Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central
The Don Amott Arena
Saturday 16th December 2023

Brakes came up short away from home against another potential promotion rival, but this was still a very well earned point against a Mickleover side who had been reeled in over recent weeks after their storming start to the season.

The hosts knocked the ball around well throughout, attacked at pace and kept Brakes keeper Callum Hawkins very busy. However, like his team mates in front of him, the young stopper simply refused to be beaten, producing some outstanding saves which played a huge part in earning Leamington a point.

Hawkins, who also spent time on loan with Mickleover while at Burton Albion, was required to push a shot over his crossbar from Andrew Dales inside the opening minute at the expense of a corner, which came to nothing.

Cally Stewart, one of a number of Brakes players suffering from a flu bug, lifted a shot just wide of the upright, before the home side threatened once more with a blocked shot, the rebound being fired well over the bar.

Dan Meredith’s long range effort was deflected wide for Leamington’s first corner of the afternoon as they attempted to stay with their hosts in the opening exchanges, but they were indebted to Hawkins again as he superbly kept out a well struck snapshot before making an equally fine stop moments later with his legs as a one touch attack from Mickleover ended with a left wing cross to the far post that was met by a low first time shot on target. Dan Bradley then fizzed a powerful low first time drive from distance just wide.

Ewan Williams has displayed his aerial prowess in recent weeks, and after winning a free kick wide on the right he met Henry Landers’ delivery with a powerful header that flew just over the crossbar.

Play switched quickly to the opposite end again, and Hawkins was the star turn once more as he pulled off an amazing save to keep out Dales’ close range header.

Mickleover were a little more off beam with a free kick from a dangerous position that was well over the target, before another dangerous ball in from the left was headed behind by Theo Streete.

Brakes were certainly doing more of the pressing as half time approached, but Mickleover would have been disappointed not to be in front on the balance of chances created.

Leamington came out in similar fashion after half time, with some patient build up play on the right resulting in the ball being played across to the edge of the box for Adam Walker, who curled a shot just over the bar.

Tyrone Barnett replaced the unwell Stewart, and immediately began to make his presence felt in winning aerial battles.

There was a brief moment of concern among the travelling support as Walker and Bradley both went with their studs a little high for the ball just inside the Leamington half, but it was the Mickleover man who was shown a yellow card for what looked a 50-50 challenge.

Hawkins dived low to his left to keep out the first effort on his goal of the second half; a low drive on the turn from Stuart Beavon, claiming the ball at the second attempt.

Brakes then fashioned their best chance of the afternoon as Barnett nodded down for Walker inside the box, who moved the ball across for Williams in space, but he swept his shot agonisingly wide of the upright.

The pendulum looked to have swung in Leamington’s favour when Bradley was shown a second yellow card for one rash challenge too many, but this would not turn out to be the case, as the home side continued to keep hold of the ball extremely well.

A cross was flashed low across the goalmouth, with second half substitute Leon Clarke missing it by inches, while Hawkins launched himself into the air to hold another good strike on his goal.

New signing Dom Brown-Hill was introduced for his debut inside the final fifteen minutes, and looked busy in midfield, making a decent challenge to prevent another Mickleover attack. Jiah Medrano was also brought on in the closing stages, producing a powerful run down the left which saw him almost get past left back Rhys Dolan, leaving both the player and the Brakes supporters wondering what might have been had he been introduced earlier in the game for a clearly ailing Will Shorrock, another player suffering with illness but battling on.

There was still time for Hawkins to help a right wing cross onto his crossbar, and then to save yet another effort on his goal, but this was an extremely well earned clean sheet for the Brakes keeper and his team mates.

Paul Holleran admitted that it was a very hard earned point after the game when talking to BBC CWR’s Brian Halford. ‘I think in the 15 minute period after the sending off we could have done better. If I’m honest I think that was their strongest part of the game.

‘I thought that throughout the game we set up to have a good structure. Listen, this is a team that doesn’t drop many points here. I’d be interested to know who the last team was that kept a clean sheet here (Leamington are actually the first to do so this season. Mickleover have only dropped points twice this season, in draws against Redditch and Needham Market.)

‘The counter attacking, that worked for us, because we’ve had three or four really good opportunities, but on the whole, yeah. We’ve got a bit of a flu bug going round, and have three or four lads that aren’t 100 percent, so we’ve had to work hard today for that clean sheet. We’re delighted with it.

‘Callum (Hawkins) has probably won us five or six points this season already, but I just thought that the way we defended our box for the whole afternoon; the way we dealt with their rotation - because they are a good side - so we’ve had to work hard at that today. And when they did breach us Callum’s pulled off two or three great saves. But we’ve also had two or three great opportunities in the game. We’ve worked on finishing all week because it’s been missing from our game, and you look at Ewan’s couple of chances and Callum’s chances, but I think it was about right today, the draw.

‘That’s probably the only thing that’s frustrated me though, after the sending off. You look at it and think could we have done more; but sometimes it’s difficult when you play against good sides. They take gambles, they take risks; they overload; and then you’ve just got to be good when you get the ball back. We were good for long periods, we got the ball wide, counter attacking football, but I think towards the end we just got a bit tired, but we showed plenty of resilience, and limited them to very little.’

Attendance: 319

Mickleover: Oliver Bosworth, Jake Bennett, Rhys Dolan, Will Atkinson, Finn Delap, Ethan Mann, Dan Bradley, Stuart Beavon (15 Leon Clarke, ), Will Trueman (16 Finley Ryder, 67), Oliver Greaves (12 Ben Sault, ), Andrew Dales.

Subs not used: 17 Brandon Ferron, 18 Sam Tomlinson.

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Joe Clarke (12 Dom Brown-Hill, 78), Jack Edwards, Theo Streete, Henry Landers, Adam Walker ©, Callum Stewart (17 Tyrone Barnett, 54), Ethan Williams, Will Shorrock (14 Jiah Medrano, 89).

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

Referee: Mr Daniel Pattison

Assistant Referees: Mr Kieron Rogers & Mr Jake Richards

Brakes Man of the Match: Callum Hawkins.