Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round 
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Tuesday 10th December 2024

Brakes slipped out of the FA Trophy to an efficient, well drilled and organised Rochdale side who did what they needed to do to progress to a home tie with Northern Premier League Stockton Town in the next round. 

The visitors were always in control of this tie; hastily rearranged after the horrendous weather conditions of the previous week had put paid to it being played on Saturday, but Leamington certainly did not disgrace themselves, and as with many games that have gone against them this season it was only fine margins that could on another day have seen things turn in their favour. 

After a much changed side had edged through a Birmingham Senior Cup tie against Halesowen Town on penalty kicks the previous Tuesday, Paul Holleran reverted back to his tried and trusted regulars for this one; though there was a place on the substitutes bench for academy striker Harry Lloyd, one of several debutants who had impressed against The Yeltz. Joe Clarke made his first start since returning to the club. 

Despite the visitors dominating possession of the ball early on, a pattern that would continue for large parts of the game, Brakes were not afraid to get at their National League opponents when they were able to. Henry Landers drove a shot wide in the opening exchanges, while Will Shorrock saw another effort blocked inside the box. The ball ran out as far as Josh Quaynor, who launched it back onto the penalty area, and Landers connected with a looping header that dropped towards goal, but keeper Sam Waller backpedaled to collect on his line. 

The visitors first threatened when Devante Rodney ran at a retreating defence, but his shot was well blocked by Theo Streete. 

A lovely counter attack instigated by Cally Stewart robbing Tarryn Allarakhia on the edge of the Leamington penalty area and finding Tim Berridge on the halfway line. The confidence after breaking his goal duck in the previous game was evident, and he spun Liam Hogan superbly before accelerating towards the box and cutting inside the same player, who got a slight touch onto the striker’s shot, which was well saved by Waller. 

Rochdale attempted to catch their hosts out with a clearly rehearsed corner routine which involved all of their players inside the penalty area rushing onto the centre to meet the ball. Fortunately Adam Walker read this manoeuvre, and got there first to clear.

Callum Hawkins kept the score level with a fine stop from Allarakhia, whose powerful strike saw the ball turned over the crossbar with a flying save. 

Landers fed Stewart on another Leamington counter, but the Brakes leading marksman fired over the crossbar when he maybe had better options coming up in support. 

Hawkins pounced on another Rochdale effort before Leamington broke again ten minutes or so before half time, Berridge intelligently holding on to the ball well before releasing it to Shorrock, who crashed a low drive against the base of the right hand post. 

Landers was caught by Waller inside the box as he went past him on the right, but the offside flag had been raised. 

Rochdale’s build up play was patient and calculated; they were happy to knock the ball around at the back and wait for openings, and they edged in front three minutes before half time. A right wing corner was flicked on at the near post, nobody in a Leamington shirt was able to get a telling touch on it, and Tobi Adebayo Rowling had time to control and lash home from close range. His celebration left the majority of the 302 crowd scratching their heads in bemusement, as the first time Dale goal scorer ran the entire length of the pitch before vaulting the perimeter fence, running up to the top of the North Bank, and stood facing the hedge. A different celebration, for sure! 

The second half took a while to get going, with very little of any note occurring before the hour mark save for a few half chances for the visitors. 

George Ward, operating at right back in the absence of Dan Meredith, almost sent the perfect ball through for Shorrock, who was just caught offside. Quaynor’s volley then struck a defender before going behind for a corner, from which Waller punched clear from under his crossbar. 

Landers then drove powerfully down the right and cut in, seeing his shot blocked, before Shorrock curled a low effort into the side netting. 

Another first time scorer sealed Rochdale’s passage to Round Four with eight minutes remaining. Matthew Dennis had only entered the field of play two minutes earlier, but he was on hand when a half cleared corner was delivered back into the box to finish from close range with practically his first touch of the game. 

While it was disappointing to exit the competition, Brakes acquitted themselves well against a very good side from the level above, and suffered only their second defeat by more than a single goal all season. Focus will now switch back to the league, and a busy Christmas fixture list. 

Attendance: 302

Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 3 Josh Quaynor, 5 Theo Streete, Rob Evans, 7 Henry Landers, 8 Adam Walker © (19 Ant Lynn, 69), 9 Cally Stewart, 11 Tim Berridge (15 Harry Lloyd, 85), 12 Will Shorrock (18 Ted Rowe, 79), 14 George Ward, 21 Joe Clarke (10 Jack Edwards, 59). 

Subs not used: 20 Jacob Humphries, 17 Ewan Williams. 

Rochdale: 13 Sam Waller, 2 Kyron Gordon, 4 Ryan East (31 Charlie Weston, 89), 7 Tarryn Allarakhia, 8 Harvey Gilmour, 10 Devante Rodney (29 Jid Okeke, 89), 14 Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, 16 Kyle Ferguson, 18 Aidan Barlow (22 Matthew Dennis, 82), 26 Liam Hogan, 40 Ian Henderson. 

Subs not used: 12 Bradley Kelly, Kairo Mitchell, 21 Connor McBride, 30 Jili Buyabu, 31 Charlie Weston.

Referee: Mr Wayne Cartmel

Assistant Referees: Mr Wayne Gray & Mr Ollie Williams

Fourth Official: Mr Harry Warner

Brakes Man of the Match: Will Shorrock.