LeamingtonFC.co.uk - 2015-2016 Match Centre

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FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 28th November 2015

Brakes produced one of their best performances of the season so far as they stormed back from a goal down to upset Conference North Hednesford and earn a place in the 1st Round of the FA Trophy.

Without a number of regulars due to injury and ineligibility, Paul Holleran drafted in defender Nathaniel Kelly on a short term loan deal from Solihull Moors, and the former Birmingham City youngster put in an impressive performance alongside his new team mates as they stunned their visitors.

Bernard McNally’s side started brightly and there was a let off for Brakes when Paul Ennis’ free kick threaded through a crowded penalty area to strike the post. Ahmed Obeng fired the loose ball towards goal but was denied by a fine block from Jamie Tank.

Richard Taundry was restored to his more familiar midfield position and he found Lee Moore out on the left with his usual pinpoint accuracy, his team mate controlling the ball smartly before driving it in towards the near post where Dan Crane saved.

The visitors went ahead in the 14th minute when a long throw led to a low cross being driven into the box, where it was slotted home by Andy Todd, Tony Breeden getting a strong hand to the ball but only helping it on its way into the net.

To their credit Leamington did not let their heads drop and were straight back on the offensive in true cup tie style, Ben Mackey’s shot being well blocked by Tyrone Williams. They were level within 8 minutes however when a well placed free kick from Breeden was helped across to the unmarked Mackey on the left hand side of the penalty area by Jack Edwards. The striker’s looping header beat the dive of Crane and Rob Ogleby steamed in at the far post to crash the ball over the line.

The pressure on the visitors’ goal continued, Moore dragging a well struck shot into the side netting, while Edwards won the ball twice in midfield and slid a pass through to put Ogleby clear down the right, but he gave Crane the chance to narrow the angles and the Pitmen keeper saved.

Tank saw a header diverted behind by Matt Regan, while Moore did superbly to keep the ball in play as a defender attempted to shepherd it out of play, firing in a great cross which Edwards did superbly to connect with but could only head wide on the stretch.

Kelly’s powerful throw in’s were proving a useful asset for Leamington, and Tyrone Williams inadvertently helped one on into his own penalty area, with Mackey’s turn and shot being blocked. Edwards then produced a smart piece of skill, pirouetting to beat his man in midfield before charging clear down the right and firing the ball into the centre, where Mackey nodded down for Ogleby to fire a great chance inches over the bar.

This was turning into a proper cup tie and some great stuff was being played, despite the howling wind and rain. Hednesford were inches from going into half time ahead however when Ennis curled a free kick a whisker over the bar with the final kick of the first 45 minutes.

Leamington made a strong start to the second half, Moore and Mackey both having shots blocked inside the box, while Moore’s cross was sliced into the air as Hednesford desperately tried to clear their lines.

The visitors made two swift substitutions but found themselves behind on 58 minutes thanks to a goal that had echoes of that stunning Stefan Moore strike against the same opposition a couple of years back, Richard Taundry latching onto a short defensive clearance just outside the box to spank a low measured volley back past Crane into the bottom corner of the net.

There was a real sense around the ground that Brakes could cause an upset now, and that only intensified with 20 minutes to play when Ben Mackey capitalised on Crane spilling the ball from a free kick to stab home a third for Holleran’s side.

The euphoria was tempered slightly within a minute or so however as Hednesford skipper Ben Bailey crashed in a powerful header off the underside of the bar from a corner to bring his side back to within a goal of parity.

Back came Leamington, Crane getting down to divert Ogleby’s low drive into the near post behind for a corner, from which Jamie Hood, taking a brief break from his usual near flawless defensive duties, hooked over the bar.

Within four minutes of his goal Bailey turned from hero to villain for his side as he needlessly shoved Mackey in the back just inside the box on the left, with the striker not heading towards goal. The Referee was in no doubt and pointed to the spot, Mackey stepping up to leather the ball into the space created by Crane’s dive in the centre of goal.

The visitors had to come forward now to try and drag themselves back into the tie again, and almost did so when Hood cleared Obeng’s shot off the line. The same player was then fouled in a dangerous position 25 yards from goal, Breeden getting down well to save the well struck free kick.

Matt Regan provided final scare when he headed onto the roof the net, but with Breeden confidently claiming anything else that was played into his goalmouth Leamington were able to celebrate a fully deserved victory over higher ranked opposition which sees them into the draw for the first round proper, where the clubs from the Conference National division join the competition.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, James Fry, Nat Kelly, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Rob Ogleby, Richard Taundry, Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 89), Jack Edwards, Lee Moore.

Subs not used: 14 Ben George, 15 Lee Chilton, 16 Ryan Baldwin, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.

Hednesford Town: Dan Crane, Tyrone Williams, Tom James, Ben Bailey ©, Matt Regan, Jack Dyer (16 Phil Trainer, 53), Sean Williams, Adam Thomas (12 Kyle Perry, 55), Ahmed Obeng, Paul Ennis, Andy Todd.

Subs not used: 14 Danico Johnson, 15 John Disney, 17 Kennedy Digie.

Referee: Mr Joe Hull

Assistant Referees: Mr Ian Hurdle & Mr Karl Buckley

Brakes Man of the Match: Ben Mackey

FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round Replay
Dales Lane, Rushall
Tuesday 24th November 2015

Brakes emerged victorious after a gruelling 120 minutes of football at Dales Lane which saw Rushall drag themselves level twice before substitute Ben Mackey’s extra time winner.

The gale force winds that forced the postponement of the original replay 7 days earlier were thankfully absent, but with rain lashing down at regular intervals conditions were still testing for both sides.

Joe Magunda fired well over the bar early on for Leamington, while Rob Ogleby’s neat turn and shot came somewhat closer, just clearing the bar. Former Brakes loanee Jake Heath then went close for the hosts with a powerful low drive that was deflected just wide of the upright.

Alex Reid looked to have engineered a real opportunity to open the scoring as he managed to get past Tony Breeden on the right side of the penalty area, but snatched at his shot a little and the ball rippled the side netting.

Lee Chilton then fired a volley straight at Pics keeper Dean Coleman, while Reid stepped inside the challenge of Magunda on the edge of the box but saw his shot deflect through into the hands of Breeden. Ross Oulton then fired over the bar from Lee Moore’s cut back on the left. Although the first half ended goalless both teams had displayed flashes of enterprising play.

However, within two minutes of the second half getting underway Leamington were ahead, courtesy of an unlikely source. Oulton’s right wing corner was flicked on by Moore into the path of Jamie Hood, who displayed a striker’s instinct to steer a first time drive into the net, leaving Coleman helpless.

The game began to open up now and became more entertaining. Jack Duggan set up Luke Benbow for a shot that was blocked on the edge of the area, but the ball was spread left and played into the box, where Reid connected first time with a shot that screwed high and wide of goal.

Ogleby fired wide for Leamington and Benbow’s effort at the other end was steered behind before the hosts were handed a route back into the game from the penalty spot. There were a few moments of confusion as the Rushall players argued their case for a penalty after Reid’s run into the box had been halted, but with the assistant on the far side having flagged it appeared an offside decision had been given. However, after a brief conversation the Referee awarded the spot kick, but Reid dragged it wide.

Rushall skipper Gavin Caines flicked a left wing free kick dangerously across goal, and Reid almost lifted the ball past Breeden but was denied as the Brakes skipper smothered the ball before clearing.

The midfield man atoned for his penalty miss with 16 minutes to play when his thumping header levelled the scores from Heath’s pinpoint left wing cross.

Jack Edwards almost put Leamington back in front immediately, his header from Moore’s right wing cross grazing the top of the bar. Along with Magunda, Edwards came in for some rough treatment during the course of the game, but it was his marauding run towards goal that set up the chance for Moore to put Paul Holleran’s men back in front with 9 minutes remaining, as he was brought down 20 yards out, and Moore stepped to curl an inch perfect free kick into the top corner.

Just when it looked like Brakes might see out time for the win, Rushall stormed back to level for a second time, substitute Nick Wright left unmarked to head another left wing cross past Breeden with four minutes to go.

Kris Taylor was allowed too much time and space to drive just over the bar from distance, while Carl Palmer set up Heath for another long range drive that was saved by Breeden.

Holleran introduced Ben Mackey and James Husband, who was making his 300th appearance for the club, before extra time began, and it was from the latter’s right wing corner that Edwards saw his header deflected behind early on.

Wright latched onto a flick on to fire a low volley straight at Breeden, while Hood was forced to head away from the goal line as Rushall continued where they had left off in normal time, but they were rocked back on their heels again when Mackey struck Leamington’s third goal two minutes before the end of the first period of extra time, steering in Ogleby’s well taken free kick from close range.

Perhaps unsurprisingly with the amount of effort put in by both sides throughout, the final 15 minutes saw few opportunities for either side. Mackey drove wide after latching onto a ball down the right, but Rushall were frustrated in their attempts to drag themselves level again.

The joy of the travelling support at the final whistle quickly turned to anger as a young Leamington supporter was left with a split lip courtesy of one of an unruly group of home ‘supporters’ who had spent the majority of the last 75 minutes of the game attempting to antagonise Brakes fans who were only interested in getting behind their team. Despite the unnecessary and unavoidable events it did not take the gloss off what was a superb result for Leamington, who now host old rivals Hednesford Town in the next round on Saturday.

Attendance: 181

Rushall Olympic: Dean Coleman, Aris Christophorou, Daniel Wilkinson (14 Nick Wright, 64), Zak Martin, Jack Duggan, Gavin Caines © , Jake Heath, Carl Palmer (12 Michael Townsend, 109), Luke Benbow (16 Colin Smith, 106), Kris Taylor, Alex Reid.

Subs not used: 15 Kyle Delaney, 17 Ricardo Dudley.

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , James Fry, Richard Taundry, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Ross Oulton (12 Ben Mackey, 88), Jack Edwards, Rob Ogleby, Lee Chilton, Lee Moore (15 James Husband, 90).

Subs not used: 14 Will Green, 16 Reece Mitchell, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox.

Referee: Mr I Dudley

Assistant Referees: Mr J Abaka-Jacobs & Mr B Watkiss

Brakes Man of the Match: Joe Magunda

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Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 21st November 2015

Brakes recorded their seventh home win of the season with a narrow victory against Histon that probably should have been a little more comfortable than it turned out to be.

A goal in each half was enough to seal the points, but the plucky visitors struck back immediately after the second with a well taken strike from Luke Trotman.

Lee Chilton lifted the ball over goalkeeper Brendan Brown early on but Ben Mackey was unable to steer it home at the far post. Rob Ogleby then exchanged passes with Chilton on the left but couldn’t keep his shot down and the ball flew over the bar.

Leamington opened the scoring on 20 minutes, James Fry’s throw in to Mackey on the left saw the striker beat his marker by pulling the ball back from the touchline for Chilton to side foot home from close range.

The home support were irritated by many confusing decisions from the officials during the half, not least the non award of a penalty when Ogleby went down sandwiched between two defenders as he charged into the penalty area. Tony Breeden, Joe Magunda and Ross Oulton were all booked, and while Breeden’s challenge may have drawn a red card on another day, the cards handed out to Magunda and Oulton were somewhat harsh, and increase the likelihood of forthcoming suspensions.

Mackey drove an early second half effort over the bar before Breeden made his first save of the game from a well struck free kick by Ryan Auger. Jamie Tank fired over the bar for Brakes before the second goal arrived on 70 minutes, Chilton slinging another dangerous delivery into the six yard box which was toe poked into his own net by Evan Key, but awarded to Ben Mackey, who was lurking behind the defender and would have scored anyway were it not for his intervention.

The Stutes were right back in the game within 60 seconds however, the ball quickly being played out to the right into the path of Trotman, who had looked to be the dangerman all afternoon for Steve Fallon’s side, and he cut into the area before driving a shot beyond Breeden into the far corner.

Leamington had chances to re-establish their two goal cushion before the end of the game. James Mace saw his far post header from Ross Oulton’s right wing free kick smuggled behind by a combination of Brown and one of his defenders.

A shot cleared the crossbar and the clubhouse behind the Harbury Lane End goal for the visitors, while Trotman’s cheeky attempt to win a penalty was met with derision from the home support.

Chilton had two late attempts to add to his goal tally, leaning back slightly as he drove a first time effort just over, and then striking the inside of the post after a jinking run into the box in the last action of the game.

Brakes can now turn their attention to their FA Trophy replay at Rushall on Tuesday, which will determine whether they have a game on Saturday or not.

Attendance: 312

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , James Mace, James Fry, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Ross Oulton, Joe Halsall, Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 89), Rob Ogleby (14 Richard Taundry, 86), Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 15 Lee Moore, 16 Martyn Naylor, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.

Histon: Brendan Brown, Luke Trotman, Miles Smith, Evan Key, Jack Utteridge, Rogan McGeorge © (12 Lewis Clayton, 21), Nick Freeman, Ryan Auger, Josh Oyinsan, Sam Ives, Joe Carden (15 Harry Norman, 65).

Subs not used: 14 Dovydas Kairys.

Referee: Mr Chris Husband

Assistant Referees: Mr Paul Tyler & Mr James Whittington.

Brakes Man of the Match: Lee Chilton

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FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 14th November 2015

A replay was probably the last thing both clubs wanted after a busy last month or so of fixtures, but that is what they got after cancelling each other out on a damp, miserable afternoon at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium.

There were very few serious chances of note for either side and the second half in particular proved to be very disappointing fare. You sensed that one moment of quality could win the tie for either side but the ball seemed to spend more time out of play due to misplaced passes, with neither side able to build up any kind of rhythm.

Rushall opened brightly, Alex Reid cutting in from the right was stopped in his tracks by a strong block from Joe Magunda as he attempted to shoot, while James Mace was in the right place to prevent Danny Wilkinson from getting a header on goal at the far post.

Lee Chilton registered the first effort on target when a smart turn saw him crash a shot off the underside of the bar from the edge of the box following a strong run by Jack Edwards to set up the attack.

The visitors were then a whisker away from a goal of their own when Reid was inches from connecting with Jack Duggan's header back across goal, the ball dropping just past the post.

The game was disrupted throughout with soft free kicks awarded to both sides, one of which saw Ross Oulton cautioned.

Kris Taylor stung the palms of Brakes skipper Tony Breeden when his blocked free kick ran loose to him outside the box, thrashing a powerful drive towards goal that was beaten away.

Oulton's run up the right then saw him centre for Jack Edwards to graze the outside of the post with a deft header.

Luke Benbow curled a low drive just past the post early in the second half, and Reid came close when he glanced Sam Humphreys' left wing cross just past the upright.

Ben Mackey was denied what looked a blatant penalty award when he was clearly pulled back by the shoulder as he prepared to control a ball into the box, while the visitors were convinced they had scored after striking the bar with a header from the corner, the ensuing scramble on the line ending with Breeden claiming the ball.

Brakes were reduced to ten men in the closing stages when Oulton was shown a second yellow card after being felled inside the box. It was plainly given for what the Referee believed was simulation in an attempt to win a penalty, but the award of both cards was harsh, which enraged the home support.

Despite their man advantage for the remaining minutes the visitors never threatened Breeden's goal, looking content to take the tie back to Dales Lane on Tuesday. Chilton curled Leamington's last chance over the bar from a free kick but by that time most of the crowd of 296 had began to disperse, disappointed with what they had witnessed.

Paul Holleran's squad was stretched to the limit again in fairness, the manager forced to play some of his starting XI out of their usual positions against Rushall. The team missed the craft and guile of Richard Taundry, even from the defensive position he has been forced to play in over the last few games, and the manager will hope to have him available for the replay on Tuesday evening.

Attendance: 296

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , James Fry, James Mace, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Jamie Tank, Rob Ogleby (14 Lee Moore, 70), Ross Oulton, Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 79) Jack Edwards, Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 15 Reece Mitchell, 16 Martyn Naylor, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.

Rushall Olympic: Dean Coleman: Aris Christophorou, Danny Wilkinson, Mitchell Tolley, Jack Duggan, Gavin Caines, Alex Reid, Carl Palmer, Luke Benbow, Kris Taylor, Sam Humphreys (16 Zak Martin, 82).

Subs not used: 12 Michael Townsend, 14 Nick Wright, 15 Jake Heath, 17 Ryan Edmunds.

Referee: Mr Nicholas Hopton

Assistant Referees: Mr Phillip Carey & Mr Gary Lord

Brakes Man of the Match: Jamie Tank