Seven goal thriller at the New Windmill

Leamington beat Aresley Town 4-3 in front of a crowd of 539 at the New Windmill Ground despite the best efforts of a penalty happy referee.

Paul Holleran had talked up Aresley before the game and they were certainly impressive going forward, showing considerable pace and passing well. They also had two big centre backs.

Brakes went ahead after 7 minutes. Tom Berwick burst through, controlled the ball well with his chest and put in a decisive strike. Ten minutes later, however, the visitors equalised. A casual attitude in midfield meant that Leamington lost possession and Aresley took advantage with Dillon finding the back of the net.

After another ten minutes two players collided whilst going for the ball in the area and the referee pointed to the spot, Roberts scoring for the visitors by putting the ball into the far corner of the net, although Sawyer nearly made contact with it.

Two minutes later 'goal a game' Liam Daly rose well to a corner and headed the ball into the net to make it 2-2. The remaining quarter of an hour wa a bit scrappy, but Berwick missed a golden chance to make it 3-2 when he was one on one with the keeper but blasted the ball over.

Another 50-50 challenge, this time by the keeper saw Sawyer given a yellow card and Roberts stepped up to make it 2-3 on 54 minutes. Brakes made a double substitution with Dodd and Chilton coming off and Taylor and Husband coming on, notwithstanding a note in the programme that Husband would be rested due to lack of sleep.

A Aresley goal was ruled offside and then Abbey in their goal saved on the line after I thought the ball had gone in. The match was increasingly about the referee who delighted in giving long lectures to errant players. The referee was advised from the Sheepside to get in the box when Aresley had a free kick and to get back when Brakes counter attacked.

However, he did award Leamington a penalty, after Berwick was brought down allowing Magunda to make it 3-3. Then in the dying minutes of the game, Brakes managed to make it 4-3. Good work by Moore set up Daly who headed the ball into the roof of the net. An incredible match.

Play It Again

Leamington go to Stourbridge's Memorial Ground for a 1st qualifying round FA Cup replay on Tuesday night after they drew 2-2 at home with the Glassboys in front of a crowd of 601. It would be difficult to complain about the result.

Stour went ahead on 3 minutes after Hood lost a challenge on the halfway and Liam Daly was beaten for pace by the foraging Knight who easily beat Sawyer to make it 0-1. Craig Owen had to be taken off after seven minutes and replaced by Lee Moore.

The ball was going up in the air too much and we weren't playing our usual passing game, although that may be down in part to the disruptive efforts of the visitors. Sawyer had to make a key save just before the break.

After Brakes had equalised through Lee Moore on 65 minutes who put in a good chip after the keeper punched the ball out, it looked as it might end up 1-1. But then Stour scored a rocket of a shot on 72 minutes to make it 1-2. Brakes did not give up, however, and after a series of corners, it was Daly who equalised with a well taken strike on 86 minutes.

Stour won a free kick in time added on which looked potentially dangerous, but they were not able to make use of the opportunity.

Husband, who looked out of sorts after becoming a father again earlier in the week, was not really comfortable or effective as left back and was eventually replaced by Morley.

One Is (Just) Enough

Leamington won their third match in a row with a 1-0 defeat of Cambridge City at the New Windmill Ground this afternoon. However, it was a less convincing display than the 3-0 defeats of Hitchin and Bedworth, particularly given that the visitors had conceded 13 goals in their first three games. A crowd of 502 plus two dogs watched the spectacle on a warm and increasingly sunny afternoon.

For a moment it looked as if Cambridge might go ahead in the opening minutes, but Swayer made a good recovery after a defender had played the ball in dangerously. However, the ball was up the other end immediately and Berwick nipped round the keeper to put Brakes ahead on four minutes.

Then Berwick challenged the keeper and got the ball in the net, but the referee, who was keen to demonstrate he was not a 'homer' by giving any marginal decision to the visitors, ruled it out for a foul.

And that was pretty much that as far as Brakes were concerned, although they had their chances, Lee Chilton just failing to connect in the second half with a ball across the goal which would have been a tap in. The visitors, meanwhile, showed an ability to stage fast counter attacks.

Cambridge had made their first substitution at half time, taking off the pacey Jordan Patrick. After they made a double substitution halfway through the half, they increasingly dominated the game.

After manager Holleran had been urged to get the hair out of his eyes by one Sheepsider, he made two late substitutions, taking off Dodd who had been below his usual standard and then Batchelor. By that time it was panic stations with Brakes forced back in front of their goal and conceding free kicks and corners. However, the defence stood firm and a late counter relieved the pressure so that Leamington could claim all three points with some relief.

Brakes are now 2nd. Bring on the Stour.