Pitching In Southern Premier League Central
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Tuesday 19 March  2024

by Max Passantino

Leamington were forced to settle for a frustrating point with a home draw against Coalville, although in the grand scheme of things it may be an invaluable point in the race for promotion.

Paul Holleran made one change from Saturday’s comfortable win over Hitchin, Henry Landers coming back into the side for Will Shorrock. 

Brakes started shakily with Josh Quaynor almost losing out to the Ravens’ right winger Terell Pennant in the first minute, setting the tone for the match as Quaynor found it hard to cope with the pace on Coalville’s right side with the visitors clearly targeting Leamington’s left throughout the 90.

The first chance of the game did fall to Leamington, a long throw in from Rob Evans was headed back to the former Halesowen captain who unleashed a venomous volley that needed a deflection to direct it just wide of the upright.

Pennant’s pressure paid off as Quaynor committed a needless foul on the edge of his own box. Free kick specialist Layton Ndukwu stepped up and curled a superb strike into the back of the net that any goalkeeper would find hard to stop to the delight of the very small away following from Leicestershire behind the goal.

Callum Hawkins was called upon, tipping a low drive from Tim Berridge past his post. The clever game management started, with Coalville’s right back Benjamin Hart seemingly spending more time on the floor than upright as the visitors continued to frustrate a Leamington side that usually start games so well.

Leamington started to apply pressure after the quarter of an hour mark, a corner from Henry Landers was met by the head of Barnett who sent a header goal bound but Callum Stewart couldn’t move out of the way and ended up directing the ball over the crossbar with custodian White already on the floor.

The home side’s attempts of playing out of the back were unsuccessful, with Leamington’s energy levels failing to match that of the high pressing, hard working visitors.

Calls from the man in the middle alongside the refusal to clamp down on any time wasting frustrated a Leamington side, with Lewis Smith being surrounded by Leamington players questioning a number of missed fouls.

One foul Smith didn’t miss, however, was on Adam Walker on the edge of the box. The Leamington captain claimed a penalty although it did look as if the contact started outside and continued inside the area. Brakes were left furious as rather bizarrely the Coalville wall charged down Callum Stewart’s free kick - reminiscent of Zaire at the 1974 World Cup against Brazil, or more recently France Rugby against Italy at the Six Nations last month.

The striker did get another chance to score minutes later and took that opportunity. A diagonal ball was knocked down by Barnett with Stewart on hand to bundle his 20th goal of the season over the line, despite a collision with White.

That goal put some life into Leamington and Ewan Williams was so close to finding his second goal in as many games but a well timed leg deflected the ball narrowly wide as the sides headed in level. 

As much as both teams had decent spells in the first period, the second would be instantly forgettable with neither side showing any real fight to get three points.

Josh Quaynor was finally booked ten minutes into the second 45 as Pennant continued to terrorise the left sided defender and force him to commit fouls.

Hawkins held a shot from Thomas McGlinchey well before Stewart had an effort deflected wide.

Paul Holleran made his first change with just under twenty to go as Jack Edwards replaced Joe Clarke and a flurry of corners followed, with White somehow clutching the third and final one despite the best efforts of Theo Streete and Edwards to force over the line. 

A top performer since joining up with the squad, Rob Evans’ first three performances in gold and black have felt like a goal was deserved and he almost got his first for the club - his header turned just past the post by a Ravens defender.

Both sides failed to create anything worthwhile, as the game petered out, and were forced to settle for a point in front of a small crowd in Warwickshire.

Attendance: 325

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Joe Clarke (12 Jack Edwards, 72’), Theo Streete, Rob Evans, Henry Landers (14 Will Shorrock, 85’), Adam Walker ©, Callum Stewart, Tyrone Barnett, Ewan Williams.

Subs not used: 15 Devon Kelly-Evans, 16 Jiah Medrano, 17 Connor Taylor.

Coalville Town: 1 Paul White, 3 Eliot Putman, 6 Ashley Carter, 8 Joe Doyle-Charles ©, 9 Tim Berridge (10 Ash Chambers, 77’), 11 Thomas McGlinchey (16 Wes York, 86’), 12 Benjamin Hart, 14 Terell Pennant, 18 Herve Pepe-Ngoma, 19 Layton Ndukwu (7 Kieran Cook, 77’), 20 Scott McManus.

Subs not used: 2 Alexander Dean, 4 Roddy McGlinchey.

Referee: Mr Lewis Smith

Assistant referees: Mr Daniel Laugharne, Mr Scott Postin

Brakes Man of the Match: Rob Evans

Photos by Cameron Murray ©