Another 0-1 defeat late in the game

As today's game against Gainsborough Trinity at the New Windmill Ground stuttered to a close and I dusted down my 'bore draw' headline, one wag in the stand said, 'can we hang on for a 0-0?' Within a minute or two the inevitable happened and our bottom of the table opposition had won the game with a single goal. We weren't very good, they weren't very good, but they seized their chance. Tony Breeden had kept us into the game up to then with two great saves, but there was nothing he could do in the 87th minute as the ball came back off the post and was put in the back of net with a fierce shot.

We didn't look at all comfortable in the opening part of the first half. The visitors were capable of a turn of speed and broke through more than once. The ball was hoofed up in the air far too much and if it hadn't been for some great defensive work by Paul McCone we could have been in more trouble.

In the last twenty minutes or so of the half we did start to play more coherently. Lee Chilton advanced on goal and put in a strong shot and it is to the credit of Trinity keeper Phil Barnes that he was able to tip it over. Elliot Sandy put in a good header on 35 minutes that hit the post and it is by such thin margins that games are decided.

Claran Toner for Trinity suffered a nasty cut above the eye and had to be helped off the pitch just before half time.

We showed no real signs of making a decisive breakthrough in the second half and Stefan Moore was withdrawn in favour of Ricky Johnson. As Simon Russell set up a good attack for Trinity, Breeden had to make a great save. After some casual defending on our part, the visitors had another chance and put the ball just wide. Lee Moore was withdrawn in favour of Alex Taylor. Lee Chilton looked the most lively player, although not all his efforts were effective, but did hit the post. Breeden had to make another excellent save.

In the four minutes added on, new acquisition Will Green was brought to replace Daly, who still look affected by the tonsillitis referred to in the programme but it was too late for the substitution to have any effect.

We are, of course, badly hit by injuries as the presence of James Husband on the bench showed. But we have to try and score some goals, only two in six games now.

I thought that referee Andy Hendley controlled the game well. For most of the crowd of 561, however, the overall feeling was one of frustration, bordering on despair. This was one of the least entertaining games I have seen at Harbury Lane for quite some time. Brakes are now second from bottom above Oxford City.

Margin not as thin as it looks

Football is a game of thin margins and the 0-1 victory by Solihull Moors at the New Windmill Ground may seem to confirm this impression. However, whereas a draw would have been a fairer result against Gloucester City, Moors deserved their victory last night. With their considerable strength they out muscled Leamington and were quicker to the ball which they kept moving at a fast pace. Two blokes in front of me kept proclaiming that Brakes were merde. However, in my view Moors were the best team we have seen at Harbury Lane this season, even better than Altrincham. They look serious promotion contenders.

That the score was kept down to 0-1 says something for the commitment and work rate of the team, even if it wasn't always sophisticated. Once again I would single out Tony Breeden for praise. He made a number of great saves. The goal wasn't down to him but to a mix up in the defence.

We are still on a learning curve as far as this division is concerned, but it is a league worth playing in. On a damp evening with Champions League football, the attendance of 548 was boosted by a substantial contingent of Moors supporters.

We did have an early flurry with two corners and a shot that came off the bar. Brakes had a bit of a let off early in the half when the visitors managed to waste opportunities from a corner and a free kick.

Full credit to Paul McCone for a great block in the first half. He also made use of a good cross later in the half to put in an effort that was just wide. When Moors charm merchant Jordan Gough brought down the lively Dodd, I was expecting a yellow card and indeed the referee gave one for a similar offence against Brakes in the second half.

Solihull had three corners in succession early in the second half, but were unable to make them count. They then had a free kick in a dangerous position which came off the wall. Ricky Johnson was taken off and replaced by Craig Owen. Solihull's No.10 shirt (Junior English, for it was he) charged into Breeden and received a yellow card. Elliott Sandy, who got himself booked at Stockport, was substituted by Alex Taylor. The ball hit the post as Solihull continued to threaten.

Josh Green was injured and had to be helped off the pitch. On 86 minutes Solihull scored their winner, the ball slipping past Breeden. Brakes then had their best spell of the match, playing less defensively and taking the game to the visitors. Singh in the Moors goal had to tip the ball over the crossbar and another shot went just wide.

For those of you who have been waiting for my history of Leamington Town's 1912-13 season, the equipment at the bookbinders has at last been mended. It will be on sale at Saturday's game, but if anyone living away from Leamington wants a copy please contact me, but I will have to charge 50p postage and packing on top of the £5 cover price or £1 outside the UK.

A game of two halves

When I got out of the station at Stockport, I knew that I was 'oop North as the road was cobbled. A short walk to the ground. Having my bag searched before I went in reminded me that I was at a ground whose team has a different pedigree from ours.

I have seen various figures for the number of away supporters ranging from 152 to 194, but I thought it was about 150. Anyway, the Stockport blog I have read thought we were the best away support this year. We were being peppered with wayward shots before the game and one unfortunate took a direct hit and sustained a cut on the bridge of his nose, being helped away by a steward for some first aid. We were right under the flight path for Manchester Airport and any high balls risked hitting a plane.

Attractive printed programme and quite a lot about Leamington for the first ever meeting between the two towns. The comparison of the leagues we had been in in different seasons was striking, eleven levels when we started out. The programme featured a 2-1 win at Manchester City. One contributor dismissed us as 'Leamington? We are Stockport County.' There was a rather laboured attempt at humour over a cup between spa towns, the writer noting that there would have been only seven entrants, but he had forgotten Tenbury Wells.

Stefan Moore was out injured, but sheer joy on the Railway End when Ricky Johnson put the Brakes ahead on three minutes. He intercepted a poor ball from Charnock and calmly slotted home. Within twenty minutes the referee was telling off Tony Breeden, who had to make a good save from Rhys Turner, for time wasting. County used the wing a lot and they were most effective when they put in long angled balls to one of their wingers. After a quick throw from Morley, Lee Chilton put an effort just inches wide.

County brought on Adriano Moke after the break, Tunji Moses also coming on in a double substitution. Moke was complaining in the programme about being treated as an impact super sub, but whether the speedy winger was the reason, County upped their game and the home support found their voice. Moke misused a chance by driving a shot over the bar. Jordan Fagbola was effective for County in defence. Stephan Morley hit the upright with a fierce shot from thirty yards out. It was not a complete surprise when Jevons equalised for the home side, although still disappointing, but 1-1 is a credible result and the players and Holleran received warm applause at the end of the game.

On the way back the train was invaded by Villa founds drowning their sorrows, together with Pompey fans who had been at Burton and this proved something of a volatile mix.

Here is the Manchester Evening News report of yesterday's game: Stockport

We knew it wasn't going to be easy ...

We knew it wasn't going to be easy, but another 0-1 home defeat still hurts and this time in front of a crowd of 853 on Non-League Day. Altrincham are a promotion-chasing club, although I wouldn't think that the neutral coming on Non-League Day would be that impressed by the overall standard of football.

Nevertheless, Altrincham had the edge over this. They were better able to find their man, better at dispossessing us and better organised defensively. For example, in the second half their left back made a fast run up the wing to collect the ball and no one seemed to spot him. Fortunately, it came to nothing that time, but it was indicative of a problem. No wonder that there seem be to an exchange of views coming from the home dressing room at half time.

We did have chances, but once again we failed to take them. The referee added six minutes on to the second half, but if we had had extra time, we probably wouldn't have scored.

The officials didn't help us much. Unfortunately, because of the Australian general election, there were no Rules games this weekend, so we got a referee who specialises in them. Or that's the way it seemed to me because he was tolerant of shoves and grabs that would be permitted at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (where Rules games are played) but are not usually allowed on a football pitch. Nevertheless, Altrincham had the edge on us.

Tony Breeden made a great save on 10 minutes and there was nothing wrong with his game. For me, Matt Dodd was the best outfield player. On 20 minutes a defensive error let Damian Reeves in and Breeden really had no chance as he scored what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Daly got a yellow card for kicking the ball away as Altrincham were awarded a free kick in front of the 'D', but we survived that threat. Perry had to come on after Walshaw went off. Breeden had to make another great save and a Brakes corner gave temporary hope. Nicky Clee picked up a yellow card. We got into the game more as the end of the half approached, but two corners in succession were ultimately unproductive.

I thought that play was a bit more ragged in the second half from both sides, although we had more possession than in the first half. The Altrincham keeper went down in a collision, but made a miraculous recovery. Mike Williams for Altrincham had to be carried off the pitch after no stretcher was available. The unimpressive Sandy was taken off and replaced by Ricky Johnson, leading to shouts of 'Come on the 11 men'. Later Towers came off for Lee Moore. In time added on, there was a great chance with an open goal, but all that resulted was a corner after their keeper managed to get his fingers to the ball.

As I was waiting in the car park (it seemed to take a long time to get out), Radio 5 announced that Stockport County had got their first win of the season, 3-1 in the six pointer with Gainsborough Trinity.

Apologies to anyone who was expecting to buy a Leamington Town history today, but they didn't arrive as promised. As far as I gather, there has been an issue with the laminated cover.