Saturday 9 March 2013

Viva Holleran!

That was the chant that rang round the New Windmill Ground after Leamington celebrated a 4-1 win over Bashley in front of a crowd of 464 on a cold afternoon. But it was very much a game of two halves with a much better second half performance by the Brakes.

It was just like being in SE7 when the Charlton song Into the Valley was played just before the teams came out. After five minutes Stefan Moore put the Brakes ahead by lobbing the keeper.

The game then became rather scrappy with Leamington failing to keep the ball on the ground and the midfield going awol. Their failure to impose themselves on the game led to the inevitable consequence on 27 minutes when Bashley scored with a cracking shot, but they shouldn't have been given so much space. Bashley then had a chance to go 2-1 ahead with an open goal in front of them, but failed to take it.

A small knot of Bashley supporters had been singing the praises of their left back 'Olly', a chant that was taken up ironically by the Sheepsiders. He was then booked just before the break with the teams going in 1-1.

Brakes stepped up a gear in the second half and a move that started with a free kick ended with a goal for Daly on 50 minutes, his shot coming off the underside of the bar. A rather nervous period followed for the home fans as the visitors were still very much in the game and were capable of looking dangerous, even though Leamington were playing more football with some neat passing. Lee Moore got a yellow card for dissent.

A double substitution saw both Moores going off and Ricky Johnson and Sam Adkins came on. Batchelor then made it 3-1 in time added on 87 minutes following on from a rocket shot from Dodd. He was substituted in the dying minutes and received warm applause for his efforts througout the game. Johnson scored the final goal after the keeper had smashed a clearance against him to make it 4-1 in time added on.

Congratulations to the Sheepside linesman on an excellent game.

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