LeamingtonFC.co.uk - 2015-2016 Match Centre

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Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 27th February 2016

Brakes warmed up for Tuesday’s South Warwickshire derby against Stratford Town by extending their recent unbeaten sequence to 4 games with a point against one of the league’s form sides at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium.

Paul Holleran was a little disappointed that his charges did not make more of the chances they created over the 90 minutes, but was pleased at the way they came back to level after going behind midway through the first half.

Linnets defender Lee Smith did well to sweep a dangerous cross from Lee Moore behind for a corner early on, while a spot of head tennis in the King's Lynn penalty area saw Rob Ogleby nod straight at keeper Alex Street from close range.

Courtney Baker Richardson got himself into space on the right and sent a shot across goal and wide, while Sam Austin showed great technique to volley a dropping ball first time from the edge of the box towards goal, but again it landed safely in the arms of Street.

The visitors moved in front on 24 minutes with their first effort on goal, skipper Sam Gaughran crashing an unstoppable shot in off the bar after Leamington failed to clear a free kick into their penalty box.

The hosts attempted to hit straight back, Richard Taundry curling a cross past the far post before pinging an inch perfect diagonal pass to the feet of substitute Ben Mackey, who had replaced the unfortunate Ogleby after he had pulled up chasing for the ball down the left just prior to the opening goal. Mackey controlled the ball well but was disappointed that he didn’t make the goalkeeper work harder for the save.

Smith sliced a rare chance high and wide for the visitors while Mackey was denied again, a defender deflecting his shot behind for a corner as the first half drew to a frustrating conclusion.

Mackey’s cross from the left wing saw Jack Edwards’ header pushed over the bar by Street early in the second half, the same player heading wide from the resulting corner. Smith had a decent opportunity to double the Kings Lynn advantage when the ball was worked in to him from the right, but hit his shot first time straight at Tony Breeden. He was left to rue not making more of the chance when Leamington levelled things up shortly afterwards, Connor Gudger winning the ball back in midfield and trying to find Baker Richardson, only for Michael Clunan to divert the ball forward, Edwards just beating a defender to it to push a pass into the path of Mackey, who turned home his twentieth goal of the season. The visiting players rushed to the assistant referee on the far side in protest at something which wasn’t clear, but the goal had already been signalled.

Austin was starting to have more of an influence in midfield, and cut in well from the left to set up Baker Richardson for a shot that failed to trouble Alex Street. The Burton Albion man then shot agonisingly past the far post after a neat exchange of passes with Moore on the right.

Mackey then played in Baker Richardson, now sporting a fetching head bandage, and the striker forced a save from Street at his near post, before a late header from the visitors dropped onto the roof of the Leamington net.

Brakes now go into Tuesday’s derby knowing that a win will move them back into the play off places.

Attendance: 541

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Richard Taundry, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore (15 James Fry, 84), Jack Edwards, Rob Ogleby (12 Ben Mackey, 24), Courtney Baker Richardson (17 Ross Oulton, 89), Sam Austin.

Subs not used:14 Jamie Tank, 16 Ben George.

Kings Lynn Town: Alex Street, Ryan Fryatt, Jordan Yong, Kern Miller, Matt Castellan, Lee Smith, Michael Clunan (17 David Bridges 80), Liam Hurst (12 Toby Hilliard, 67), Jacek Zielonka (14 Sam Mulready, 71), Lee Stevenson, Sam Gaughran ©.

Subs not used: 15 Jack Friend, 16 Dylan Edge,.

Referee: Mr Andrew Newbold

Assistant Referees: Mr Ben Wyatt & Mr Lewis Smith

Brakes Man of the Match: Joe Magunda.

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Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Tuesday 23rd February 2016

Brakes racked up their third win on the bounce on Tuesday night, with Jack Edwards’ 75th-minute strike moving them within striking distance of King’s Lynn in the final play-off place, writes Paul Okey.

There was an element of fortune about the goal, with the midfielder’s 25-yard effort taking a wicked deflection off a defender to deceive keeper Jamie Head. However, the home side will feel they deserved their slice of luck after a performance brimming with intent. Jamie Hood was missing due to illness while Rob Ogleby shared the attacking duties with Courtney Baker-Richardson, with Ben Mackey dropping to the bench.

Two successive away wins had reignited Leamington’s play-off push and they were almost gifted a first-minute opener when Rob Ogleby took advantage of two defenders dallying in the box to nip in and set up Edwards for a sidefoot effort which was blocked.

In an open start to the game, Connor Calcutt struck an ambitious effort from wide on the right which was comfortable for Tony Breeden before Dunstable thought they had opened the scoring. Danny Talbot’s corner was not dealt with by the home defence and a couple of touches took the ball towards the goalline. James Mace eventually got in the way of the ball and managed to dribble it away from danger, but the away players and handful of fans behind the goal were adamant the ball had already crossed the line.

Fresh from their let-off, Brakes quickly switched play to the other end and Ogleby’s cross from the right picked out Baker-Richardson whose sidefoot effort was cleared by a defender, with Head scrambling.

Sam Austin showed good feet on the edge of the box to get in a shot which Head could only parry back into the danger area, but there was no Brakes player there to capitalise.
Ogleby was on hand to pick up the pieces after another parry from Head, but the assistant referee’s flag was already up.

Slack defending from the hosts allowed the ball to find Steve Wales on the edge of the home box, but his tame effort was more back-pass than shot. Austin then demonstrated his willingness to get a shot away, flashing an awkward half-volley into the Harbury Lane End.

Dunstable midfielder Adam Watkin’s excellent jinking run took him into the Leamington box and past a sea of trailing legs but his subsequent shot was blocked to leave the sides deadlocked at the break.

But despite the lack of goals from the hosts, the performance had already been several notches up from recent home displays and this pattern was to continue after the break as Leamington took a stranglehold on the game.

Lee Moore became more influential as he began to find pockets of space and he linked up well with Richard Taundry to work his way to the byeline. His measured ball into the box reached Joe Magunda but he was crowded out as he looked to get a shot away. Taundry then showed an excellent touch to bring down Breeden’s pass before sliding in Ogleby whose shot was gratefully pounced on by Head.

Heads were in hands just short of the hour-mark when Ogleby squared the ball for an unmarked Moore four yards out. But with everyone in the ground expecting the net to ripple, Moore toepoked the ball past the near post before making much better contact with the advertising hoardings.

Moore then lashed a shot past the angle after Jamie Tank’s hooked effort had caused consternation in the visitors’ defence. Brakes were going more direct in the closing stages and from Breeden’s punt forward, substitute Mackey outmuscled Adam Pepara before firing into the legs of Head.

Little had been seen of Dunstable as an attacking force in the second period and they had to wait until the 74th minute for their first effort on goal, with Watkin’s 25-yard strike comfortably dealt with by Breeden.

Just a minute later, Brakes were ahead. Edwards took aim from 25 yards, with his drilled effort ricocheting off a defender to leave Head wrongfooted before nestling in the corner of the net.

After being penned back for the majority of the half, Dunstable belatedly roused themselves as they looked to find a way back. A Howard Hall cross rattled the bar, with Breeden seemingly expecting the ball to go out for a goal kick, with Steve Gregory picking up the loose ball and firing straight at the Brakes skipper.

Austin was nearly the beneficiary of a second fortunate deflection with a shot from the edge of the box, but Head got down well to parry.

There was one final anxious moment for Brakes in injury time when James Mace was robbed by Watkin who cut inside and unleashed a wicked shot. However, Tank was well positioned to get his head in the way of the ball and keep the Brakes bandwagon rolling. Roll on King’s Lynn.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, Richard Taundry, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Tank, James Mace, Lee Moore (16 Ross Oulton, 80), Jack Edwards, Rob Ogleby (12 Ben Mackey, 66), Courtney Baker-Richardson (15 James Fry, 86), Sam Austin.

Subs not used: 14 Ben George, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox.

Dunstable Town: Jamie Head, Zack Reynolds, Howard Hall, Danny Talbot (Lee Roache, ), James Kaloczi (c),Adam Pepera, Adam Watkins, Steve Wales (16 David Keenleyside, 68), Connor Calcutt, (14 Chris Vardy), Steve Gregory, Gary Wharton.

Sub not used: 15 David Longe-King.

Referee: Mr Andy Hendley

Assistant Referees: Mr Kevin Carroll & Mr Daniel Pattison

Brakes Man of the Match: Sam Austin

Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Holloways Park, Beaconsfield
Saturday 20th February 2016

Brakes secured their second away win of the week as they overcame Slough Town in difficult conditions at Holloways Park.

With the hosts just behind Brakes in the table both sides were unchanged from midweek away wins as they looked to push towards the top five. With several other fixtures falling foul of the less than glorious weather conditions despite the rise in temperature, this was an opportunity for Leamington to claw back some ground on those above them in the table. The rain had been falling steadily in Beaconsfield for some time prior to kick off but there never appeared to be any danger of a postponement.

Lee Barney sent the first shot of the game safely into the arms of Tony Breeden from the edge of the penalty area, while Lewis Putman curled a free kick around the Leamington defensive wall but wide. Courtney Baker Richardson was first to threaten for Brakes, turning past marker Sean Fraser to drive just past the post.

Leamington found themselves in front on 14 minutes when Rebels defender Paul Stonehouse turned the ball into his own net under no pressure as Ben Mackey drove a low cross into the 6 yard box. The defender will not have great memories of facing Leamington, having been sent off in a heavy defeat for his former club Oxford City last season.

Slough threatened from a long throw into the box but Breeden was alert and dived to smother the ball from Barney’s shot. The striker almost got in on the right, but slipped at the crucial moment and the ball rolled out of play.

Mackey came close when he drove a good effort just over the bar from distance, while Lee Moore saw a shot blocked twice after a good cross from Connor Gudger. Leamington were doing the majority of the pressing, Austin breaking into the box but narrowly failing to find Baker Richardson with a lofted pass.

Barney was still the main threat for Slough, and he saw a first time shot held by Breeden. Moore then got in behind Stonehouse at the other end, forcing a save from keeper Mark Scott, who palmed Leamington’s first corner of the game away from his goal at the first half drew to a close.

Slough came into the game more as the second half commenced, and were level just past the hour mark, Ed Smith capitalising as Jamie Hood stretched to make a clearance, driving into the box and picking out Warren Harris who connected with a firm close range header.

The home side were almost in front moments later, Taundry clearing an acrobatic effort off the line from Guy Hollis following a corner.

The pitch was becoming sticky due to the incessant rain, and Mace had an earlier effort that seemed to stick in the mud before heading straight at Scott from a free kick. Austin then tested the goalkeeper from distance, Scott needing to claim the ball at the second attempt.

The rain eventually stopped but the mud aided Leamington as they regained their advantage with 10 minutes to go, Rob Ogleby scoring within minutes of replacing Mackey as he chased down a back pass from Stonehouse towards Scott, winning the race to nick the ball past the keeper and tap into an empty net.

A swift break saw Ogleby force another save from Scott, the keeper saving with his legs at the expense of a corner. A good run from Lewis Putman past several defenders set up Scott Harris, whose shot was held by Breeden, but Leamington sealed the points in injury time when they broke upfield again, Ogleby looking head towards the corner flag but instead opting to play in Sam Austin, who rounded Scott to score his first goal for the club.

Brakes now have a huge opportunity to turn their season around in the coming weeks, with three consecutive home games to come they can push right back towards those top five places if they can pick up more wins.

Attendance: 286

Slough Town: Mark Scott, Sean Fraser, Paul Stonehouse, Guy Hollis, Dan Hicks © (14 Jake Parsons, 85), Ryan Hope, Lewis Putman, Nathan Webb, Lee Barney (16 Scott Harris, 74), Ed Smith, Warren Harris.

Subs not used: 12 Jhai Dhillon, 15 Gurkan Gokmen, 18 Leigh Rumbold.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Richard Taundry, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore (15 James Fry, 94), Jack Edwards, Ben Mackey (14 Rob Ogleby, 76), Courtney Baker Richardson (16, Ross Oulton, 85), Sam Austin.

Subs not used: 12 Ben George, 17 Jamie Tank.

Referee: Mr George Russell

Assistant Referees: Mr Abdul Kabir & Mr David Jarrett

Brakes Man of the Match: Joe Magunda.