Vanarama National League North
The Attis Arena
Saturday 8th March 2025

A first visit to Scunthorpe for a league fixture since January 1967 was another ‘pinch yourself’ moment for all connected with Leamington Football Club in the National League North. There had been three previous trips to this corner of North Lincolnshire between 1965 and 1967 when Lockheed Leamington shared the same table as the Iron’s reserve side in the Midland Counties League, with Syd Ottewell’s team winning on each of their visits to Scunthorpe’s Old Showground home. This was our first visit to Glanford Park, currently known as the Attis Arena. 

There are some famous old clubs plying their trade at the level, but none currently bigger than the Iron, who as recently as the 2010-11 season were competing in the Championship. Like others before them they have fallen on hard times, but are regrouping on and off the pitch and are unsurprisingly challenging for promotion. Their fans continue to back them superbly, and in very good numbers, so it was not quite your normal matchday for Brakes as they made the journey north. 

Paul Holleran restored Rob Evans and Jack Edwards to the starting eleven as he looked for his side to continue their recent good form. 

Henry Landers saw an early attempt blocked on the edge of the box as Leamington looked to utilise the long throw of the recalled Rob Evans, who displeased the home support as early as the fifth minute for apparently taking too long to go and collect the ball. 

Leamington certainly did not appear to be overawed at playing in front of a much larger crowd than they are used to; and had the better of the opening exchanges. Tim Berridge was played down the middle by Jack Edwards, who was presented with a poor pass out of defence by Maxim Kouogun on halfway. Berridge advanced, before stinging the palms of keeper Ross Fitzsimons with a fiercely struck effort from 25 yards. 

The home support briefly thought their side had taken the lead when Callum Roberts lifted a lovely ball over the top of the Leamington defence, where it was headed back across goal for Mark Beck to nod in, but the offside flag was already raised. Chris Wreh then saw his effort flash across goal from the left, as Scunthorpe started to turn the screw a little. 

The one way traffic was halted briefly as a free kick was won some 30 yards from goal, from which Dan Meredith eventually tried his luck from way out as the ball was cleared. The ball was straight back at the other end however, and Callum Hawkins was called upon to make a very timely save, first with his leg as former Banbury United man Chris Wreh spun in the six yard box, and then ahead of Beck as he attempted to turn in the loose ball. 

George Ward’s backward header from another Evans long throw looped up and was caught by Fitzsimons, but the hosts continued to do the majority of the pressing. However, they were up against a determined Brakes rearguard, and although there were moments where they had more time than they realised, they were standing up to a stern task. 

Landers almost set up Owen Farmer with a training ground corner delivery which by-passed a crowded penalty area and was an inch from sitting up perfectly for the former Wolves man to strike for goal. 

There were three mis-kicks inside the Leamington penalty area, two from the hosts, as Brakes rode their luck a little with half time approaching. Wreh then headed over the bar when well placed as Scunthorpe returned the ball back into the box dangerously. 

Jack Edwards, putting himself about well as he always does in these sorts of games, strained every sinew to get his header on target at the far post after winning the ball with a great sliding challenge midway through the Scunthorpe half to instigate a Leamington attack which saw the ball moved around well between Walker and Farmer on the left. 

Evans was having a very good game, and denied Roberts a shot from close range with a very timely foot in to nick the ball off the attacker’s toe inside the six yard box, and Leamington went in level at the break.

Tyler Denton’s hopeful swing as Leamington looked to have smuggled the ball clear turned into a very good effort that only just cleared the crossbar as Scunthorpe continued to press from the outset in the second half. 

Half time substitute Carlton Ubaezuonu smashed a first time volley over the bar as a high ball dropped over Josh Quaynor into the box, and he looked to be in again as the Iron played the ball in from the right, but was denied by some superb defending from Ewan Williams. 

Landers sent Leamington’s first effort of the half into the empty seats behind Fitzsimons’ goal from a free kick, but the attacking play from the home side was in turn geeing up their support, who cranked up the volume as they continued to press; Roberts seeing his shot take a huge deflection off Ubaezuonu; the ball bouncing kindly through to Hawkins. 

Landers saw an effort from a tight angle parried by Fitzsimons at his near post after some good hold up play from Berridge, while Joe Rowley’s low drive fizzed wide at the other end, before Leamington conceded a penalty on the hour. Ward had his arms around Beck, but protested furiously that he had done nothing to warrant being penalised, as he probably felt that he was being backed in to. Roberts stepped up, and just managed to beat the dive of Hawkins, who would have no doubt been disappointed not to get something on it. 

In what was a key period of the game for Leamington, over the next ten minutes they spent probably their longest spell of the game in the opposition half, and while they were unable to create any chances, they did at least prevent the hosts from building up a head of steam after their opener. 

After more heavy pressure from Scunthorpe, Williams tricked his way into the box on the right, winning a corner with some neat footwork. From the half clearance, substitute Joe Clarke then set up Landers for a ferocious effort that was beaten away by Fitzsimons. 

Hawkins prevented Roberts from doubling his and Scunthorpe’s tally as he dived full length to keep out the former Notts County man’s low drive superbly. Ward kept pace with Ubaezuonu from the corner to prevent him from heading in at the near post. 

More careful defending was needed as the Iron threatened a second once more, with Williams and substitute Theo Streete doing well to smuggle the ball clear. 

An injury to Scunny substitute Ubaezuonu saw six minutes added on at the end of the game, the majority of which saw Leamington doing their best to force a leveller, but it was not to be. However, to prevent a Scunthorpe side surely destined for promotion from scoring in open play is no mean feat, and the lads all acquitted themselves well in front of the largest crowd they have ever played in front of in the National League North. 

The manager was proud of the effort his team put when speaking to Brian Halford from BBC CWR afterwards. 

‘I think I touched on the schedule last week - it’s been a tough few weeks. We looked tired at times to be honest, but we were well in the game and I think we’ve limited Scunthorpe to one shot on target in the first half and one shot from open play in the second half, which tells you there were certainly defensive battling qualities there. 

'There were moments in the game when we did look a threat. The defining moment obviously is the penalty, which sadly - in all the years you come to these grounds - Stockport used to be the same - when the home side are going towards the end where the thousands of supporters are, the decisions you get going against you are honestly unbelievable. The penalty is another one. It’s been instigated by their player. It’s clever play as he’s a fantastic number nine. The ball’s been over hit and he’s made sure he dragged him and George Ward down. It’s a bizarre decision. It’s a shame that the game was decided on that decision. You’d have to say they’ve edged the game, there’s no doubt that, but as the game went on… We had moments in the first half and then you could see us in the last ten/fifteen minutes - we’ve got some fresh legs on, got a bit of control, and their keeper’s pulled off a great save from Henry, and Tim’s had half a chance. We were very competitive, and when you think we’ve still got two or three missing; to put those levels of performance in after the two or three weeks we’ve had - we need to get the rest in and go again for the visit of Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday. I was worried about today - the levels - but they were there again. The players are digging deep, they were competitive. It would have been nice to have a bit more control, but that doesn’t always happen. We had moments in the first and second half, and on another day we would have nicked a draw, and if it would have been a draw nobody would have argued. 

‘The boys have done well today, they’ve run themselves into the ground. I couldn’t have asked for much more really.'

Attendance: 3,793 (94 Leamington)

Scunthorpe United: 1 Ross Fitzsimons, 4 Maxim Kouogun, 5 Will Evans, 7 Michael Clunan ©. 10 Callum Roberts, 11 Joe Rowley, 15 Chris Wreh (14 Carlton Ubaezuonu, 46, (6 Andrew Boyce, 90), 19 Mark Beck (27 Mo Fadera, 80), 20 Kian Scales, 21 Joe Starbuck, 33 Tyler Denton. 

Subs not used: 3 Michael Kelly, 23 Luke Williams. 

Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 2 Dan Meredith, 3 Josh Quaynor, 6 Rob Evans (5 Theo Streete, 76), 7 Henry Landers, Adam Walker ©, 10 Jack Edwards (21 Joe Clarke, 78), 11 Tim Berridge (16 Jiah Medrano, 88), 14 George Ward, 17 Ewan Williams, 24 Owen Farmer (19 Ant Lynn, 65). 

Subs not used: 20 Jacob Humphries (GK). 

Referee: Mr Thomas Wilson

Assistant Referees: Mr Bradley Maw & Mr Sam Bayley

Fourth Official: Mr Waqar Ahmad

Brakes Man of the Match: Rob Evans.