Villa vanquished

Leamington went through to the final of the Birmingham Senior with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa under 23s at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium tonight.

Villa started brightly and went ahead on 10 minutes through a header from Aaron Pressley. The visitors had tremendous pace, getting quickly from one end of the pitch to the other, but their finishing left something to be desired.

Leamington were stronger in the second half while Villa faded. Ahmed Obeng was tormenting the Villa defence and a free kick was awarded after he was brought down by Villa charm merchant Mungo Bridge who received a yellow card for his trouble. The free kick led to a goalmouth scramble with Junior English scoring.

The winner came from Colby Bishop converting a corner with a header.

We played the ball along the ground more than we normally do and there was less hoofing than usual.

The referee had a good game, particularly to be commended for insisting that throw ins were taken in the right spot.

Three crucial points

Leamington secured three crucial points at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon with a 1-0 victory over Southport. With most other games postponed, Brakes moved up to 16th, ten points above FC United in the leading relegation place.

The goal came after seven minutes when a mix up between the Southport keeper and his defender allowed Colby Bishop to score.

The strong wind did not make for accurate football, but Brakes were able to hold Southport at bay.

Doltish Southport defender Matthew Platt eventually picked up the yellow card he had been looking for all afternoon, but then Junior English was booked. A second harsh booking saw him sent off.

It wasn't a quality game, but the win was vital. Attendance was a disappointing 450.

Not good enough

Leamington lost 0-1 to an in form York City at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium in front of a crowd of 801 this afternoon. I didn't think the Minstermen were that marvellous. However, we were often second to the ball and insufficiently clinical in front of goal. And, once again, we relied too much on the long ball. The midfield weren't very evident, but then the long ball game doesn't help them. The windy conditions didn't help accurate passing.

The game was decided in the 10th minute when a cross came in from the right and Breeden unusually fumbled the ball allowing the visitors to score.

We did get better as the second half wore on and had some chances, but we were unable to take them. In particular, we should have scored from a corner but the ball went just over. A late free kick was also unproductive.

Hood put in some good defensive work and one positive was Junior English getting forward more.

The referee didn't do us any favours. Just as well York City had a Pullman coach with a comfy seat for him.

The last three matches against York have ended in 2-2 draws, but we never really looked like getting an equaliser today.

Ashton lost at Alfreton so we are still six points above the drop zone in 17th. Tuesday evening's opponents, Bradford Park Avenue, drew at home with Curzon Ashton.

Brakes bounce back in style

After recent defeats and draws, Leamington bounced back in style with a convincing 3-0 win over promotion hopefuls Altrincham at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. They have now edged up to 13th in the table.

Altrincham looked really dangerous in the first ten minutes. But then a scramble in front of goal followed a corner and Junior English was able to get the ball home on 12 minutes. A great run at the defence by Jordan Murphy saw him brought down and Colby Bishop scored from the resultant penalty. Then just before half time a long pass from Murphy enabled Colby Bishop to head home the third.

Hopes of the old five were dashed in the second half, but Tony Breeden did not have that much to do, although the Robins won a number of corners. They had a tendency to send the ball way over the goal into the trees and the field and also liked to faff around in defence. But Brakes defended well and Jordan Murphy broke up attacks in midfield.

The linesman spotted something by Jordan Hulme, I think it was having a go off the ball at Junior English and northern charm merchant Jordan Hulme was shown the red card. The linos and the referee actually worked as a team for once.

New signing Mikey Taylor had a cameo in what by then were difficult conditions, not enough to take a view about his potential contribution.

Two points thrown away

Leamington were leading Guiseley 2-1 at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. They were putting the visitors under some pressure, but a stupid foul allowed the visitors to break away and score a late equaliser.

Brakes had lacked quality in the first half and seemed reluctant to create any width. However, on 37 minutes Matt Stenson provided a cool finish with the keeper out of his goal to put Brakes 1-0 ahead at half time.

Just after the break, Breeden fumbled a fierce shot from distance, allowing the visitors to scramble the ball home. Junior English, who had been having a good game, then put Brakes ahead again from a tight angle.

Brakes are now 7th in the table.

Attendance was a slightly disappointing 495 and one dog. There was a small but vociferous Guiseley contingent.

A valuable victory

Paul Holleran said in his programme notes that Boston United could be in the top seven at the end of the season. Maybe, but Leamington secured an emphatic 2-0 victory over them at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium tonight in front of 656 and two dogs. Some of Boston's passing was good, but their finishing left something to be desired. They seemed to be specialists at putting headers over the bar.

Boston hit the post early on in the first half, but dodgy work by the keeper contributed to the opener. A great ball into the box was met by a diving header by Matt Stenson. The keeper saved it but it bounced backwards and rolled into the net This silenced the vociferous away contingent.

On 71 minutes a Dunbar corner was converted by Junior English with a volley that left the keeper with no chance.

Callum Gittings got sent off by the rather ineffectual referee. Gittings got a second yellow for an off the ball incident.

Home defeat

I had hoped that Tamworth at home was one match Leamington could win, but the Brakes went down 1-2 at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium tonight. We didn't deserve to win the match. There were far too many aimless long balls. Possession was surrendered too easily.

We went behind on four minutes to a rather fluke own goal which bounced down off the crossbar. Tamworth's No.9, charm merchant, Reece Styche, was establishing himself as the pantomime villain and did eventually get a yellow card later in the game.

Junior English drew Leamington level on 24 minutes, taking advantage of a corner. Tamworth continued to threaten, a fierce shot from distance coming off the post.

Both teams had chances in the second half, but Tamworth looked more of a threat. Leamington seemed to spend most of the time clearing their lines and it was no surprise when they sneaked the ball into the net on 74 minutes. A double substitution for the Brakes, featuring Walsall loan player Milan Butterfield, made no real difference.

Obeng had a good game.

I didn't hear the attendance, but it looked like a good crowd for a wet Tuesday night.

Paul Okey has tweeted that Courtney Baker-Richardson's move to Swansea City is just awaiting for the result of heart scans. Apparently, there should be a decent cash sum in it for Brakes.

4-3 win for Brakes

Brakes continued their impressive run of pre-season preparations with a 4-3 win over a youthful Birmingham City side at a chilly and wet Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. It was 4-1 at half time, but the visitors replaced hapless keeper Jake Weaver by Conal Trueman who was much more impressive while Leamington faded a little in the second half. Indeed, they probably would not have won if it was not for a number of impressive saves by Tony Breeden throughout the game which won praise from Birmingham fans around me.

A rather soft penalty allowed Rob Thompson-Brown to open the scoring for the home side on six minutes. The visitors started to come to the game a bit more, but then Courtney Baker-Richardson made it 2-0 on 24 minutes. McDonald replied for the visitors, but Brakes then went 3-1 ahead through Junior English who worked well throughout the game. Good work by Ahmed Obeng on the wing set up Baker-Richardson to make it 4-1 before the break.

The visitors made it 4-2 with what was probably the best goal of the matches and then on 80 minutes the ball crept in from a corner.

Stefan Moore came on a sub, but I don't think he touched the ball once, ghosting around the pitch. It was an entertaining match.