somewhat off beam with his second attempt.

Hitchin, who played the ball around as well as any side Leamington have faced this season, enjoyed the lion's share of possession during the second half, but were susceptible to the counter attack, and one such surge from defence by Williams saw him feed Shorrock on the left, who forced another good save from Horlock with his legs as he drove towards the near post.

Seconds later the same player sank to his knees as he cracked another effort against the base of the post, but the frustration was short lived, as moments later Williams superbly diverted a shot from Landers wide of keeper Horlock and inside the far post to double Leamington’s lead.

It proved to be a pivotal moment in the game, as six minutes later Hitchin were on the scoresheet after a fine run and shot from Brad Bell halved the deficit.

This was the signal for the home side to surge forward, but there were still plenty of chances for Brakes to counter, and they came close again almost immediately, Shorrock seeing another strike deflected behind for a corner.

More neat play between Shorrock and Williams saw the latter let the ball run for Stewart on the edge of the box, but he was challenged before he was able to get a shot in.

The Hitchin pressure was cranked up a notch, and after a dangerous ball across the face of goal they probably should have levelled when a left wing cross was nodded straight at Hawkins by Layne Eadie.

Stewart almost got in on goal from another counter attack, but the ball was hacked away, while Landers fired wide with an audacious overhead kick.

Tyrone Barnett was introduced late on to help see the game out, but Leamington were pinned back in their own penalty area for spells in the closing stages, with a first time shot deflected behind following a left wing corner. Jiah Medrano replaced the outstanding Shorrock, who took a knock as Brakes defended manfully, and saw out the remaining additional time to record their fourth, and most impressive victory so far on the road this season.

‘I thought for the first 70 minutes of the game we managed it very well,’ said Paul Holleran afterwards as the team coach wound its way back to Warwickshire. ‘We’ve managed a very good side. The mistake we’ve made is not killing the game off. 2-0 probably didn’t reflect how well we’ve played, and then it’s 2-1 and you’ve seen how good Hitchin were - I thought the last 20 minutes they were excellent. I think they’re a young based, young minded side, but the goal gave them a lift and they got their overloads in the box, came into the game into the middle of the park. We’ve then had to show the other side of our game and be resilient and defend our box well, and make substitutions to try and affect the game, but I don’t think anybody who has watched that can deny that we didn’t deserve to win the game today.’

Attendance: 551

Hitchin Town: Charlie Horlock, Brad Bell, Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, Kye Tearle, Stanley Georgiou (15 John Freeman, 71), Kavan Cotter, Stephen Gleeson, Daniel Idiakhoa, Isaac Galliford, Finley Wilkinson (12 Arnold Matshazi, 33).

Subs not used: 13 Joshua Mollison, 14 Daniel Imovon, 16 Jack Snelus.

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Joe Clarke (15 Adam Walker, 78), Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Henry Landers, Ewan Williams, Callum Stewart (12 Tyrone Barnett, 86), Jack Edwards, Will Shorrock (14 Jiah Medrano, 90+7).

Subs not used: 13 Dan Moore, 16 Dan Baldwin.

Referee: Mr James Hall

Assistant Referees: Mr Benjamin Compton & Mr Phillip Evans

Brakes Man of the Match: Will Shorrock.