Vanarama National League North
Cal.Delivery Stadium
Tuesday 3rd September 2024
Brakes made their second trip up the M6 to the North West in three days, to more uncharted territory in Warrington Town’s Cantilever Park. This was the second of what will now be a hat trick of ‘firsts’, with Carlton Town visiting Warwickshire in the FA Cup a week on Saturday. The welcome was as friendly as we have received on our travels, and the venue a nice place to watch football, with the travelling support able to stand side by side with the home support in the terrace behind the goal without a hint of trouble, as they had done on Saturday at Marine - how non league football should be. The support was as vocal as it has been on the road for sometime, which was particularly heartening given that it was another long journey in a matter of days.
The hosts, who were promoted the season Brakes went down, had made a sticky start to their second campaign in the National League North, losing four of their opening six games. Defeat to Needham Market on Saturday had left them needing a response, so Paul Holleran’s men would need to be wary as they looked to build on their point at Marine.
The manager made two changes to his starting eleven, bringing in Theo Streete and Ant Lynn at the expense of Rob Evans and Tim Berridge, but Evans was back on the pitch within eight minutes of kick off; George Ward having to be helped off after crumpling to the deck having twisted badly in a challenge. Fortunately the after match diagnosis was that the injury is not as bad as first feared.
Warrington, nicknamed The Wire as a nod to the town’s history with steel wire production during the industrial revolution, were out of the blocks quickly, and an early free kick on the right was headed behind. Brakes were quickly into the game themselves however, and Will Shorrock bundled his way into the penalty area before screwing his shot high and wide.
The visiting side began to assert themselves more after a sprightly opening from their hosts, and Ewan Williams intercepted an attempted pass on half-way, spreading play out to Dan Meredith, whose right wing cross was met by Cally Stewart in a great position in the centre, but he was unable to get enough purchase on his shot for it to trouble Dan Atherton, who unusually for a goalkeeper at this level, had a lot to say for himself when faced with barracking from the travelling support. Fortunately for him he was able to back it up with a good display, although he may want to brush up on his geography, after claiming the Brakes fans were Brummies!!
Warrington moved upfield swiftly from that Leamington effort on goal, and Joe Rodwell-Grant drove in a low strike that flashed across the face of goal. The same player had the Yellows’ next effort minutes later, sending a decent effort just wide.
Brakes hit the front just before the half hour mark. Shorrock slammed in a shot from the left that he claimed had struck an arm. Andy White headed behind to concede a corner, and the hosts were unable to clear their lines as the ball pinged around their penalty area, eventually falling to the feet of Stewart, who displayed his predatory instincts once more as he shifted it to his right slightly before ramming it into the bottom corner.
Shorrock was involved once more as he met a great ball in from Meredith with a half volley back across goal. Lynn went up with Atherton only to be shown a yellow card as the keeper decided he had hurt his face in the aftermath.
Just before half time Shorrock collected a stray kick out from Atherton, finding himself with open grass between himself and goal, but he perhaps made the wrong decision in attempting to spread play towards Stewart on the right rather than going further in himself, and the chance was lost.
It was one that came back to haunt Leamington, as within two minutes of the restart they had been pegged back. In his aftermath interview the manager was frustrated that what he felt had been a foul on Stewart had not been picked up by the officials, but Warrington took full advantage of the brief hesitancy; with Matty McDonald the architect as he scythed through the Brakes defence before setting up Josh Miles to sweep home the equaliser.
In previous seasons this might have signalled a second half collapse, but while this Leamington side lacks experience at this level in certain areas, what they certainly do not lack is the effort and endeavour to stay in games.
Gez Sithole clattered a shot against the roof of the terrace for the hosts, while Atherton did not endear himself to the travelling support any further by feigning injury having been legitimately robbed of the ball on the right edge of his penalty area. He recovered sufficiently to hold Adam Walker’s low drive, before the Brakes skipper marauded through the middle, feeding Shorrock, whose shot was well smothered by the Warrington keeper.
Callum Hawkins was called into action as McDonald attempted to sneak a shot inside his near post following a corner, while another dead ball saw Evan Gumbs go close at the far post, but the Leamington keeper was alert, and bravely claimed the ball.
With Teddy Rowe having replaced Shorrock, Leamington were doing most of the pressing late on, but they were unable to find a way through and were forced to settle for a share of the spoils. Paul Holleran was philosophical about the result afterwards, saying ‘I thought it was a really good game. They are a good side - very expansive; a real threat with the boys up front. I think we got ourselves into a really good position, and then created a couple of chances to maybe go and get a second goal. I think from an away team perspective we’ve had enough entries into the final third, got into some good positions, certainly in the first half. I think that was our best spell, when we’ve decided to pass when we should have shot and shot when we should have passed.
‘We did a lot of things right in the game. I think the first 15 minutes of the second half was always going to be important. There were moments in their goal where we could have done better, but there was a big moment out of our control. When your centre forward’s going through on goal one on one and is sort of clipped…. There’s only one person that can explain it because I don’t think anyone else can explain it. The goal has come from that phase. I think we thought we were going to get something, and one or two players have emotionally stopped or whatever. It’s a good pass and finish from them to be fair, but it’s a big moment, and for the life of me I can’t understand how any official at any level can not see that. I don’t quite get that one. Warrington then got on top, in that period, but I thought we regained some control. I think it’s our best away performance this season - we got in good areas, had some good chances in the last 15 minutes. There’s an air of disappointment because I’m disappointed with the manner of their goal. I’m really pleased with the performance, the levels. Lots to like about tonight. Probably on the chances we’ve created and the positions we’ve got into we deserved the three points, but there wasn’t a lot in it if I’m being honest. We’ll regroup and sort one or two of these injuries out. We’ve got ten days' rest now which will be good, and we’ll get ready for the FA Cup.’
Attendance: 723
Warrington Town: 1 Dan Atherton, 3 Andy White, 4 Tom Hannigan, 5 Evan Gumbs, 7 Connor Woods, 10 Matty McDonald, 11 Joe Rodwell-Grant, 17 Bohan Dixon ©, 18 Gez Sithole, 20 Josh Miles, 23 Matt Grivosti.
Subs not used: GK Harry Roper, 8 Mikey O’Neill, 15 Sam Gill, 16 Deacon Smalley, 21 Ollie Southern.
Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 2 Dan Meredith, 3 Josh Quaynor, 5 Theo Streete, 14 George Ward (6 Rob Evans, 8), 4 Joe Doyle-Charles (10 Jack Edwards, 78), 8 Adam Walker, 17 Ewan Williams, 12 Wil. Shorrock (18 Teddy Rowe, 77), 9 Cally Stewart, 19 Ant Lynn.
Subs not used: 11 Tim Berridge, 15 Caine Elliott.
Referee: Mr Alexander Beckett
Assistant Referees: Mr Abdul Hakimy & Mr Declan O’Regan
Fourth Official: Mr Bilal Moosa
Brakes Man of the Match: Adam Walker.
