Vanarama National League North
Marine Travel Arena
Saturday 31st August 2024

Brakes made their first visit to the Liverpool suburb of Crosby to take on Marine, as the two newly promoted sides met for the very first time. 

Paul Holleran made just one change to his starting eleven from the win over Rushall on Bank Holiday Monday - replacing Theo Streete with George Ward - a switch that was in no way a sleight on Streete, who had put in a commanding performance against the Pics. 

The hosts came into the game off the back of their first victory of the season - an impressive success away at Buxton, and in their first campaign at Step 2 they were looking to build on that with a maiden home success. 

Joe Doyle-Charles saw an early shot blocked from just inside the box as the two sides sized each other up on a warm August afternoon in front of a decent crowd  at the tightly packed Marine Travel Arena, which is hemmed in on all four sides.

Adam Thomas was denied by a fine block by Rob Evans inside the box as he pulled the trigger, but it was Dan Meredith who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening half an hour, as his thunderous strike from all of 30 yards out was swatted over his crossbar by young Marine stopper Luke Hutchinson. Doyle-Charles hammered the loose ball over the bar after a spot of head tennis following the resulting corner kick. 

Scott Butler did well to block Cally Stewart’s shot on the edge of the box, but the hosts looked set to take the lead when Regan Griffiths danced into box to engineer a clear shot at goal but his skill was matched by a fantastic save from Callum Hawkins, who claimed the ball from the resulting corner. 

Meredith saw another audacious attempt blocked as he marauded down the right once more. Play quickly switched to the other end, Fin Sinclair Smith heading over the crossbar. A first half in which there were chances for both sides ended in stalemate. 

Marine were quickly out of the blocks as the second half commenced; Dan Meredith having to block an attempted cross from Kristi Montgomery at the expense of a corner, which Hawkins punched out from under his crossbar. The second delivery saw Chris Doyle rise highest at the far post to head inside the side netting, despite the presence of Will Shorrock on the line. The home support rose as one to celebrate, but were swiftly stopped in their tracks as the match officials decided that a foul had been committed somewhere, which was something of a let off for Brakes, as none of the players particularly protested

Leamington had been slow to get started after coming out of the dressing room, and were aided a little by some of the decisions going in their favour, but they recovered and started to apply some pressure of their own, getting balls into the box and utilising the long throw of Evans, whose left wing ball into the box was headed onto the roof of the net by Doyle-Charles. 

The manager made his first change just past the hour, replacing Tim Berridge with Anthony Lynn. 

The game continued to be finely balanced, with Marine coming close to working the ball into shooting positions inside the Leamington box, only to be denied by stoic defending from the likes of Evans. 

Meredith and Walker both collected bookings in the closing stages as the hosts pressed for a late winner, while home boss Neil Young, clearly and understandably frustrated at some of the decisions going against his side, was also shown a yellow card. 

George Ward got a timely boot in as Marine cranked up the pressure, but the disallowed goal aside, Leamington had defended well in this contest, and given that neither side particularly found their feet in front of goal, a draw was probably the right result, and one that Brakes will happily take given that they have another long journey to the North West on Tuesday evening to face Warrington Town. 

Attendance: 1,192 

Marine: 1 Luke Hutchinson, 2 Scott Butler, 4 Leigh Whelan, 5 Chris Doyle, 6 James Butler, 7 Adam Thomas, 14 Brad Holmes (12 Jack Goodwin, 66), 16 Kristi Montgomery, 18 Regan Griffiths ©, 20 Fin Sinclair Smith (10 Owen Robinson, 73), 22 Joe Mattock.

Subs not used: 3 Matty Waters, 11 Kallan Murphy, 15 Alex McNally. 

Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 2 Dan Meredith, 3 Josh Quaynor, 6 Rob Evans, 14 George Ward, 4 Joe Doyle Charles (10 Jack Edwards, 76), 8 Adam Walker ©, 17 Ewan Williams, 12 Will Shorrock (15 Caine Elliott, 82), 11 Tim Berridge (19 Ant Lynn, 63), 9 Cally Stewart. 

Subs not used: 5 Theo Streete, 18 Teddy Rowe. 

Referee: Mr Declan Brown

Assistant Referees: Mr Samuel Blake & Mr Daniel McDonald

Fourth Official: Mr Joel Buckle.

Brakes Man of the Match: Dan Meredith.