Report

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Saturday 2nd December 2023

After seeing their nine game unbeaten run ended by table topping Needham Market on Tuesday, Leamington were forced to battle both the conditions and determined opposition in Barwell, who thoroughly deserved the point they made the short journey back to Leicestershire with.

The incessant rain of the past few days had abated by kick off with relatively clear skies but a fierce wind howling around the stadium along with a heavy pitch which would make conditions tricky for both sets of players. However, as

Paul Holleran made two changes to the side which started at Needham Market on Tuesday evening. The injury to Jack Lane saw Jack Edwards switch to central defence against his former club, while Joe Clarke and Tyrone Barnett were both restored to the starting line up, with Will Shorrock dropping to the bench.

A sign of just how strong the wind was came inside the opening ten minutes, when the first corner of the afternoon for the visitors sailed straight out of play.

Thirteen minutes had passed before Leamington threatened; Ewan Williams pouncing on a loose pass by Beck Ray Enoru just inside the Leamington half to play the ball forward, Henry Landers picking it up and cleverly playing in Dan Meredith, who saw his shot blocked. Landers was a whisker away with the next chance, digging the ball out from under his feet well before curling a powerful strike inches over the bar.

Enoru sent a left footed drive high and wide as the visitors pressed forward, while Michael John Kamson Kamara received a swift yellow card from Referee Neal Templey for body checking Williams as he chased Meredith’s ball towards the corner flag on the right. The swirling wind was causing havoc for both sides however, as the resulting free kick sailed past a crowded penalty area and out of play.

It was a scrappy first half an hour, with neither side able to gain any kind of foothold in the game, with possession squandered regularly by both.

Kobe Chong’s vicious curling effort was adjudged to have taken a slight deflection on its way to whistling past Callum Hawkins’ left hand post by inches, and from the resulting corner Kamson Kamara headed just wide.

Two balls sailed over the main stand in quick succession as Barwell pressed Leamington back into their own half with the interval approaching, and Ethan Hill’s scuffed effort led to another corner for the visitors, which somewhat inevitably by-passed everyone and dropped out of play.

In truth Barwell had probably shaded the first half in terms of attacking play, but Leamington looked threatening when they got the ball into the right areas, particularly down the right, and it was from this source that they took the lead with five minutes of the half remaining, when Meredith’s inviting cross was met by a cushioned volley from Tyrone Barnett that displayed all the hallmarks of a 10 year career in the professional game.

Leamington were quickly on the offensive again, and Cally Stewart did well to keep the ball in play on the left touchline before driving in a fierce low strike to the near post which was beaten behind for a corner by Canaries keeper Harry Griffiths.

Barwell emerged for the second half with purpose, and an early shot was struck wide before Landers saw a low strike across goal deflected agonisingly wide of the far post, before the corner kick looped straight out of play in the wind.

The visitors were level on 65 minutes when the diminutive Enoru danced through to place a shot under Hawkins. It was a hugely frustrating goal given that it had come from a Leamington goal kick.

More good play from the visitors saw Hill fire wide from distance, but Brakes skipper Adam Walker came closer when his shot skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Hawkins saved a shot from Tremayne Charles, before Landers was inches from a winner with a strike that was almost a carbon copy of his effort earlier in the half, the ball fizzing just past the far post. Meredith saw a well struck effort fly over the bar, and Barnett headed wide in added time, but Brakes hadn’t really done enough to win the game, and it finished all square.

‘It was really difficult for both teams. I think it was really difficult for everyone really,’ said the manager afterwards. I thought we managed the conditions really well in the first half. We needed to pop the ball out wide and keep quite narrow. I thought we did that well, limited them to very little, and we’ve had two or three decent opportunities - Henry Landers, and a good goal from Tyrone. You couldn’t really fault the first half performance, it was where it needed to be.

‘I think both teams have played better against the wind today. We’ve played better against it in the first half, and they’ve done the same in the second half. The ball probably stayed in play a little more, but we’ve got enough about us to manage that situation better than we have done today, in the second half. We didn’t really get hold of the middle of the park; we didn’t get our full backs up the pitch and use them as much as we should have done. We should have put the game to bed - opportunities falling to one or two players.. And then the goal is just, mind blowing. It was another poor goal to concede, and sadly there’s been a few games now where we’ve been in good positions; we need to concentrate, see things through. It’s not the first time it’s happened. Stamford, Leiston, and again today, where we’ve been the architects of our own downfall. It’s bitterly, bitterly disappointing.

Barwell played much better second half; I think Ian (King) will be pleased with that. He got a response from them, but with the experience we have got in this side I would expect us to have managed that situation better, and I think when you look back at the goal we conceded it’s one we shouldn’t be conceding. Good finish from the boy, but it’s our goal kick, and ten seconds later it’s in the back of our net. It’s not good enough. We’re all disappointed with our performance, second half. We need to do better than that.

Pressed about the injury to Jack Lane, Holleran said ‘He’s had a scan on Wednesday evening . It has settled down quite well. We’re hoping it’s a tweak on a ligament or something. You’re sort of guessing with knees really. Hopefully by the end of next week we will know what it is, and fingers crossed it is nothing serious. Knee problems have been a bit of an issue for us over the years, but Jack was here today and in good spirits. Junior English has been to see a specialist and he has definitely got to have an operation, so unfortunately that is his season over.

Asked about the squad being stretched over the forthcoming Christmas period, he admitted ‘We will probably have to look at bringing at least one in to help us over that period, as we are a little stretched, but we’ve come through today unscathed, and we will work hard this week and look forward to Mickleover next Saturday.’

Attendance: 534

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Joe Clarke, Jack Edwards, Theo Streete, Henry Landers, Adam Walker, Cally Stewart (12 Will Shorrock, 74), Tyrone Barnett, Ewan Williams.

Subs not used: 13 Dan Moore, 14 Jiah Medrano, 15 Dan Baldwin, 16 Zach Taylor.

Barwell: Harry Griffiths, Josh Flanagan, Michael-John Kamson Kamara, Ethan Hill, Kyle Rowley, George Ward, Beck Ray Enoru, Kobe Chong (16 Deen Master, 78), Tremayne Charles (12 Thomas Cursons,81), Brady Hickey, Micah Edwards.

Subs not used: 13 Harry Evans, 14 Jahvan Davidson-Miller, 15 Jesper KUtshienza,.

Referee: Mr Neal Templey

Assistant Referees: Mr Edward Hall & Mr Andrew McIntyre

Brakes Man of the Match: Tyrone Barnett.

Thanks to Keith Clayton for the photographs.