Breedstar!

Tony Breeden was the hero of the hour when he took a penalty this evening to put Leamington 1-0 up against Chorley. He then wisely did not take the second penalty in time added on, leaving it to Callum Gittings to make it 2-0.

Leamington are not mathematically safe, but they are 15th and it would take a very odd combination of results in the remaining games to see them relegated even if they don't pick up a point from their two remaining fixtures.

It was a feisty encounter with a blizzard of yellow cards and eventually Chorley charm merchant Josh O'Keefe got sent off for a second yellow in the dying minutes of the game.

In the first half Dodd had a one on one chance, but blasted the ball over. Chorley also wasted a good chance by blasting the ball over.

In the second half Chorley put the ball just over from a corner. In the closing minutes they had two free kicks in dangerous positions. The first came off the wall and the second was blasted over.

There wasn't much quality, but a lot of heart and commitment. I agree that we were unlikely to score from open play and the second penalty was a bit soft, but I'll take it.

What can one say about that?

I was asked after the game what I could write about it, and the answer is not very much. The good news is that Tamworth and Telford both lost, although Gainsborough won.

It wasn't a high quality performance. We had difficulty keeping possession. Any shots were mostly straight at the keeper with the best effort by substitute Liam Canavan on 80 minutes.

Curzon Ashton did show some pace on the break and Leamington had to clear off the line in the first half. There were lots of niggly fouls by the visitors, but referee Amy Fearn only issued two yellow cards.

Puzzled that Revan only got on in time added on. What was the point of that?

A vital three points

My first live football for over two months and good to see Leamington secure a much needed three points with a 1-0 victory over FC United of Manchester. It was a tight game, as was to be expected, but we are now six points off the drop zone.

Edwards hit the bar early on with a looping shot. Breeden made a good save to stop the visitors going ahead. Charm merchant Daniel Racchi received a yellow card for a foul. In play following a free kick, Jamie Hood scored a vital goal just before the break. (For me and others he was man of the match). Dunbar sent the ball in and it came off Hood's knee. There was still time for the referee to give Jack Edwards his birthday card and it was yellow.

Dodd replaced Obening in the second half and then Magunda replaced Clarke. Breeden made a vital one handed save. The visitors kept up the pressure through corners, but Brakes were resolute. Racchi finally got a second yellow card and his marching orders.

Attendance 1,005 plus one away dog.

Could we be playing Hartlepool next season?

Hartlepool United are in real trouble. If we stay in the National League North, they could be joining us. It reminds me that our board are right to run the Brakes prudently: Hartlepool on the brink

Well done Brakes!

I wish I could have been at the 1-0 victory over Blyth Spartans in front of a crowd of 524, but I have only just got out of hospital. Leamington have recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season and are now 15th in the table.

Tony Breeden is the hero for saving a penalty, but all credit to Udoh for his goal.

It seems to have been a real nail biter in the closing fifteen minutes.

Former Leamington player Alex Rodman scored the opener for Shrewsbury against Charlton today.

Three important points

Leamington secured three important points with a 3-0 win over Gainsborough Trinity at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium tonight, moving up to 16th in the National League North.

The first goal for Brakes came in four minutes, scored by Daniel Udoh in a crowded area in play following a corner. Their right back, Ioan Evans, was injured in the exchanges and had to be substituted which unbalanced their side.

Leamington had most of the play in the first half, but Gainsborough could be dangerous going forward and missed some chances to level the score. Their danger man was undoubtedly No.7 Craig King who kept penetrating the Brakes defence. I believe he played for Salford last season.

Brakes defence often looked shaky, but all credit to Jamie Hood for his good defensive work throughout the game.

At one point the keeper was out of position and it was difficult to see how we failed to score, just an inability to control the ball.

Immediately after the break, Brakes scored again. After good work on the left by Leamington involving Felix, Gainsborough put the ball in their own net.

Breeden had to react well when a Gainsborough effort came off the crossbar.

Gainsborough increasingly resorted to fouling and the referee began to show his yellow card. However, he put up with Gainsborough's No.6, Simon 'Mr Gobby' Russell telling him how to run the game. I wouldn't have put up with it if I was a referee and it would have been a simple matter to show him a yellow card.

The third goal for Brakes came after an error by the keeper allowed Udoh to bounce the ball off his leg and into the net.

Attendance 372. I didn't see any dogs.

Last minute equaliser

Paul Edwards has tweeted that it was the most undeserved point ever, but Leamington secured a 2-2 draw against Brackley at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon with an injury time equaliser. They are now 13th in the table. Seeing Colby Bishop stretchered off in the second half was a real concern.

The first half was a rather dull affair with no real chances for either side, but Brakes went ahead just before the break through a header from Colby Bishop.

They then conceded a free kick in a dangerous position and Brackley equalised on 48 minutes.

Gittings then gave the ball away in midfield and Brackley were able to make it 2-1 to them from a header. Hood then had to clear off the line. It looked as if the visitors might score a third. They certainly ruled the roost in midfield.

In injury time Brakes got a corner and Breeden came up. The keeper tipped it over but from the second corner it went in the net from a Brackley player.

Attendance was 645, two dogs.