Pitching In Southern League Central Premier Division
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Saturday 27th April 2024
Brakes went into their final day clash with AFC Sudbury with their fate in their own hands, and Paul Holleran’s men delivered the three points they required to earn a home semi final tie in the play offs on Wednesday evening against Redditch United.
There were minimal changes to the starting eleven from the draw at Leiston a week previous; Henry Landers replacing Tyrone Barnett.
Visitors AFC Sudbury arrived in high spirits having won their final home game against Long Eaton by seven goals to one to haul themselves out of the relegation zone at the expense of Hitchin Town. A coach load of travelling supporters resplendent in all types of fancy dress made plenty of noise in support of their team, despite the miserable late April weather, which made the conditions feel more akin to an autumn fixture.
A frenetic start did not bring about any chances for either side until the 12th minute. Theo Streete’s high clearance down the right was picked up by Cally Stewart, who wound his way into the penalty area, the ball eventually finding its way to Henry Landers on the edge of the box, whose shot was deflected behind for a corner. Theo Streete looked to have been felled by hands to the face as he rose to attack the dead ball, but nothing was given despite the player uncharacteristically staying down. Rob Evans bundled the ball wide from the second corner.
Sudbury defender Olu Oluwatimilehin earned the first caution of the afternoon for a rash challenge on Josh Quaynor.
Streete and Jack Edwards attacked Landers’ ball to the far post from a recycled free kick and saw the ball hacked off the Sudbury goalline, but the offside flag was already raised.
Landers took on defenders on the right of the Sudbury penalty area, his shot from a tight angle deflecting into the side netting. Stewart then collected a ball over the top from Evans, driving a shot just over the crossbar.
Sudbury fashioned their first chance of the afternoon moments after the restart. Jacob Pinnington got down the right well after Leamington lost possession just inside their own half, getting a decent ball in to the far post, where Simeon Jackson met it but sent the ball ballooning high and wide.
Within sixty seconds the visitors found themselves behind. Landers delivered a peach of a cross into the box, Stewart rising like a salmon to emphatically head home his 22nd goal of the season, to the delight of all but the travelling contingent, who to their immense credit refused to stop singing.
Oluwatimilehin, who could count himself fortunate to still be on the pitch after two risky challenges, was wisely substituted by the visitors, who could ill afford to go a man down.
Jackson stabbed in a shot from a Sudbury corner that Callum Hawkins got down well to save, while Adam Walker drove a decent effort not too far wide at the other end seconds later.
With thirteen minutes remaining Brakes looked to have made the three points, and third place, secure, as Jack Edwards headed in a close range second in a congested penalty area before running across to celebrate with the jubilant Brakes fans in the car park terrace.
Jackson spun to fire in an effort that he believed had taken a deflection over the bar, while Pinnington drove horribly high and wide after cutting in from a great position on the right.
It turned out to be an afternoon of double celebration, as after a nervous few minutes waiting on the pitch for the result of the Hitchin - Stourbridge game to come through, the Sudbury players, staff and supporters celebrated wildly as the news filtered through that they were safe. The heartening scenes of both sets of fans in the Harbury Lane End singing each other's songs epitomised the true spirit of the non league game.
Speaking to BBC CWR’s Dave Sharpe after the game, Paul Holleran said ‘It was a tricky one today. Sudbury are a good club, with good people, and have been very unfortunate with the demise of Nuneaton as they came off worse than anyone. I think that affected them but they’ve picked up recently, made some good signings before the deadline and their results have improved, so I knew how tough the game was going to be. I thought we managed the game really well first half - the message I gave them at half time was that we needed to be a little bit braver in getting the ball wider; try and drag one of the left and right centre halves out to create some space in the middle of the park for Cally and Jack, so the first goal was great because we passed it out, got it wide, got the switch, dragged the left sided centre half out, great ball, great finish. I’m delighted for the young boy (Cally Stewart). It was a super goal and he’s had a great season, so that really pleased me. It was a great second half performance.
On the importance of securing a home tie in the play offs, the manager was quick to emphasise that league games count for nothing in these one off fixtures: ‘I think the only time we’ve ever got through a play off situation is in home games. Our form here has been good, our midweek form has been good, but I’ve just said to the players there, a few years back we played Slough here in a semi final. In the league games the aggregate score was 0-8 but we beat them 1-0, so the two Redditch games (Brakes won both 3-0) are gone now. This is a Redditch team that have had a tough time, bounced back and have had some good results. It’ll be a hell of a game.
Holleran stressed that despite the carrot of a potential return to the National League North at the first attempt, he was looking no further than Wednesday night. ‘I think with everything that went on last summer, trying to regroup and rebuild… We’re a fan owned, community club, and a lot of these clubs are getting left behind, even at Step 3 some of the directors, the businesses running these clubs; the finances available to them, 4G pitches…. It is just getting harder and harder, so the fact that some of the good old pro’s have done well for us again - two or three young kids have been fantastic for us - to finish third in this division, and as our goalkeeper has just informed me, the best defensive record in the league! It’s been really good. The play offs are the play offs - it’s great to get in them. There will be three very disappointed teams and one…the best out of all my promotions will always be the one when we won them - that will take some beating. We’ll look forward to it now. The big thing was that we wanted a home game here in front of our fans. It’s a local derby, so we’ve done that now. It’ll be a great occasion, and may the best team win.’
Attendance: 847
Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Ewan Williams, Theo Streete, Rob Evans, Henry Landers (16 Tyrone Barnett, 84), Adam Walker ©, Cally Stewart (12 Devon Kelly-Evans, 90), Jack Edwards (14 Joe Clarke, 82), Will Shorrock.
Subs not used: 15 Jiah Medrano, 17 Connor Taylor.
AFC Sudbury: 1James Bradbrook, 4 Olumide Oluwatimilehin (7 Jake Turner, ), 5 Charlie Lewis, 6 Tom Dickens, 8 Ben Hunter, 9 Joe Neal, 12 Romario Dunne, 15 Josh Allen (10 Malachi Napa, 70), 17 Jacob Pinnington, 18 Simeon Jackson, 19 Jack Cawley.
Subs not used: 2 Joe Tarpey, 11 Callum Page, 14 Ben Bradley
Referee: Mr Richard Walker
Assistant Referees: Mr Marc Abbott & Mr Scott Postin
Brakes Man of the Match: Adam Walker.
