LeamingtonFC.co.uk - 2015-2016 Match Centre

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Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Tuesday 29th September 2015

Three pieces of clinical finishing inside the opening 40 minutes of this fixture sent Brakes to the top of the table for the first time this season.

Visitors Slough were no mugs and certainly much better than their position in the table suggests, but while they fully played their part in an entertaining encounter they were unable to fully test Tony Breeden as much as they would have liked.

Ben Mackey stung the palms of Rebels keeper Mark Scott with a powerful drive inside the opening couple of minutes and this was to serve as an early warning, as they were ahead with 10 on the clock. The visiting bench were incensed at the absence of a flag as the ball was cleared downfield, but with Lee Chilton not among two players stood in an offside position he made full use of the apparent confusion in the Slough defence to centre for an unmarked Jack Edwards to loop a powerful header beyond Scott into the net.

The visitors almost levelled matters immediately, Scott Harris shooting from the edge of the area after being played in by Adam Martin, but he appeared to mishit his shot and the ball struck the inside of the post after seemingly rolling in slow motion towards goal, allowing the Brakes defence to clear.

Slough's main threat was coming from striker Lewis Putman, who drove one shot wide and saw another cleared away from the near post by Ben George as it became apparent that more than one goal would likely be required for Leamington to win this game.

Fortunately another duly arrived with 25 minutes played, and a superbly worked goal it was too. Lee Chilton fizzed an inch perfect diagonal ball from the left over the head of a defender and into the path of Lee Moore on the right wing. He in turn teed up Ben Mackey on the edge of the box to fire an unerring low drive into the bottom corner past the dive of Scott.

The visitors were left scratching their heads as to how they were two goals down but had keeper Scott to thank that it didn't quickly become three, as he darted off his line to deny the lively Chilton when the ball fell to him in space on the left inside the penalty area.

The third goal did arrive on 36 minutes however, Edwards powering home his second of the game with a thumping close range header from Ben George's delivery following a short right wing corner.

Warren Harris saw a shot blocked as Slough applied some late first half pressure in a bid to claw back the deficit, and Tony Breeden was called into action when he helped Putman's well struck free kick over his crossbar.

The Leamington skipper saved a low drive from Ryan Hope as the visitors continued where they had left off in the second half. The same player bent a free kick just over the bar before Breeden beat away another effort from Putman.

A neat turn and shot from Connor Gudger almost produced a fourth goal for Brakes, the ball whistling inches wide of the upright, while Richard Taundry played in Mackey, who almost got the better of Guy Hollis and Dan Hicks but was only able to send a weak shot towards goal.

Taundry fired a 25 yard free kick towards goal that rippled the side netting, while Hope's long range drive for the visitors was deflected behind for a corner.

Chilton almost scored a memorable goal when he picked up a pass from Gudger on halfway and set off on a mazy run that ended when he lifted a shot just over the bar from the edge of the box.

The industrious Putman worked space well for himself to get another shot away but was left frustrated again as the ball sailed well wide, and Brakes saw the remaining minutes out to move a point ahead of Chippenham at the Southern League Premier Division summit. The Bluebirds took a point from their clash with Frome Town, which should serve as a warning to Paul Holleran's men that their next game will be just as tough, with the same opponents awaiting them on Saturday.

Attendance: 411

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore, Richard Taundry (14 Ross Oulton, 77), Ben Mackey (12 Wil Green, 77), Jack Edwards (15 James Fry, 87), Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 16 Rob Ogleby, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox (GK)

Slough Town: Mark Scott, Sean Fraser, Jai Dhillon, Guy Hollis, Dan Hicks, Adrian Sear © , Ryan Hope, Adam Martin, Scott Harris, Lewis Putman, Warren Harris.

Subs not used: 12 Gary McDonald, 14 Jake Parsons, 15 Nathan Webb, 16 Charlie Mpi, 17 Luke Williams.

Referee: Mr Andy Hendley

Assistant Referees: Mr John Okole & Mr Daniel Pattison.

Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Edwards.

Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Westwood Road, St Ives,
Wednesday 23rd September 2015

Brakes turned in a cracking performance away from home, coming from behind to take the points as Ben Mackey got back on the goal trail.

It was the perfect antidote after a tumultuous weekend which saw a disappointing no score draw against Weymouth followed by the departure from the club of Assistant Manager Liam O'Neill, but if anybody doubted that the team were not performing for Paul Holleran they proved emphatically at the temporary St Ives home of Cambridge City that that is certainly not the case with a sparkling performance full of endeavour, desire and most importantly, goals.

With both sides committed to attack there were plenty of chances. Richard Taundry carved out the first with a mazy run into City penalty area, nutmegging one defender and going past a second before drawing the first of a number of fine saves from Zac Barrett, who darted off his line to block.

Lee Chilton has made a high octane start to his second spell at the club and produced another man of the match display as he led the Lilywhites defence a merry dance at times, and he clattered the underside of the bar with a searching strike from distance.

Adam Murray sent a header well wide for the hosts while Jack Edwards blazed high and wide for Leamington and Taundry saw a low drive saved.

Murray saw his shot deflected by James Mace through to Tony Breeden as Cambridge moved the ball quickly up to the edge of Brakes penalty area, before Josh Dawkin opened the scoring with a sublime finish to a break up the right wing from a Leamington corner, cutting inside before curving a low drive across goal and into the bottom corner with the outside of his right boot past the diving Breeden.

Edwards forced another flying save from Barrett as Paul Holleran's men aimed for a quick response, connecting with a right wing cross first time which was turned over by the keeper.

Parity was swiftly restored within 7 minutes however, Lee Chilton collecting a smart pass from Taundry and winning the ball back before delivering the perfect cross for Mackey to nod home from close range.

Edwards stabbed another effort wide of goal before Taundry was involved again as Leamington moved ahead 4 minutes before half time, spraying the ball from left touchline to right, enabling Ben George to charge onto it and fire in another inviting cross that was met by a thumping header from Edwards which was blocked by another super stop from Barrett, only for Mackey to scramble in the loose ball.

Cambridge defender Tom Pepper sustained a head injury in his attempts to prevent the second goal, and left the field on a stretcher applauded by both sets of supporters.

Murray almost got the better of Connor Gudger as half time approached but the left back stayed with him and his shot was scuffed into the hands of Breeden.

There was time for a very close call before the whistle as the ball looped into the air and struck the crossbar as Leamington scrambled to try and clear.

The hosts came out of the blocks quickly in the second half, having two shots blocked before goalscorer screwed another horribly wide. Taundry drove over the bar from a loose defensive header before Barrett produced two more fantastic saves in quick succession, first denying the busy Lee Moore as he crashed a shot first time towards goal following good work down the right from George and substitute Will Green. The ball was only cleared as far as Gudger 25 yards out, and he sent a piledriver of a shot towards goal that Barrett managed to push over for a corner.

The contrast from the Weymouth performance was marked, every man in a blue shirt was giving 110%, working hard to win the ball back if they lost it and moving quickly from defence to attack with some incisive confident passing. On several occasions they threatened to carve through the hosts defence only to let themselves down with the final pass.

Joe Magunda drove another effort over the bar and substitute Ross Oulton came close to adding a third when he got the right side of the Cambridge defence, dragging a low effort across goal and inches past the far post. The single goal proved to be enough however, and despite the best efforts of the home side Leamington always seemed to have the edge and continued to push forward even in the closing stages. Their third win on the road this season lifts them to second in the table.

Attendance: 151

Cambridge City: Zac Barrett, Tom Pepper (14 Alex Serrano, 44), Charlie Day, Phil Ojapah, Lee Chaffey, Buster Harradine © , Ieuan Lewis, Jon Kaye (16 Joel Norris, 71), Danny Kelly, Adam Murray, Josh Dawkin, Andrew Phillips.

Subs not used: 15 Fernando Garcia.

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore, Richard Taundry (14 Ross Oulton, 84), Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 67), Jack Edwards, Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 15 James Fry, 16 Reece Mitchell, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox (GK)

Referee: Mr James Whittaker Jnr

Assistant Referees: Mr Lee Grimsey & Mr Douglas Lawson

Brakes Man of the Match: Lee Chilton

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Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 19th September 2015

Brakes returned to league action with an uninspiring stalemate with fellow FA Cup dropouts Weymouth at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium.

The hosts tested the Terras player manager Jason Matthews early on, Lee Moore driving in a shot that was turned round the post for a corner and Lee Chilton seeing his low long range drive easily held.

Dean Evans sliced over the bar from Weymouth's first sight of goal, while Matthews denied Ben Mackey and Chilton off as they both tried to poke the ball past him at his near post.

Mackey was halted by a strong block inside the penalty box, while Richard Taundry's free kick from 25 yards was directed straight into the hands of Matthews. Moore then collected Chilton's searching left wing cross on the far side, but sent his volley onto the North Bank.

The visitors grew more into the game as the half wore on, Jordan Copp having their best effort with a low swerving drive following a corner that forced a good block from Tony Breeden, who was otherwise relatively untroubled.

Joe Magunda glanced a header over the bar early in the second half, while the returning Jack Edwards drove wide from a loose defensive header. Mackey was denied by a fine challenge from Mark Cooper as he homed in on goal, and then set up Edwards for another shot, which was blocked. Breeden saved shots from Jake Wannell and Mark Molesley but the game just lacked a spark that might have opened things up.

Jason Matthews was the happier of the two managers afterwards, saying 'It was important for us not to lose today after the cup exit. It was a big decision for me to leave Stewart Yetton out today, but I thought that Ben Thompson came in and did well on his own up top even though we played a 4-3-3 system today.'

'I felt that we limited Leamington to mainly half chances which for me is really pleasing as they are a good side on their day, but I'm happy with a point away from home.'

'I thought we started the game brightly but we didn't take the one or two chances we had and Weymouth finished the half stronger', said Paul Holleran.

'The second half was more stretched and it was lacking quality from both teams. It looked predictable and we just needed that spark but still created a couple of good chances. If we put one away we win the game and move on, but we haven't done that.'

'It's another point on the board but the performance was well below what we would have liked today. We were desperate for a response from Tuesday. There was plenty of effort and endeavour but we lacked quality on the ball today.'

Attendance: 454

Leamington: Tony Breeden (c) , Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda (12 James Fry, 88), Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore, Richard Taundry (15 Ross Oulton, 83), Ben Mackey (14 Will Green, 70), Jack Edwards, Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 16 Reece Mitchell, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox (GK)

Weymouth: Jason Matthews, Mark Cooper, Jake Wannell, Dean Evans, Pat Baldwin (c) , Calvin Brooks, Mark Molesley, Billy Lowes (15 Chris McPhee, 83), Chris Shepherd (17 Adam Kelly, 59), Ben Thompson (14 Stewart Yetton, 70), Jordan Copp.

Subs not used: 12 Ashley Wells, 16 George Rigg.

Referee: Mr Ravel Cheosiaua

Assistant Referees: Mr Richard Walker & ???

Brakes Man of the Match: Lee Chilton.

FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round Replay
The Zeeco Stadium
Tuesday 15th September 2015

Brakes' dreams of a FA Cup run were ended in the cruelest fashion at the Zeeco Stadium on Tuesday evening. Having finally dragged themselves level thanks to James Mace after trailing to former Brakes midfielder Nathan Hicks' 4th minute strike, things looked to be clicking into place when substitute Will Green was upended as he charged into the penalty area. With the hosts a man down after the perpetrator was sent off, Richard Taundry stepped up to take responsibility, but was denied from the spot for the second time this season as the Daniels' keeper Richard Knight produced one of a number of fine saves over the course of the evening that would ultimately help his side win the tie when they broke upfield moments later to score the winner.

A decent contingent had travelled from Leamington in the hope that their team could finish the job at the second time of asking but the game started in a similar fashion to the initial tie, when on loan Nuneaton Town man Hicks latched onto a loose back header from Ben George to lift the ball over a stranded Tony Breeden into the net.

Breeden almost provided a spectacular leveller when he launched the ball towards goal from midway inside his own half from a free kick, only for the backpedaling Knight to fingertip the ball onto the bar and behind for corner.

Ben Mackey had the ball in the net as he latched onto Lee Chilton's pass to slot through the keeper's legs after 27 minutes, only to be frustrated by the offside flag. Jamie Hood stretched to send a diving header into the side netting as half time approached.

Despite the Stamford attack looking pacy they were getting few opportunities to threaten Breeden's goal, while at the other end Knight saved well with his legs from Mackey early in the second half after Chilton had robbed left back Lynas King and cut the ball back into the box.

Ryan Robbins shooting let him down after a weaving run towards goal for the hosts, while Chilton forced Knight into a save with his legs again, driving first time and low towards goal following good work by Connor Gudger down the left. Chilton then curled another effort well over.

Hood made a timely intervention as Stamford substitute Andy Hall was played into space down the right by a lovely cross field pass and looked to cut into the box to shoot. Team mate Lewis Carr then came very close to finding his own net as he sliced a cross inches past the upright as Leamington pressed again.

The woodwork was then clattered for the second time in the game by the visitors when Chilton cut in from the left and beat his man before crashing a shot onto the bar.

Paul Holleran threw on James Fry and Will Green before the game exploded into life in the final ten minutes. With 4 left on the clock Brakes finally carved their hosts open with some neat wing play and the ball was driven low across goal for the arriving James Mace to slam home at the far post.

The celebrations had barely died down before Green was sent sprawling to the turf as he charged into the area having been played through. At first it was unclear who had been sent off but eventually it was Carr who trudged from the field as Taundry placed the ball on the penalty spot, only for Knight to deny him as he dived low to his left.

The joy and despair felt by both sets of supporters in such a short space of time then turned full circle, as Stamford's number 9 Greg Smith sent a powerful header past Breeden from Robbins' pinpoint cross to win the game for the home side with extra time looming.

Attendance: 204

Stamford AFC : Richard Knight, Jon Challinor, Lynas King, Lewis Carr, Richard Jones © , Jordan Smith, David Bell, Nathan Hicks, Greg Smith, Jordan Neil (12 Andy Hall, 52), Ryan Robbins (17 Sam Thorpe, 90).

Subs not used: 14 Daniel Clements, 15 Dalton Bettles, 16 Cameron Powell.

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore, Richard Taundry, Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 76), Ross Oulton (14 James Fry, 69), Lee Chilton.

Subs not used: 15 Jamie Tank, 16 Martyn Naylor, 17 Eddie Caviezel-Cox (GK).

Referee: Mr Matthew Smith

Assistant Referees: Mr Adrian Walker & Mr David Lovell

Brakes Man of the Match: James Mace.