2015-2016 Match Centre

Report

Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Saturday 7th November 2015

Brakes ground out a hard earned victory to get back on track after two successive home defeats at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium. Visitors Cirencester were a tough nut to crack but a first half debut goal for Joe Halsall and an injury time strike from Lee Chilton sealed the deal.

Leamington by no means had things all their own way, with the visitors enjoying the bulk of the first half possession but failing to test Tony Breeden at all. Jamie Hood was required to head an early effort at goal off the line, his skipper punching away the resulting corner kick.

Chilton was inches from connecting with Richard Taundry's inswinging free kick from the right after James Fry was fouled, while Ellis Dunton drove a shot just over the Leamington bar. The opening half hour or so was a scrappy affair, with both sides struggling to get the ball out of midfield and build any forward movement.

James Mace almost bought the game to life as he hooked in an acrobatic volley from a corner but Ciren keeper Glyn Garner was equal to it, diving to his left to produce a fine save. He, like his defensive team mates, was left flat footed on 38 minutes however, as Lee Moore fed Taundry down the left to float a pinpoint ball across into the box for Halsall to control and stab in a shot that rolled into the net to give Brakes the lead.

Moore found space again down the left, finding the advancing Ben Mackey in the centre with a good ball which just got away from the striker as he tried to steady himself. Mackey then thudded a shot against the base of the post as Leamington almost doubled their advantage before half time, Ross Oulton's follow up being deflected behind for a corner.

The fine margins in this game were many, with passes being played just too hard or too short, Moore almost supplying Mackey again from the left after robbing a defender. Jack Edwards showed his commitment to the team by playing despite being unwell, and saw a header from Taundry's corner saved by Garner.

Cirencester's search for a leveller became more intense as the clock ticked down, a good touch from the busy Ross Langworthy making space for a 30 drive that bounced just past the post, while veteran striker Charlie Griffin rippled the side netting with a well struck free kick before driving in a low right wing cross that substitute Connor Thompson stabbed just over the bar, the close attentions of Mace helping to skew his aim.

Breeden held a looping header from Griffin under his crossbar after Langworthy had whipped the ball into the far post from midfield as Cirencester continued to press for a goal, but they were undone in injury time as Will Green picked up a clearance on half way before sending fellow substitute Rob Ogleby scampering clear up the right. With two defenders chasing back, he pushed the ball into the centre for the advancing Chilton to run on and slot past Garner to seal three points that edge Leamington to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of Redditch United for now.

Attendance: 405

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, James Fry, Richard Taundry, Joe Halsall, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Ross Outon, Jack Edwards, Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 80), Lee Chilton, Lee Moore (15 Rob Ogleby, 84).

Subs not used: 14 Jamie Tank, 16 Reece Mitchell, 17 Martyn Naylor.

Cirencester Town: Glyn Garner, Shane Anson, Ellis Dunton, Mark Pritchett, Brad Hooper, Leigh Henry © , Matt Liddiard (12 Zak Kotwica, 79), Adam Connolly (14 Connor Thompson, 58), Charlie Griffin, Ollie Knight (15 Aiden Bennett 74), Ross Langworthy.

Referee: Mr Andy Hendley

Assistant Referees: Mr Robert Hathaway & Mr Adam Clenaghan

Brakes Man of the Match: James Mace.

Report

Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Tuesday 3rd November 2015

Just days after smashing six, familiar failings came back to haunt Leamington as they crashed to their second consecutive home defeat in the league when Cambridge City punished them with an injury time winner.

The similarities from recent clashes at Paulton and against Redditch the previous Tuesday were stark. It was a game that Brakes had enough chances to have won, particularly in the second half although the game was a more even contest than it had been in the first, when the visitors snatched the lead completely against the run of play.

With Connor Gudger and Ben George both missing, Holleran was unfortunately forced to slot Richard Taundry in at left back again. In previous games his presence had been sorely missed in midfield but in the first half particularly the former Walsall man was heavily involved as Brakes largely dictated proceedings.

Tony Breeden cut out an early attack from the visitors, chesting the ball past Michael Malcolm before firing the ball into midfield, Jack Edwards capitalising on City skipper Buster Harradine's slip by powering forward and forcing Zac Barrett into his first save with a low drive.

Miserable weather and Champions League football no doubt persuaded a few to stay indoors, leading to a disappointing crowd of 251, but those who braved the rain saw much to warm them in the first half. Taundry curled a shot over the bar after a mazy dribble between defenders, before Harradine fired a free kick well wide at the other end.

Cambridge then stunned their hosts by taking the lead with their first real chance on goal just before the half hour mark. A neat move down the right led to a low cross that should have been cut out, but found it's way through to Jon Kaye at the far post, who rifled a first time drive into the roof of the net.

Gary Roberts' side were clearly buoyed by the goal and had Leamington rattled for a short spell. Ross Oulton, who had seen what looked to be a legitimate claim for a penalty waved away when he was clearly shoved over inside the penalty area, had to make a timely intervention to prevent Malcolm from getting a shot at goal, while Dan Gleeson headed just wide from the resulting corner.

Oulton was involved in much of Leamington's good work going forward, and helped to play Rob Ogleby in on the right to clip the equaliser past Barrett on 39 minutes.

Barrett was forced to push away a corner whipped in towards the near post by Oulton before half time, and as the rain eased off slightly in the second half the game became more of an even affair with the visitors becoming more confident as time wore on.

Ben Mackey had an excellent chance to head Leamington in front when he was left unmarked at as Taundry found him at the far post with a free kick, but appeared to get his positioning slightly wrong and the ball sailed out of play without a touch.

A couple of timely interventions were required to halt dangerous looking Cambridge attacks, but the visitors then handed Mackey another chance to score as he latched onto a loose pass from a defender to round keeper Barrett, but couldn't quite direct the ball across goal into the net.

Harradine set his sights again with another free kick for Cambridge, this time firing just wide before sending another into the hands of Breeden. In between times Oulton was convinced he had another shot for a penalty as his run into the box was brought to an abrupt halt. The midfielder then fired well over the bar from Mackey's lay off on the edge of the box.

Jamie Hood pushed upfield late on, tearing onto a pass down the right wing, and stayed up to head on a clearance from Breeden to Mackey inside the box, whose first time shot was superbly smothered and held by Barrett.

Cambridge looked the more likely scorers in the closing stages, and with the game entering injury time the visitors struck a devastating blow as they picked up a corner kick that was played to the edge of their box by Oulton, Josh Dawkin beginning the counter attack and carrying the ball over half the length of the pitch before finding substitute Alex Serrano, who set up Michael Malcolm to fire in the winner to the delight of his team mates and the visiting bench.

Will Green fired a well worked effort just wide in the time that remained, but Brakes were left to rue another 3 points that got away, and will now look to get themselves back on track against Cirencester Town on Saturday, when Paul Holleran will hope to have bought in reinforcements to bolster his squad.

Attendance: 251

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , James Fry, Richard Taundry, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Rob Ogleby (12 Will Green, 82), Ross Oulton, Ben Mackey, Jack Edwards, Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 14 Jamie Tank, 15 Reece Mitchell, 16 Adrian Boitos, GK Eddie Caviezel-Cox.

Cambridge City: Zac Barrett, Tom Pepper, Charlie Day, Adam Murray, Dan Gleeson (12 Alex Serrano, 72), Buster Harradine © , Ieuan Lewis, Jon Kaye, Michael Malcolm, Danny Kelly, Josh Dawkin.

Subs not used: 14 Josh Maltby, 15 James Carman, 16 Neil Midgley.

Referee: Mr Chris Smith.

Assistant Referees: Mr Thomas Jones & Mr Ben Morris.

Brakes Man of the Match: Ross Oulton. 

Report

FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 31st October 2015

Brakes cruised into the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy with an accomplished display against Barwell at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium.

Paul Holleran had lamented that his side had not been clinical enough in their previous two league games against Paulton Rovers and Redditch United, but was delighted with the response as they rediscovered their goalscoring touch in spectacular fashion.

The visitors may well have had their minds on a forthcoming FA Cup 1st Round tie against Welling United next weekend, but this should not detract from Leamington's own performance as they racked up their biggest win in this competition since a 6-0 hammering of Boston back in 1982.

Jack Edwards and Jamie Hood were both facing their former club for the first time, and it was evident that neither were in the mood to finish on the losing side. Edwards played Ben Mackey clear early on, the striker's second touch of the ball favouring Canaries keeper Liam Castle, who got there first to claim.

The visitors had looked the brighter side in the opening minutes as Brakes survived a possible handball as the ball was played into the penalty area, but after this the home side seized control. Edwards started and finished the move that led to the opening goal, playing a pass over Barwell right back Callum Woodward for Lee Chilton to tear onto. The livewire winger, who tormented the visiting defence all afternoon, drove into the area before firing the ball across goal, where Edwards had sprinted to the far post to drive a shot across Castle into the net.

Tony Breeden was forced into his only real save of the match shortly after this, getting down well to save a well struck shot.

Hood produced his usual polished performance at the back, getting in well to prevent what could have been a free header for the visitors at the far post before his team mates turned the screw at the other end as the half hour mark approached. Castle was only able to half punch the ball away from his goal after it was played into the box following a throw on the right, and Edwards headed it back across for Chilton to steer a shot into the empty net with the outside of his left boot.

Six minutes later and Leamington were in unchartered territory as they went three goals ahead. Ross Oulton did superbly to stay on his feet as he was challenged inside the box on the right, and it paid off as he delivered the ball into the centre, where Ben Mackey launched himself at it to head home.

The confidence was seeping through the team now, and some great combination play between Edwards and Chilton saw the latter play the ball just behind Mackey as he charged into the box. Chilton then played Mackey in on the left with a cheeky backheel, the striker drawing a good save from Castle with a powerful curving drive.

Edwards saw an early second half header held by Castle as Leamington gradually got back into their rhythm again. The fourth goal arrived on 66 minutes out of nowhere, Mackey receiving the ball with his back to goal on the right, almost on the touchline. The angle was still against him as he turned his man superbly before rifling an unstoppable effort almost through the eye of a needle into the far corner before Castle had chance to move - a fantastic goal.

Edwards was in the right place to inadvertently block a header from Barwell substitute Iyseden Christie before Barwell grabbed a goal back, Anthony Carney sweeping home Nigel Julien's right wing cross. Any hopes of a late comeback were thwarted inside the final ten minutes however as Leamington struck twice more.

Pouring forward once more, Edwards almost played Chilton clear, but substitute Will Green picked up the ball on the left inside the box and found his team mate again, Chilton firing in a  first time shot that Castle got a strong hand to, but could not prevent the goal as the ball looped into the net.

Green then got in on the action himself, rounding off the scoring when he was played in on goal, doing well to hold off a defender before sliding the ball past the beleaguered Castle.

Holleran was understandably delighted with the display, saying 'The main difference between today and the last couple of games is that we were more clinical in and around the box. Our attacking players did ever so well, especially in the first half. Chilton, Mackey, Edwards and Ross Oulton were really on the front foot.

'Barwell are a decent side. Possibly one or two of them might have had their minds on next week but that shouldn't take anything away from our boys today. It was a good performance, a good victory and we're delighted to be in the hat for the next round draw on Monday.'

Attendance: 291

Leamington: Tony Breeden, James Fry, Connor Gudger (12 Rob Ogleby, 46), Joe Magunda (15 Jamie Tank, 75), Jamie Hood, James Mace, Ross Oulton, Richard Taundry, Ben Mackey (14 Will Green, 77), Jack Edwards, Lee Chilton.

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

Barwell: Liam Castle, Callum Woodward, Eddie Nisivec (15 Liam Kay, 24), Jordan Wakeling, Declan Towers, Richard Lavery © , Alex Tomlinson (17 Brady Hickey, 53), Cameron Powell (14 Iyseden Christie, 46), Jamie Towers, Nigel Julien, Anthony Carney.

Subs not used: 12 Scott Lower, 16 Danny Gaunt.

Referee: Mr Dan Middleton

Assistant Referees: Mr Kieran Hatfield & Mr Trevor Sharratt

Brakes Man of the Match: Lee Chilton.