2015-2016 Match Centre

Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Winterfield Road
Saturday 24th October 2015

A fantastic goal from substitute Ross Oulton rescued Leamington from getting nothing out of a game that they really should have taken all three points from.

Despite the leveller coming so late in the game, which the team were left short of time to prepare for after arriving at Winterfield Road only half an hour before kick off, Paul Holleran viewed it as two points dropped rather than one gained after his team had created a large number of opportunities, particularly in the second half.

The game had apparently been in doubt due to the rain which had persisted since the early morning, and despite the officials deeming the pitch fit for play the surface was sticky and cut up badly in places, making life difficult for both teams.

Lee Chilton drove in a low shot that was saved by Paulton keeper Ben John as Leamington attempted to seize the early initiative to no avail. Ben Mackey later forced the Rovers skipper to punch away a right wing cross with Jack Edwards

waiting to take advantage, and it was the midfielder who came closest to breaking the deadlock before half time when he received a pass from Mackey just inside the box and moved past a challenge to clip in a low shot that struck the post. Unfortunately the loose ball would not sit up properly for him and his follow up effort sailed wide.

Former Truro midfielder Kyle Tooze gave notice that he was quite capable of causing problems on the left when he was afforded far too much time and space on the wing to fire in a low driven cross that was held by Tony Breeden as the two sides went in level at half time. The hosts were somewhat hamstrung by the 5 yellow cards they received during the first half, none of which were particularly bad challenges, and this would come back to haunt them later in the game.

With the weather improving slightly as the second half began, Leamington continued to search for that all important opening, and came mightily close on several occasions. Lee Moore knocked Jamie Hood's ball from just inside the Paulton half into the path of Mackey, whose first time low drive was saved, Chilton firing the loose ball wide from the edge of the box.

Moore was beginning to find space on the left and got clear of his marker to shoot low under the advancing John, only for the ball to trickle across goal and strike the inside of the post, with Mackey just unable to pick up the loose ball.

The home side then stunned their visitors by taking the lead with practically their first serious effort on goal. Leamington lost possession in their own half and the ball was played out to Tooze on the left, whose cross was then played dangerously back across the six yard box for Darren Mullings to crash into the roof of the net.

The injection of confidence this provided Paulton with was stark as they suddenly looked a completely different side going forward, and almost added a killer second when Tom Knighton turned both Hood and Joe Magunda on the edge of the box before sending a low drive towards the bottom corner that Breeden got the slightest of touches on to divert behind for a corner.

Moore was left cursing his luck again as he hit the woodwork for the second time in the half, getting in on the left again only to see his lofted shot over the keeper strike the crossbar.

Unfortunately the match officials did not do either side any favours with their decision making over the 90 minutes, and this possibly contributed to the game descending into a bit of a farce in the closing stages as tempers frayed and more unnecessary yellow cards were brandished.

The pace of the game became more frantic as Brakes searched for a goal, Taundry firing a free kick over the bar before Mackey looked to have squeezed between two defenders just inside the box only for them to recover and deflect his shot behind. The striker then headed agonisingly over the bar from Chilton's left wing cross.

Proceedings then became heated for a few minutes. Paulton were screaming for the award of a penalty, convinced that a cross had struck an arm in the box, but with no decision forthcoming Ross Oulton was then fouled as he moved the ball away from goal up in the corner which led to an unsightly melee as players from both sides needlessly got involved. Magunda and Breeden were both shown yellow cards, and many inside the ground believed that the Paulton player who was booked had already received a card in the first half, but was not sent off.

Time was against Leamington now. The game was screaming out for someone to show that little bit of composure to swing things, and it was emphatically provided by Oulton, who had been introduced along with Will Green with around 20 minutes to play. Picking up the ball midway through the Paulton half he set off on a slaloming run, evading the challenges of defenders who were walking a tightrope because of earlier cautions. This should in no way detract from the quality of the goal however, as Oulton capped his fantastic run by slotting under the advancing Ben John before wheeling off to celebrate with his relieved team mates.

Due to all the stoppages there was still ample time to find a winner, but although Paulton were deflated they dug in and held out for a point. Their caretaker manager Aaron Brown will no doubt have been very pleased with how his side performed, while Leamington boss Holleran reflected that his side should have been more clinical with the amount of chances they created in the second half, but was still pleased with how they performed in testing circumstances.

Attendance: 190

Paulton Rovers: Ben John © , Steve Williams, Jack Allward, Adrian Harris, Craig Allan, Josh Ford, Ben Bament (12 Jordan Ricketts, 87), Darren Mullings, Tom Knighton, Josh Morgan-Williams (16 Peter Trego, 85), Kyle Tooze.

Subs not used: 14 Alex Grimshaw, 15 David O'Hare,

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , Ben George, Richard Taundry, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Rob Ogleby (12 Ross Oulton, 72), Lee Chilton, Ben Mackey, Jack Edwards, Lee Moore (14 Will Green, 72).

Subs not used: 15 James Fry, 16 Jamie Tank, 17 Edward Caviezel-Cox

Referee: Mr Iain Parsons

Assistant Referees: Mr James Welsh & Mr Nigel Whitfield

Brakes Man of the Match: Ben George.

Evostik Southern League Premier Division
The Walks Stadium
Saturday 17th October 2015

Brakes turned in a performance full of grit, determination and resilience to edge past King's Lynn at The Walks Stadium.

Ben Mackey's 44th minute strike proved the difference between the two sides in an entertaining, open affair with plenty of talking points, but the hosts will be very disappointed not to have taken something from the game.

Jacek Zielonka headed a right wing cross just wide as the Linnets made a strong start to the game. The same player directed a shot straight at Tony Breeden while Lee Smith saw his header held by the Brakes skipper.

David Bridges looked to be in with a great chance to open the scoring when he skipped past Breeden on the right hand side of the penalty area but the midfielder was only able to clip the ball across goal and wide with no team mate in the vicinity.

Smith then blasted another effort over the bar but as the half wore on Leamington began to assert themselves on the game and stem the flow of chances for the hosts. Rob Ogleby, making his first start in the league for over a month after injury, forged the first clear cut opportunity for Paul Holleran's side with a purposeful run down the right wing, beating left back Jordan Yong for pace before cutting into the area and drawing a good save from Lynn keeper Alex Street with a powerful shot.

Zielonka screwed another effort badly wide for the home side, but Lee Chilton helped create another opening for the visitors when he beat Ryan Fryatt on the left before finding Mackey on the far side, the striker sidestepping his marker and forcing another good stop from Street. Liam Hurst then drew another save from Breeden as King's Lynn pushed forward again.

The only goal arrived almost on half time. James Mace saw his header from Richard Taundry's free kick deflected behind for a corner from which Jack Edwards provided the assist, nodding on for Mackey to slide the ball home from close range.

Galvanised by having gained the advantage Brakes came out for second half on the front foot, Taundry firing in a free kick from a central position 25 yards out that was saved by Street.

This never looked like a game where a single goal would win it, and Gary Setchell's side continued to ask more questions of the Leamington defence but came up against an impenetrable wall that was superbly marshalled by Breeden and Jamie Hood in particular. They also benefitted from a little good fortune that all aspiring teams seem to get, as a King's Lynn shot struck the post, the loose ball then being directed straight at Breeden.

The Leamington captain produced the save of the game from a move that should have been halted when stand in left back Taundry was clearly shoved in the back before a cross was played in that was fired first time towards goal, Breeden keeping it out with a fine reaction stop.

The game was becoming an end to end affair now, Ben George's cross evading the in-rushing Chilton by inches as it flashed across the 6 yard box. Mackey was then the victim of another very tight offside decision as he was played in on goal.

Another good run from Chilton forced a Leamington corner, from which Joe Magunda's shot was deflected just wide at the far post, but some last ditch defending was required at the other end as white shirts threw themselves into blocks to further frustrate the home side's quest for an equaliser. Magunda fluffed a great opportunity to make the closing stages more comfortable for his side when he snatched at his shot from substitute Ross Oulton's cross, the ball bobbling harmlessly behind.

Mackey latched onto a great pass forward from Chilton on the left but the angle was against him as he tried to clip the ball past Street and the keeper saved easily.

Hurst saw his skidding low drive from distance saved as the hosts piled on late pressure. Penalty shouts were waved away by the Referee and a late shot beat Breeden but dropped over the bar, and Leamington were able to celebrate 3 very hard earned points that keep them a whisker in front of Poole Town at the head of the table.

Attendance: 578

King's Lynn Town: Alex Street, Ryan Fryatt, Jordan Yong, Kern Miller, Sam Gaughran, David Bridges (14 Jack Friend, 67), Michael Clunan, Liam Hurst, Lee Smith, Lee Stevenson, Jacek Zielonska (16 Dylan Edge, 67).

Subs not used: 12 Matthew Castellan, 15 Liam Fryatt, 17 Joe Simpson.

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , Ben George, Richard Taundry, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Rob Ogleby (12 Ross Oulton, 75), Jack Edwards, Ben Mackey (14 Will Green, 83), Lee Chilton, Lee Moore.

Subs not used: 15 James Fry, 16 Jamie Tank, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox

Referee: Mr S Lewis

Assistant Referees: Mr P McVey & Mr J Jones-Eyre

Brakes Man of the Match: Tony Breeden.