Pitching In Southern League Premier Division
The Watson & Hillhouse Victory Road Stadium
Saturday 20th April 2024

Brakes made the long journey from Warwickshire to a previously uncharted corner of Suffolk to take on Leiston in their final away game of the regular season, coming away with what could turn out to be a vital point come 5pm next Saturday when the final matches have ended. 

With Stratford falling to defeat at home to Bromsgrove and Redditch being pegged back at the death at Barwell, Leamington’s fate is in their own hands, with Stamford and Mickleover facing each other on the final weekend, while Redditch host Champions Needham Market and Stratford travel to Royston. 

Complacency will not be an option however, as Paul Holleran’s men will entertain an AFC Sudbury side who are currently two points outside the bottom four, but depending on Hitchin’s result at home to Stourbridge, may require points to remain there come the end of the afternoon. 

A win over their mid table hosts here would have meant a much more comfortable final day, but this was an entertaining draw between two well matched teams, and probably a fair result, despite the number of chances created. 

The manager made just one change to his starting eleven, rotating Cally Stewart with Henry Landers once more.

Stewart’s well struck free kick was pushed aside by young goalkeeper Marcus Mehew inside the opening five minutes, the first good save of several during the afternoon in what was a fine debut game. The recalled striker was then off target with another effort, but from the goal kick, Ross Crane launched an audacious effort towards goal from way out, the ball landing on the roof of the Leamington net. 

Theo Streete raised his head in the nick of time to deflect a shot over the crossbar from Crane as the hosts threatened again

Skipper Adam Walker crashed a shot against the crossbar with Mehew just getting a hand to the ball;   while Tyrone Barnett headed wide from close range, and Stewarrt then headed a right wing cross from Dan Meredith onto the roof of the Leiston net. 

Referee Benjamin Knowles, clearly mindful of the goal Darren Bent scored for Sunderland against Liverpool with a deflection off an inflatable beachball back in 2009, halted play to deflate a rogue ball which had made its way onto the pitch from the travelling support. Several balloons were also ruthlessly burst, as they were clearly a threat to the welfare of those on the pitch. 

Barnett was forced off ten minutes before half time after apparently taking an elbow to the face, to be replaced by Devon Kelly-Evans. 

Ashley Boatswain headed just wide from close range from George Quantrell’s left wing centre for Leiston as the chances continued to flow at both ends. 

A neat backheel from Will Shorrock released Walker to thrash a powerful drive towards goal moments before half time, but Mehew palmed the ball behind for a corner, but an entertaining first half finished without a goal for either side. 

Brakes boss Holleran was shown a yellow card early in the second half for protesting vehemently when Ewan Williams was fouled. Shorrock was next to receive treatment, needing to be substituted and helped off the pitch, with the culprit not even being spoken to by the man in charge. 

The home side took the lead a minute before the hour mark with a stunning strike. Leamington were simply unable to clear their lines as they blocked shots, and the ball ran perfectly for Albie Armin to unleash an absolute rocket of a strike that thundered past Callum Hawkins before he had chance to move. 

The signs that it was maybe not going to be Leamington’s afternoon began to increase when Jack Edwards received a rather harsh booking for apparently getting in the way of a clearance from Mehew. Kelly-Evans quickly followed him for something he said, as Brakes’ frustrations began to boil over. 

Meredith played a good ball in for substitute Henry Landers to sweep first time towards goal, but it was blocked by a defender, with an arm claimed the Leamington man, but inevitably the Referee was not interested. However, within seconds the ball was in the back of the Leiston net courtesy of Cally Stewart’s 21st goal of the season, the young striker springing the hosts’ offside trap to stab past Mehew. 

The game had been open before, but it really began to swing from end to end now. Landers was denied by a fine save from Mehew, who also claimed the resulting corner confidently. Jamar Loza curled a first time effort well wide from the edge of the box after some neat close passing from the home side. 

Leiston substitute Ollie Saunders was apparently booked before he was allowed to enter the field of play, while Edwards had the ball in the net from after Mehew could only parry the initial shot, but the offside flag was immediately raised to leave the shouts of celebration stuck in the throats of the travelling Brakes support.  

Stewart fired a free kick narrowly wide from the left of the penalty area, while Landers glanced a left wing cross inches wide of the far post. Edwards headed another effort off target late in added time, but a second stalemate of the season between these two was the right result. 

Attendance: 212

Leiston: 1 Marcus Mehew, 19 Ross Jarvis (20 Chris Casement, 35), 3 Seb Dunbar, 9 Ash Boatswain, 6 Eddie Jackson, 10 Jack Manly (17 Joe Marsden, 85), 8 Albie Armin, 7 Ross Crane, 12 George Quantrell (4 Ollie Saunders, 79), 5 Adam Bailey-Dennis, 11 Jamar Loza. 

Subs not used: 15 Zach Dronfield, 18 Ryan Jarvis. 

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Jack Edwards, Theo Streete, Rob Evans, Ewan Williams, Adam Walker ©, Cally Stewart, Tyrone Barnett (15 Devon Kelly-Evans, 35), Will Shorrock (12 Henry Landers, 57). 

Subs not used: 14 Joe Clarke, 16 Jiah Medrano, 17 Connor Taylor. 

Referee: Mr Benjamin Knowles

Assistant Referees: Mr Carl Beer & Mr Daniel Keeble

Brakes Man of the Match: Cally Stewart.