Last minute equaliser denies Brakes

A last minute equaliser by high flying Chorley held Leamington to a 1-1 draw at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. Four minutes were added on, but the referee decided to go for more and the visitors seized their chance.

This was very much a game dominated by a strong wind. Leamington had the benefit in the first half and Chorley in the second.

The first half was relatively uneventful and quite scrappy, although two Chorley charm merchants were booked for obstructing Breeden. Then a good move started by Gudger (who had an excellent game throughout) enabled Colby Bishop to score on the half hour mark.

Chorley stepped up a gear in the last five minutes of the half and Breeden had to make a one handed save after he saw the ball late.

The visitors came out of the traps in determined mood after the break. Leamington held firm, although the wind meant there were few effective attacking moves. Breeden made a great save, tipping the ball over the bar. Leamington used all three substitutes, but I thought Dwyer was flimsy when he came. The Brakes withstood a series of corners, but were not able to hold on to the ball and eventually conceded.

Disappointing to lose in that way, but it was probably a fair result and one we would have taken before the game.

Brakes win hard fought contest

Leamington won 1-0 against high flying Chester in a hard fought contest at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium today in front of a crowd of 975 and two dogs. They are now 11th in the table. The Brakes played as well as I have seen them do all season.

It was a good game of football, only spoilt by self-important referee Elliott Swallow who issued a blizzard of yellow cards to Leamington players.

Leamington threatened early on with a great run from a Chester corner, but the keeper saved with his feet. After charm merchant Adam Dawson rolled around on the ground in agony, Callum Gittings was the first Brakes player to be booked. (Dawson was with AFC Telford until recently, the latest stage in a varied career, and Telford have reported Chester to the FA for an alleged illegal approach). The referee did then manage to book Chester captain Gary Roberts, although it was not clear what he had done.

Chester hit the crossbar from a free kick and Tony Breeden had to be very mobile in the follow up to make a great save.

The visitors came out of the traps at a fast and furious pace after half time, but Tony Breeden made a good save from Dawson. Chester had an open goal, but failed to take advantage.

After good work by Connor Taylor, Colby Bishop (who had been holding the ball up well) had a tap in to make it 1-0 on 82 minutes. Chester had a couple of good attempts on goal and Tony Breeden, who had been a rock throughout, had to be at his very best.

Very fair report from Chester here: Match report

Brakes power

This is a well written and lavishly illustrated article about the revival of Leamington FC: Not just another phoenix club

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Are you Kidding?

Brakes were simply outplayed in their 0-4 defeat by Kidderminster Harriers at the New Windmill Ground last night. It showed the benefits of a full time squad.

I don't think that Leamington played badly, indeed I think that they played better than they did against Darlington. The ball was on the ground more and there was some crisp passing. But Kidderminster had an ability to pass accurately over long distances. They simply knew where everyone else was.

Their second goal was a cracker from distance. Breeden could have done better with the third. Our best chance came when one of their players headed against the crossbar and we could have scored if we had been more clinical.

Brakes didn't give up and a flurry of late corners gave hope of a consolation.

At least Colby Bishop got another run out to improve match finish. (Dwyer in my view is not the answer). The crowd of 785 was good for a midweek game. But it's going to be a long old season.

Courier report here: Put to the sword

10 man Brakes fight back

Ten man Brakes fought back from a 0-2 deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Darlington at a very wet New Windmill Ground this afternoon.

Junior English received an early yellow card after he brought down Darlo's Harvey Saunders just outside the box. Breeden made a great save from the resultant free kick.

Darlington were, however, dominant and soon went ahead. (Just how dominant is evident now that I have watched the video, they were slicing us apart.) Breeden made another great save, but then the visitors broke at pace and secured their second. Dwyer then received a red card for a foul.

Once again Brakes were often out paced to the ball. They lacked width and the tactic of hoofing the ball up to a lone striker failed to work. At this stage it looked as if a rout could be on the cards.

Leamington looked livelier in the second half and even more so after Colby Bishop came on after his long spell out injured, followd by a double substitution.

A handball in the box gave Bishop the chance to show what he could do and he struck a decisive penalty to make it 1-2. Brakes then piled on the pressure and Jack Edwards scored the equaliser from a corner.

Both sides tried to get a third goal in an entertaining game.

Leamington are now 15th in the table.

No dogs were in attendance. Humans 765.

Stenson joins Moors

Matt Stenson has been a key element of Leamington's relative success this season and it is a real blow that he has joined Solihull Moors for an undisclosed fee: No Christmas present