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Saturday 13th April 2024

Leamington faced a Stamford side making a late charge for the play off places in their penultimate home league game of the season. 

The Lincolnshire club had put themselves fully into contention with an impressive win at Champions Needham Market in midweek, moving them closer to Brakes, who were held to a draw at old rivals Stourbridge. 

Paul Holleran made two changes to his starting eleven after the draw at Stourbridge in midweek, recalling Jack Edwards and Will Shorrock in place of Joe Clarke and Callum Stewart, who dropped to the bench. 

The visitors had clearly not travelled to make up the numbers, and came close early on when Callum Chettle played in Lee Shaw on the right, who delivered a dangerous ball into the box that was cleared away from the Leamington goal line by Dan Meredith. 

Josh Quaynor took a thunderous shot from Jack Duffy full in the face at the potential expense of a goal as the Daniels’ threatened once more, but it was Leamington who broke the deadlock in the April sunshine on 15 minutes. Quaynor’s right wing corner was nodded back towards goal by Tyrone Barnett in the centre, and Jack Edwards helped it on with a looping header over keeper Michael Duggan into the net. 

Shaw sent another dangerous ball in from the right that was well cut out by Theo Streete as Stamford responded, but they found themselves two goals behind on 21 minutes. Adam Walker received the ball on the Leamington left just outside the box, and cut inside past two defenders before curling a low drive beyond Duggan, the ball taking some kind of deflection into the roof of the net. 

Quaynor received a caution after giving away a free kick in a dangerous position which was played into the box and headed clear well by Streete.  

Leamington then engineered a succession of chances to add to their advantage before half time. Rob Evans sent a free kick sailing into the hedge on the North Bank, before Barnett worked the ball out well to Henry Landers on the right, who thumped a well struck shot over the bar.  

Landers then worked himself into space well just outside the box but was off target again with his attempt at goal. 

Will Shorrock played Landers in superbly on the right; the striker cutting inside and firing powerfully and low but agonisingly just past the far post. 

Edwards and Stamford top scorer Jack Duffy were both booked after a brief spot of handbags in front of the main stand, with Jon Challinor quickly following them as he brought down Meredith, who was threatening to accelerate away up the right. 

Brakes won a free kick moments before the half time whistle which was played into the Stamford box and cushioned down by the head of Barnett into the path of Landers, who thumped in a low first time drive that whistled inches past the far post. It was another fine opportunity that would have nicely capped off a very good first half performance. 

The open nature of the contest was highlighted in a matter of seconds as the second half commenced. Duffy thumped in a strike that was held by Hawkins, before Barnett got in behind two retreating defenders to hook an effort across goal and wide seconds later. 

Another free kick given away by Quaynor on the right edge of the Leamington box was initially cleared out to Harry Vince, who struck powerfully and accurately towards goal, but straight at Hawkins. The Brakes goalkeeper played his kick out straight on to the head of Barnett, who directed it into the path of Shorrock; his low ball across goal narrowly missed by the inrushing Landers. 

The afternoon sunshine had now been replaced by leaden skies and a strengthening wind. Play swung from end to end once more; Barnett dragging it out to the right but was just unable to get enough purchase on his cross, while Stamford moved up the other end swiftly, Shaw playing in substitute Tom Siddons, who cut in and curled a shot straight at Hawkins. 

Tendai Chitiza stretched to head a right wing corner over the bar for Stamford, but the home side were creating far more opportunities, and Barnett, who was having an influential game, headed down for Walker, whose volley struck his team mate on the back and flew over the bar. 

There were always going to be more opportunities for Leamington in this game with the visitors having to push forward, and substitute Stewart saw his shot deflected by Stamford substitute James Blunden, the ball spinning past the far post. Stewart then chased the ball down the right unchallenged, cutting into the and driving at his man before lashing in a shot that was pushed behind well by Duggan. 

Leamington stood up and defended intelligently in the face of late pressure from Stamford, who went close in added time through Vince, who drove just wide from outside the box, but it was Brakes, and Stewart, who would have the final word. Chitiza surrendered possession and Walker broke free into an empty opposition half, reaching the edge of the box before moving it right to Stewart, who had kept pace with his skipper. He feinted left and right in front of his marker before dragging a low right footed shot wide of Duggan into the far corner. 

‘It was a good day at the office,’ said the manager after the game. ‘I think we all knew what kind of game it was going to be. Stamford are such a front footed, brave team that always commit people forward. They’ll never be in a 0-0 game. I really like them. They’ve probably been a little unfortunate in that they’ve had a couple of their main players missing today. They’ve had a tough schedule, but there’s a lot for them to like about what they’ve done this year, without a shadow of a doubt.’ 

‘On today’s game, I think we put in a really polished performance. We’ve been structurally very strong. We’ve tried to keep them on the outside, we’ve dealt with the overloads, and then, probably this week out of the three games we were probably better on the counter, the quality. We’ve created lots and lots of chances. I thought we’d get two results this week. We’ve managed to get two good results - the draw at Stourbridge and then today - I knew how tough this week was going to be. So you look at the character and the mental strength of the players. It was a tough afternoon last Saturday at Telford; it was a tough evening on Tuesday; there were a couple of things out of our control that didn’t go our way, and then you look at the resilience in them playing a Stamford side who are on great run, and that was as polished a performance as you’ll see this season from a Leamington side. 

‘With two games to go we’re in a decent position. We know what we’ve got to do now but there’s still a lot of work to do. When you get to this stage of the season the games mean something, which is good. It almost felt like a bit of a play off game today. It’s been a good day's work today but hopefully we’ve got another three or four to go yet. It’s been really pleasing.’ 

Stamford manager Graham Drury was refreshingly magnanimous in defeat, saying ‘ I thought we got bullied today. I thought it looked like men against boys if I’m honest. Defensively you looked strong and compact; we tried to play around you but you were an organised outfit, which I knew you were. 

‘I think the first goal was crucial today for both sides. It allowed you to sit in and play on the break. You should have perhaps been three or four up at half time if i’m being honest. It was a well deserved win for Leamington, they looked a big strong outfit today and I wish you all the best in the play offs.’ 

Despite the kind words from Mr Drury, there is still work to do before Brakes can be sure of a place in the top five, but they have given themselves a great chance to see it through.

Attendance: 607

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Jack Edwards, Theo Streete, Rob Evans, Ewan Williams, Adam Walker, Henry Landers, Adam Walker, Henry Landers (15 Callum Stewart, 69), Tyrone Barnett (12 Joe Clarke, 82), William Shorrock (14 Devon Kelly-Evans, 77). Subs not used: 16 Jiah Medrano, 17 Connor Taylor. 

Stamford: Michael Duggan, Michael Armstrong, Jon Challinor (12 James Blundon, 46), Harry Vince, Ashton Offler, William Glennon, Tendai Chitza, Callum Chettle (14 Tom Siddons, 61), Jack Duffy, Lee Shaw, Rhys Hilton. 

Subs not used: 15 Tsagium Guimdo Florian, 16 Michael Frew. 

Referee: Mr Daniel Smith

Assistant Referees: Mr James Green & Mr Manny Chandwani

Brakes Man of the Match: Tyrone Barnett.