LeamingtonFC.co.uk - 2015-2016 Match Centre

Evostik Southern League Premier Division
The Sports Ground
Saturday 23rd January 2016

Brakes returned to the scene of their Southern League title win, making the long trip to North Devon to take on Bideford. It was slightly more low key than that memorable April afternoon in 2013, but while the 4 game losing run was brought to a timely halt they may feel that they should have been making the journey home with all 3 points after seeing a glorious late chance go begging.

After a quiet opening from both sides Bideford took the lead on the quarter hour, Angus Wilson taking advantage as Tony Breeden failed to properly connect with Connor Gudger’s back pass on the edge of the box, nipping in to slot into an empty net.

Brakes had a couple of half chances prior to the goal but hauled themselves level on 36 minutes, Lee Chilton volleying in from the right inside the penalty area after Richard Taundry’s free kick was only half cleared.

Taundry then curled a free kick just over before Chilton was denied a second goal moments before half time. Neat interplay saw the winger played in behind the home defence but his shot was parried by keeper Kyle Moore, the ball only being cleared out as far as Gudger, whose cross shot was somehow cleared off the line by a defender.

Taundry and Jack Edwards both had half chances for Leamington early in the second half before Chilton’s cross saw Lee Moore head over from 12 yards.

The goalscorer was at the heart of many of the best moves from the visiting side, and drove into the box again after picking up a pass from Gudger. He found Edwards, whose close range shot was blocked, the rebound from Moore was then cleared off the line.

Bideford saw a great chance to regain the lead pass them by when Kevin Squire latched onto a high defensive clearance to go one on one with Breeden, but placed his shot straight at the Brakes skipper.

Leamington had their own chance to snatch the points with 3 minutes remaining. With Bideford failing to clear their lines from a corner, Chilton’s volley towards goal was parried into the air by Moore, and the unmarked Edwards could only crash the loose ball over the bar from close range.

Both sides showed plenty of attacking intent but the heavy pitch affected the quality of the game as a whole, which was perhaps to be expected given the recent poor weather. Neither side will be particularly happy with a point as it does little to aid their current predicaments.

Attendance: 191

Bideford: Kyle Moore, Ian Sampson, Stephen Reed, Jamie Chamberlain (16 Billy Tucker, 74), Chris McGrath, Danny Harrison (12 O’Neill Odufin, 32), Richard Groves © (15 Nick Milton, 23), Matt Hockley, Kevin Squire, Matty Andrew, Angus Wilson.

Subs not used: 14 Joe Barker, 17 Nick Barker.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda (12 Rob Ogleby, 69), Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Lee Moore (15 Ross Oulton, 75), Richard Taundry, Ben Mackey, Jack Edwards, Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 14 James Fry, 16 Will Green, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.

Referee: Mr James Durkin

Assistant Referees: Mr Gordon Kiy & Mr Alistair Francis

Brakes Man of the Match: Lee Chilton.

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Highlights

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FA Trophy 1st Round Replay
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 16th January 2016

Brakes’ weather extended FA Trophy run may now sadly be over, but the performance of the whole team warmed the hearts of the home support on a freezing afternoon at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium.

Paul Holleran’s side put their recent league troubles firmly behind them to push Conference National visitors Altrincham all the way and were desperately unfortunate to get a positive result, a sentiment echoed by the Robins’ manager Lee Sinnott after the game.

With the pitch looking in surprisingly good condition considering the amount of work that had been carried out to help make it playable, the match got off to the worst possible start for Leamington as they fell behind to a fourth minute penalty, Michael Rankine appearing to go to ground very easily as he felt contact from Jamie Hood with the two chasing a hopeful ball towards the penalty area. Worse was expected to follow as with Hood looking like the last man, the Altrincham players surrounded the referee, imploring him to brandish the red card. Only a yellow was produced, but Rankine picked himself up to put away the penalty kick.

Jack Edwards registered Leamington’s first effort of the afternoon on target, heading a free kick delivery straight at keeper Tim Deasy. Breeden was then almost caught out by a lofted effort towards goal from distance. Stranded away from his goal line the Brakes skipper had to scramble back and parry the ball before collecting. Deasy then bravely came off his line to claim a dangerous cross from Ben George ahead of the advancing Edwards.

Ben Mackey was inches from hitting the target with his first effort of the game, heading against the angle of post and bar from close range at the far post following great work by Lee Moore down the right.

James Lawrie smashed a first time drive across goal and past the post after the ball ricocheted back to him from an attempted clearance, but Leamington were growing into the game now and were looking the more threatening. Jamie Tank’s glancing header from Breeden’s floated free kick proved easy enough for Deasy, while Moore curled another dead ball strike into the hands of the Alty stopper from a good position.

Lee Chilton came close when he cut inside from the left to fire a powerful low drive towards goal that was diverted behind by a timely lunge from Altrincham skipper Gianluca Havern. Richard Taundry’s free kick from the left wing was then met by a powerful downward header from Hood which bounced inches past the upright.

Edwards headed wide of goal early in the second half before nodding a free kick into the six yard box from which Mackey launched himself into a close range diving header that was expertly kept out by Deasy, who was wrong footed but still got the block in.

Ryan Crowther saw a shot deflected behind for the visitors but Deasy was soon in action again, reacting well to parry a stinging drive from Mackey, who had been played in by a smart back heel from Edwards.

Altrincham could well have moved two goals clear when Rankine and Lawrie combined to send Simon Richman scampering in on goal, but Ben George lunged in to make a superb block just as the midfielder pulled the trigger.

Paul Holleran introduced Rob Ogleby and Ross Oulton to the action, and after Tank had fired wide at the far post following a corner, Mackey went close again when he received the ball from George on the edge of the box, turning sharply to crash in a shot that was heading for the top corner until Deasy flung himself across his goal to turn the ball over the bar.

The goalkeeper held a header from Ogleby from the resulting corner kick, but with the 90 minutes almost up Brakes finally made their pressure count, Edwards heading on Taundry’s right wing corner to present Mackey with a header just a couple of yards out that he buried past Deasy to the uncontained delight of the Harbury Lane End, who had become noisier with every attack on the Altrincham goal.

The roof would surely have come off had Mackey been able to convert the next chance that came his way. With the atmosphere still buoyant as the home supporters celebrated the equalising goal, Rob Ogleby won the ball in midfield and moved it out left to Chilton, who swept it low into the six yard box, Ogleby letting it run for Mackey, who swept it first time towards goal but agonisingly just over the bar.

Mackey forced another great save from Deasy before the final whistle sounded, but was flagged offside as he latched on to Ogleby’s header to smash another shot towards goal.

Oulton drew another fine save from Deasy early in the first half of extra time, Chilton knocking a free kick sideways on the edge of the box, the first time effort from the substitute was blocked by the goalkeeper, a defender nipping in to clear before Mackey could snap up the loose ball.

Unfortunately though the telling blow was to come from the visitors, Rankine picking up a pass forward and taking on Ben George before unleashing a rocket of a shot that flew past Breeden into the net. It was a great goal, but a body blow for Leamington which they didn’t deserve.

Inevitably Brakes began to run out of steam a little towards the end of extra time, but they continued to press forward Mackey almost getting in on goal again when he took the ball past Deasy on the left, but the keeper did enough to force him too wide and his shot was blocked.

Havern then diverted a close range effort behind for a corner after another good turn from Mackey. Deasy , who was easily his side’s best performer on the day, held a header from Joe Magunda following a free kick as Altrincham saw out the final minutes.

Paul Holleran was understandably disappointed with the result after the effort his side had put in, but challenged them use the performance as a springboard for the rest of the season. ‘It’s a tough one to take, having had so much control and so many chances, but they have taken theirs and we’ve only scored one. There are still mistakes and we’re still a little bit sloppy at times, but there are signs that we are getting back to somewhere near where we need to be. We’ve been the dominant team today, there were a lot of good performances, the only thing we didn’t do was win the game. You’ve also got to give Altrincham a bit of credit - they hung in there and when they got a chance, they took it.

‘We’ve had a good little run in this competition and put in some good performances, but we’ve got to get our heads down now and concentrate on what’s important to us, picking up some points in the league and getting back on track.’

Attendance: 332

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Ben George (12 James Fry, 116), Connor Gudger (16 Ross Oulton, 74), Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Lee Moore (15 Rob Ogleby, 74), Richard Taundry, Ben Mackey, Jack Edwards, Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 14 Will Green, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.

Altrincham: Tim Deasy, Jordan Sinnott, Adam Griffin, Jake Moult, Gianluca Havern, Scott Leather, James Lawrie, Simon Richman, Josh O'Keefe (Damian Reeves, 114), Ryan Crowther (Sam Heathcote, 72), Mark Rankine.

Subs not used: 23 Callum Williams, 18 George Bowerman, 24 Rhain Davies.

Referee: Mr Richard Martin

Assistant Referees: Mr Simon Wales & Mr David Ricketts

Brakes Man of the Match: Ben Mackey

Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Hardenhuish Park
Saturday 9th January 2015

Brakes began 2016 as they had ended 2015 - with a defeat, but were unfortunate not to snatch a late point to end their recent dismal run as they almost capped a second fightback from two goals down at a rain lashed Hardenhuish Park.

With the weather putting paid to their opening two fixtures of the New Year there had been a gap of two weeks since the reverse at Bedworth United, and as in that game, Leamington almost got off to the perfect start inside the opening couple of minutes. Ben Mackey angled a pass behind the Chippenham defence for Rob Ogleby to run on to, but his shot lacked the power to trouble Bluebirds keeper Kent Kauppinen.

Alan Griffin fired over the bar and wide, while Ogleby and Joe Halsall saw shots blocked as the game opened out.

Chippenham danger man Andy Sandell came close to opening the scoring when he struck the outside the post. Tony Breeden made a good block soon afterwards, but was powerless to prevent Sandell from opening the scoring when he got across Jamie Hood to head into the bottom corner on 36 minutes.

With half time approaching the home side appeared to have taken control as they added a second, Griffin taking advantage of a fortunate ricochet off Jamie Tank to poke the ball under the advancing Breeden.

Ogleby was off target again as he cut inside to fire across goal following good work from Mackey, but Breeden kept Brakes in touch as he prevented what could have been a killer third goal right on half time, parrying a shot from James Guthrie before gathering the ball at the second attempt.

Playing down the slope in the second half, Leamington came out with renewed vigour. Joe Magunda fired over the bar from a half clearance, and Richard Taundry tried his luck from distance, directing his shot straight at the keeper.

A Chippenham break saw Griffin fire over the bar from the edge of the box, but a double substitution by Paul Holleran helped the game swing briefly in Leamington’s favour. Lee Moore, one of those introduced, saw a shot deflected behind for a corner, from which the ball was played back in by Taundry for Jack Edwards to thump home a close range header.

Within two minutes the scores were level, the other substitute Ross Oulton darting down the right from midfield to find Ben Mackey in the centre, who swivelled to fire right footed into the bottom corner.

The turnaround was almost complete minutes later when Moore broke upfield again, finding Mackey at the far post with a great cross, but Kauppinen somehow managed to push the striker’s header onto the frame of the goal, a defender completing the clearance off the line.

Sadly after all their endeavour to get back into the game Leamington were soon behind again, Alex Ferguson pouncing to stab home from in front of goal after a scramble following a Chippenham corner.

Griffin then notched his second of the game, slamming in from another blocked shot to restore his side’s two goal cushion.

To their credit Brakes refused to throw in the towel, Jamie Tank looping in a header following a long throw in to make the closing stages more interesting. Edwards came agonisingly close to levelling things up again when his downward header from a left wing cross beat Kauppinen but struck the post.

Despite late pressure Leamington were left to contemplate a fourth straight league defeat which has seen them slip to 12th in the table. However, with just 4 points separating them from the play off places and games in hand on most of the sides above them all is not lost just yet, but with what is already a heavily congested second half to the season, with the threat of more bad weather to cause further havoc, a turnaround in fortunes needs to come sooner rather than later. The manner of the second half performance here suggests that it can be achieved.

Attendance: 395

Chippenham Town: Kent Kauppinen, Luke Ballinger, Harry Grant, Michael Pook, Greg Tindle ©, Mark Preece, Alex Ferguson, Matt Smith (17 Matt Jones, 79), Alan Griffin, Andy Sandell, James Guthrie (15 Ollie Taylor, 79).

Subs not used: 12 Omar Simpson, 14 Ryan Campbell, 16 Scott Bevan.

Leamington: Tony Breeden, James Fry, Richard Taundry, Joe Magunda (15 Lee Moore, 58), Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Rob Ogleby (16 Ross Oulton, 58), Joe Halsall (14 Ben George, 86), Ben Mackey, Jack Edwards, Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 12 Will Green, 17 Connor Gudger.

Referee: Mr Benjamin Jones

Assistant Referees: Mr Grzegorz Kornasiewicz & Mr Costandinos Christodoulou

Brakes Man of the Match: Richard Taundry

Evostik League Southern Premier Division
The Oval,
Saturday 26th December 2015

2015 hasn’t been a particularly memorable year in the history of Leamington Football Club for obvious reasons, but it drew to a close in the most miserable fashion on a damp Boxing Day afternoon in North Warwickshire.

A solitary point from four December fixtures has seen Leamington drop out of the top five for the first time this season, and their slide continued here as Bedworth took great delight in twisting the knife still further with a deserved victory. An uninspiring display followed the same pattern as the previous two Southern League fixtures, there appeared to be very little spark and drive throughout the side and Greenbacks keeper Denham Hinds was only truly tested once over the course of the 90 minutes.

Things could have been very different had Lee Chilton’s low left footer across goal found the back of the net inside the opening minute or so, but the ball skidded wide of the far post.

Both sides saw half chances come and go before the home side moved ahead with a well crafted but simple goal just before the half hour. Former Brakes striker Aron Wint was allowed far too much time and space to advance down the left wing, and his low ball into the box was easily picked up by Justin Marsden, who was also briefly a Leamington player himself. The striker found it far too easy to fire high past Tony Breeden into the net before a challenge was made on him.

Some strong running from Lee Moore early in the second half saw him wind his way into the penalty area only to see his shot blocked. Bedworth were close to extending their lead through headed efforts from Daniel Creaney and another ex-Brake in Kyle Cartwright, who clattered the frame of the goal.

Joe Halsall brought the best out of Hinds as he dived to his left to keep out a powerful header from Richard Taundry’s right wing corner. Jamie Hood headed over from the second delivery, while Taundry’s shot was deflected behind as Leamington attempted to build up some momentum, but the game was effectively over when Jordan Archer pounced to net from close range following a ball in from the left.

The substitute could have bagged himself a glorious hat trick, but missed two late chances to make the scoreline even more emphatic, rounding Breeden on the right edge of the area but firing across goal and inches wide before coming close again from a similar position.

While the play off positions are still firmly within reach for now Brakes sit 16 points behind leaders Poole Town as 2016 approaches, and need to get back on track very quickly if they are realise their promotion ambitions this season. Looming on the horizon is a South Warwickshire derby against Stratford Town at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium, a side enjoying their first ever season at this level, with a spattering of former Leamington players who, along with their team mates, will be doing their utmost to ensure that the start to the new year is as miserable as the end of the last one.

Attendance: 347

Bedworth United: Denham Hinds, Jamie Ashmore, Luke Rowe, Andy Westwood, Kyle Cartwright ©, Richard Bryan, Daniel Creaney, Elliot Parrott, Justin Marsden, Aron Wint (12 Jordan Archer, 75), Craig Kelly (16 Daniel Dubidat 72).

Subs not used: 14 Marlon Walters, 15 Lewis Chester.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Ben George (16 Nat Kelly, 86), James Fry, Joe Halsall, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Ross Oulton (15 Will Green, 63), Richard Taundry (12 Joe Magunda, 86), Rob Ogleby, Lee Chilton, Lee Moore.

Subs not used: 14 Jamie Tank, 17 Ben Mackey.

Referee: Mr Marvyn Amphlett

Assistant Referees: Matthew Perry & Michele Gallo

Brakes Man of the Match: Lee Moore