LeamingtonFC.co.uk - 2015-2016 Match Centre

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Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 22nd August 2015

Leamington continued their solid start to life back in the Southern League with a fourth win from their opening five fixtures on a scorching hot afternoon at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium.

Visitors Bideford added colour and friendly banter to the occasion as their noisy band of supporters congregated under the car park terrace with the Brakes choir in the first half, and they were celebrating after only 5 minutes when a free kick struck from distance by skipper Richard Groves somehow found its way into the after it looked like Tony Breeden had it covered at his near post.

The goalscorer was as surprised as anyone that it had gone in, but they all count and Brakes had it all to do. They responded in exactly the right manner however, remaining patient and enjoying the lion's share of possession as they searched for a way back into the game. Ben Mackey had already stung the palms of keeper Kyle Moore in the opening minute, but despite pinning Bideford back into their own half for a spell after the goal, several corner kicks came to nothing.

A spark of inspiration was required and as at Histon the previous Saturday, it came from the right boot of Lee Moore. Cutting in from the left wing to devastating effect again he made the most of the ball being knocked back into his path to ghost past several defenders before creating the space to drive low inside the upright to bring his side level.

Mackey forced a save from Moore at his near post as Leamington attempted to force a quickfire second. Bideford threatened briefly just prior to half time when Jordan Charran's header flew wide of the post.

With the influential Richard Taundry withdrawn at half time as a precaution due to a tight hamstring, Ross Oulton was handed the chance to get more game time under his belt as Leamington continued to probe for a second goal, which arrived ten minutes in, Jack Edwards chesting Ben George's throw into the path of Rob Ogleby, who struck a beautiful first time dipping volley over Moore into the net, another fine strike.

Further goals could and probably should have been added to the tally, as Brakes produced some fantastic football in and around the Bideford penalty area, with the just the final ball lacking on occasions. Mackey was played into the area by Gudger before fashioning a shooting chance, his powerful drive parried away by the keeper, before the same combination saw another shot blocked.

Will Green entered the fray late on and immediately began to cause problems for the Bideford defence with his pacy, direct running, drawing several free kicks from tired legs. One such dead ball from just outside the box was struck low towards goal by Gudger, the ball pinging off the outside of the post.

Another free kick won by Green was played dangerously low across the face of goal by Oulton in the closing stages, with Nick Milton just managing not to put the ball into his own net at the far post.

A couple of late free kicks for the visitors came to nothing, and Paul Holleran's men were able to celebrate three points which keeps them up with the early front runners in the division.

Attendance: 482

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Rob Ogleby (15 Jake Jones, 84), Richard Taundry (14 Ross Oulton, 46), Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 78), Jack Edwards, Lee Moore.

Subs not used: 16 Kieren Westwood, GK Lewis Fenney.

Bideford: Kyle Moore, Ian Sampson, Nick Barker, Sean Downing, Dan Tapp, Nick Milton, Richard Groves © (15 Ethan Phillip, 81), Jordan Charran (12 Billy Tucker, 59), Kevin Squire (14 Ben Wood, 63), Stephen Reed, Matt Andrew.

Subs not used: 16 Angus Wilson.

Referee: Mr Neil Radford

Assistant Referees: Mr Luis Martin & Mr Andrew Ellis

Brakes Man of the Match: Lee Moore

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Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Tuesday 18th August 2015

A tremendous advert for Southern League football was played out at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium on Tuesday evening, with Brakes edging home thanks to the odd goal in five after the Poppies had stormed back from a two goal half time deficit to temporarily stun their hosts.

This really was an end to end encounter with plenty of twists and turns to satisfy the 545 present, and while the healthy Kettering contingent who travelled will no doubt be disappointed with the result there will be plenty of positives to take from the contest for both clubs.

This was always going to be a stern test against a buoyant Poppies outfit still riding the wave of optimism following their Central Division title winning campaign, and with former Racing Club Warwick boss Marcus Law now back in charge at the club they look to have a side perfectly capable of challenging at the right end of the table as they made Leamington work extremely hard for the points.

Brakes got off the perfect start however, easing into a fourth minute lead thanks Jack Edwards' first goal of the season. Holding the ball up in midfield, Ben Mackey released it for Richard Taundry to find Lee Moore on the opposite side of the field with his usual pinpoint accuracy. Moore looked to be on for a repeat of his goal at Histon as he tried to take the ball past a defender, but seeing Edwards unmarked in the centre he chose to pass and it turned out to be a good decision as his team mate found the bottom corner with a low first time drive.

It was evident from the early exchanges that Kettering were going to pose plenty of problems going forward and they did not waste any time in proving this, Jamie Hood doing well to clear off the line as Courtney Baker-Richardson's powerful header arrowed towards goal. Brett Solkhon came within inches of levelling soon afterwards only to be denied by Tony Breeden, who got enough on the ball to help it onto the woodwork, down onto the goal line and away.

The pace of Jevani Brown was keeping the Leamington defence on their toes and he charged clear down the right only to be upended by Breeden outside the penalty area, Referee Mark Griffiths electing to show only a yellow card after consulting his assistant on the near side, presumably as the Poppies man was not heading directly towards goal and Breeden had defensive cover.

Nevertheless it was a pivotal moment that could easily have tilted the outcome of the game in the visitors' favour. They continued to threaten without creating any real scoring chances, though Jamie Hood was well placed to make a couple of clinical interventions to cut out attacks, while Leamington went close when Edwards did well to force the ball into the middle from the touchline on the right, Rob Ogleby seeing his shot blocked.

It was the industrious Edwards who drew a foul from former Brakes loanee Dominic Langdon on 35 minutes that presented Taundry with a free kick 25 yards from goal, from which he stepped up to curl an absolute peach past the static Jamie McAlindon in the Kettering goal.

Brown looked to have a chance to pull one back for Kettering when he chased a pass forward into the box but Breeden, who had incurred the wrath of the travelling support when taking his time on goal kicks after his booking, was calmness personified as he collected the ball and neatly sidestepped the onrushing attacker before making his clearance.

Brown was involved in Kettering's early second half fightback however, as he created a chance for Saul Williams to blast a low shot across goal into the far corner 3 minutes in. He then won the penalty from which Andy Gooding bought the visitors level with a dangerous run into the box past several Brakes defenders before being tripped.

Leamington were stunned by their opponents blistering start to the half but to their credit they quickly regained their composure and dragged themselves back into the game, regaining the lead a little over ten minutes later. Some direct running from Ogleby down the right saw him find Moore who in turn played in Mackey, who did what he does so well in shielding the ball before driving forward and unleashing a powerful low drive that crashed through McAlindon into the far corner to the delight of the Harbury Lane End.

Lee Moore came inches from extending the advantage when some good work in from the left wing saw him float the ball across the box and inches past the far post, while Williams sent a piledriver a whisker over the bar for Kettering.

Jake Jones came on for his debut late on in place of Ogleby and exploded into the game by scoring with practically his first touch. Exchanging passes with fellow substitute Will Green he found himself in on goal but McAlindon spread himself to save well.

Some late pressure from the visitors brought shouts for a penalty but Leamington remained firm and held out to take the points from a pulsating encounter.

Attendance: 545

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Rob Ogleby (15 Jake Jones, 87), Richard Taundry (12 Ross Oulton, 79), Ben Mackey (14 Will Green, 74), Jack Edwards, Lee Moore.

Subs not used: 16 Kieren Westwood, GK Lewis Fenney.

Kettering Town: Jamie McAlindon, Richard Bryan (12 Elliot Sandy, 77), Dominic Langdon, Steve Kinniburgh © , Gary Mulligan, Brett Solkhon, Will Grocutt (15 Justin Marsden, 77), Andy Gooding, Jevani Brown, Courtney Baker-Richardson (16 Nick Wright, 59), Saul Williams.

Subs not used: 14 Danny Harmon, GK Enol Ordanez.

Referee: Mr Mark Griffiths

Assistant Referees: Mr Kevin Carroll & Mr Scott Chalkley

Brakes Man of the Match: Richard Taundry

The Glassworld Stadium
Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Saturday 15th August 2015

Brakes produced an assured performance to ease to their first win on the road this season at Histon's Glassworld Stadium courtesy of goals from Lee Moore, Rob Ogleby and James Mace.

The young hosts showed plenty of industry and endeavour throughout but found themselves unable to unduly trouble a well drilled visiting defence that was superbly marshalled again by Mace and Jamie Hood.

The opening exchanges saw Leamington come within a whisker of taking immediate control, Richard Taundry firing a free kick towards the Histon penalty area from the halfway line which was knocked on by Jack Edwards into the path of Ben Mackey, who was inches from diverting it into the net in front of goal.

Mackey saw another shot deflected as he quickly had another opportunity, and Brakes went even closer when some sterling work from Edwards under heavy pressure in midfield saw the ball played out to the right where Ogleby and Ben George kept possession, the latter driving in a low cross which was met first time by Edwards, his shot spinning just past the upright.

Edwards then lifted a fine ball out to Mackey on the left edge of the penalty box, a stinging volley arrowed towards the near post bringing out the best in Stutes keeper Denzel Gerrar, who got down quickly to help the ball behind for a corner.

A Histon defender was apparently off the pitch receiving treatment when the opening goal arrived. Taundry was forced to play the ball all the way back to Tony Breeden from a throw in inside the Histon half, the keeper sending his clearance down the left where Moore got the better of right back Max York before cutting across the edge of the box and burying a powerful low drive into the bottom corner.

The missing defender, Evan Key had rejoined proceedings when he headed a left wing free kick back into the Leamington penalty area shortly before half time, sparking shouts for a penalty from his team mates as they believed they had a claim for handball, the officials were not interested however.

Mace saw a couple of early second half headers saved by Gerrar, while Mackey was just beaten to Ogleby's low driven cross in from the right by the Histon keeper. At the other end Hood was at his imperious best to snuff out any sign of a threat from the busy Stutes front line, getting in well to prevent Sam Ives from having a clear run at goal before a well timed header ended another move as the hosts began to build up a head of steam.

Taundry fired a free kick well over the bar before a smart diagonal through ball for Ogleby saw the striker dig out a shot under pressure from Jack Uttridge which was easily claimed by Gerrar. His next effort outwitted everyone however, as he picked up possession on the right of the box before sending a shot looping into the far corner to delight the travelling support behind the goal.

Mace then put the icing on the cake as he rose highest to power home Ross Oulton's free kick with 7 minutes remaining. Breeden was required to make a couple of routine saves as the hosts gallantly attempted to cut the deficit late on, but they finished well beaten, something their manager Brian Page freely admitted after the game.

Paul Holleran felt that his side had responded well to Tuesday's setback, saying 'I thought the first 45 minutes was probably the best in a long time in terms of being the opposing half, keeping the ball and creating chances. If it wasn't for some poor finishing the game would have been finished after 20 minutes. We weren't as fluent in the second half, we still had the best chances in the game but when it opened up towards the end we had that little bit of quality to wrap things up.'

Attendance: 294

Histon: Denzel Gerrar, Max York, Ashley White (15 Danny Rumens, 26), Evan Key, Jack Uttridge (14 Salim Relizani, 76), Rogan McGeorge, Lee Smith © , Tom McGowan, Sam Ives, Ryan Auger, Jordan Nicholson (16 Nick Freeman, 60).

Subs not used: GK Brendan Brown, 12 Curtis Fulcher.

Leamington: Tony Breeden © , Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood (16 Kieren Westwood, 84), James Mace, Rob Ogleby, Richard Taundry (14 Ross Oulton, 66), Ben Mackey (12 Will Green, 76), Jack Edwards, Lee Moore.

Subs not used: 15 Jake Jones, 17 Matt Hill.

Referee: Mr Lee Forrester

Assistant Referees: Mr Michael Dunkley & Mr Nicolae Manolescu

Brakes Man of the Match: Jack Edwards

The Premier Plus Stadium
Evostik Southern League Premier Division
Tuesday 11th August 2015

Brakes came away with a narrow defeat from what will likely be one of their toughest away assignments of the season, one that will unfortunately see further reaching consequences after two late red cards.

Jack Edwards and Joe Magunda now face one and three match bans respectively as tempers flared towards the end of the game, which had been a scrappy affair littered with stoppages as both teams attempted to psyche each other out.

With Richard Taundry not fully fit Paul Holleran handed Jake Jones his debut in midfield.

The hosts fired an early free kick straight at Tony Breeden before Lee Moore cleared an effort from Tom Ward off the line. Ben Mackey was denied in similar fashion at the other end as he attempted to get on the mark against one of his former clubs, while Magunda sent a header wide of the target.

The hosts edged ahead early in the second half with a goal by in form striker Tom Meechan, who had hit an opening day hat trick at Bideford in his first game at this level. A shout for handball in the build up was ignored by the officials and Meechan neatly finished off the move at the near post.

Strike partner Ryan Hawkins went close to doubling the Saints' lead when he headed just the wrong side of the post soon afterwards, while Lee Moore was penalised for handball as he was played through on goal by Mackey, much to the frustration of those travelling from Warwickshire.

Nathan Frater fired well wide and Hawkins saw a penalty claim dismissed before Edwards, who had booked early on in proceedings, was shown a second yellow card with four minutes remaining. Despite this Brakes saw their best chance of goal disappear into the night air in added time when Will Green, making his second debut for the club after returning on loan from Brackley Town, fired narrowly over the bar after being played through on goal.

Magunda was then shown a straight red card for an alleged stamp. Brakes boss Holleran was not too downbeat despite the calamitous ending to the game, and though the suspensions will hamper his side in the coming weeks a win and a defeat from the opening two games is not the end of the world, with Brakes still yet to really click into gear as the new players integrate into the team.

Attendance: 368

St Neots Town: Danny Gay, Adam Tann © , Jack Wilkinson, Mat Mitchel-King (Jamie Anton, 14), Tom Ward, Connor Hall, Nathan Frater (Lee Clarke, 74), Brett Longden, Tom Meechan, Ryan Hawkins, Remy Gordon

Subs not used: Bamoussa Cisse, Sam Harty, Guy Mailancol.

Leamington: Tony Breeden, Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Jake Jones (12 Will Green, 72), Jack Edwards, Rob Ogleby, Ben Mackey, Lee Moore.

Subs not used: 14 Richard Taundry, 15 Kieren Westwood, 16 Reece Mitchell, GK Lewis Fenney.

Referee: Mr Mark Wardell

Assistant Referees: Mr Lee Grimsey & Mr Callum Chittenden

Brakes Man of the Match: Jamie Hood