Vanarama National League North
Impact Arena, Alfreton
Saturday 21 September 2024

Brakes made the shorter than anticipated trip into Derbyshire to take on Farsley Celtic. The game was classed as Farsley’s first home fixture of the season as they had played all their previous games away from their Citadel base due to issues with ongoing pitch works, but despite Leamington offering to allow the fixture to be switched the National League were adamant that it be played as a home game, so league rivals Alfreton kindly stepped in to host. 

Paul Holleran initially made two changes to his starting eleven from the FA Cup win over Carlton Town, bringing in Theo Streete and Tim Berridge in place of the injured Rob Evans, and Anthony Lynn. However, when the two sides emerged from the tunnel Henry Landers was in the eleven in place of Will Shorrock, who pulled up during the warm up with a tight quad. Several of the players had been suffering with a bug during the week, making what was to follow even more impressive. 

On what began as an uncharacteristically warm September afternoon there was a sparse crowd in attendance, with a healthy travelling contingent from Leamington. Brakes seemed to settle quicker in the opening minutes; Joe Doyle-Charles firing just over the bar, but as things settled down Bailey Sloane drove a low shot between two defenders that a partially unsighted Callum Hawkins watched all the way. 

Landers forced a scruffy header on target from Adam Walker’s left wing cross as Leamington continued to have the bulk of the attacking play in the first twenty minutes, but former Stockport man Darren Stephenson stung the palms of Hawkins when he pounced on a slip just inside the box to thunder a strike goalbound. Hawkins was alert to make a solid save however. 

George Ward saw a header saved by Tom Wooster after Landers’ pace had seen him tear down the right and win a corner off Sloane. The centre back appeared to be signalling that he hadn’t had a call off a team mate as he attempted to see a long ball out of play on the Farsley right, only for DJ Campton-Sturridge to nip in ahead of him and thump a fierce volley just over the bar. After a neat move at the other end Berridge saw a snapshot held by Wooster. 

Dan Meredith saw his effort from distance deflected behind for a corner which came to nothing. Josh Quaynor was then penalised for nothing more than standing his ground, leading to a free kick which was very well struck by Dan Greenfield, but equally well saved by Hawkins as he helped the ball over his crossbar. 

The second half began in a similar vein, with both sides largely cancelling each other out. Landers saw a low strike parried by the keeper, who collected the ball just ahead of Stewart, who moments later saw a long range shot saved by Wooster. 

Holleran introduced Lynn from the bench with 23 minutes to play, and the young striker made an immediate impact, launching himself full length at Landers’ right wing cross to bullet a powerful header past Wooster into the net with virtually his first touch of the ball. 

Farsley almost responded emphatically, Greenfield volleying just over from Stephenson’s flick on. Brakes were giving this everything however, Lynn letting the ball run in from a right wing cross for substitute Teddy Rowe, who took a little too long to get his shot away, and was blocked. 

Farsley substitute Sam Fielding forced another stupendous save from Hawkins with a long range piledriver, while another effort moments later flew off target. The game had become increasingly fractious as time ticked away, with the hosts becoming more frantic in their search for a leveller, but Leamington stuck to their task in determined fashion. Hawkins held a shot through a crowd of players as Brakes survived five minutes of added time to record their first away win of the season. 

Attendance: 115

Farsley Celtic: 1 Tom Wooster, 20 Tom Allan, 6 Conor Branson ©, 4 Isaac Assenso (19 Robbie Fox, 75), 23 Bailey Sloane, 7 Ryan Watson, 24 Cole Hyde (15 Sam Fielding, 71), 10 Ben Atkinson, 22 Daniel Greenfield, 21 DJ Campton-Sturridge (17 Dylan Youmbi, 70), 11 Darren Stephenson. 

Subs not used: 18 Manasse Mampala, 27 Alex Kiwomya. 

Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 2 Dan Meredith, 3 Josh Quaynor, 5 Theo Streete, 14 George Ward,  4 Joe Doyle- Charles (10 Jack Edwards, 83), 8 Adam Walker, 17 Ewan Williams, 7 Henry Landers, 11 Tim Berridge (19 Anthony Lynn, 67), 9 Cally Stewart (18 Ted Rowe, 79). 

Subs not used: 13 Jake Humphries, 12 Will Shorrock. 

Referee: Mr Kavan Hur

Assistant Referees: Mr Bradley Maw & Mr Wayne Cooper

Fourth Official: Mr Joshua Howell

Brakes Man of the Match: Ewan Williams.