Vanarama National League North
Your Co-op Community Stadium 
Tuesday 18th February 2025

Brakes continued their recent upturn in form by holding play off chasing Buxton to a draw at Your Co-op Community Stadium; the visitors cancelling out a first half wonder strike from Owen Farmer late on.

There were another four changes to the eleven that kicked off Saturday’s win over Farsley Celtic, as Josh Quaynor, Will Shorrock and Joe Clarke came in, along with captain Adam Walker, who returned from suspension. Jack Edwards, Jiah Medrano and Ewan Williams dropped to the bench. Rob Evans was unavailable, while Dan Meredith sat out a second game with injury. 

The game was a tight, niggly, closely contested but never dirty affair, despite the number of yellow cards shown, with the visitors arguably having slightly the better of things going forward as they chased a place back in the top six after their good recent run. 

There was precious little in terms of goalmouth incident to record in the opening exchanges; a tame effort from Luke Brennan that rolled into the arms of Callum Hawkins the only effort from either side in the first fifteen minutes. Leamington’s first effort of the evening arrived on 26 minutes, thanks to some good hold up play from Dan Turner inside the box. He was able to turn his man and cut the ball back for Farmer, who sent a first time drive sailing over the crossbar. 

Buxton skipper Connor Kirby’s volley was held by Hawkins, before George Ward was handily placed to clear Brennan’s shot off the line. 

The opening goal of the evening arrived out of the blue a minute before half time, and was just reward for the efforts of Farmer over the last couple of games, as he opened his goalscoring account for the club in style, crashing home an unstoppable volley from 20 yards that thundered past True Grant into the top corner to send Leamington into the dressing room a goal to the good. 

Farmer, his confidence soaring after his fantastic strike, was continuing to cause problems for the Bucks defence as the second half commenced, and won a free kick on the left a few yards outside the penalty area. Landers delivered the ball into the box, and Walker saw a fierce strike blocked, before the visitors broke quickly up the right through Burton. Walker kept pace with him but he found Oliver Ewing on the far side inside the box, but his team mate missed his kick and the ball dribbled out of play. 

The visitors then went through a spell of efforts at goal that were all off target, including a free kick from Kirby that flew over the crossbar. 

Henry Landers saw a header saved and then a free kick pushed behind by Grant, as both sides committed to attack, and Farmer was in with a chance for a second as Buxton surrendered possession. He accelerated towards goal, only to be denied by a superb recovery challenge from Bobby Faulkner. Leamington kept up the pressure, and Walker thumped another well struck effort over the bar. 

Will Shorrock’s ball in from the right was headed back into the six yard box by Turner, but Farmer couldn’t quite get to the ball. Buxton could only get the ball clear to the edge of their box however, and Landers nipped in to thump a powerful drive towards goal that Grant dived low to his left to keep out. 

The visitors grabbed an equaliser as the game entered its final ten minutes, Kieran Burton stooping to head home a free kick from the right at the far post. Brakes were unhappy at the award of the dead ball which led to the goal, but on the balance of play the goal was probably deserved. 

Late on Tim Berridge was denied by a fantastic save from Grant, who hared from his line to snuff out the danger as the substitute was played in on goal. 

Attendance: 458

Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 3 Josh Quaynor, 4 Matt Richards (10 Jack Edwards, 75), 5 Theo Streete, 7 Henry Landers, 8  Adam Walker ©, 12 Will Shorrock, 14 George Ward,  21 Joe Clarke (17 Ewan Williams, 75), 23 Dan Turner (19 Ant Lynn 90+2), 24 Owen Farmer (11 Tim Berridge, 76). 

Subs not used: 16 Jiah Medrano. 

Buxton: 1 True Grant, 2 Dermi Lusala, 3 Josh Williams, 6 Bobby Faulkner, 8 Connor Kirby ©, 10 Tommy Eliott (15 Will Trueman, 90+4), 11 Luke Brennan, 14 Ben Sault (26 Johnny Johnston, 46), 18 Cian Coleman (17 Ethan Fitzhugh, 63), 27 Kieran Burton, 28 Oliver Ewing. 

Subs not used: 13 Paul Cooper, 23 Josh Popoola. 

Referee: Mr Lewis Smith

Assistant Referees: Mr David Hinton & Mr Luke Bowles

Fourth Official: Mr Michael Pattison 

Brakes Man of the Match: Will Shorrock.