Saturday 23 November 2013

Three important points

It wasn't a great performance by Leamington against Histon this afternoon, but the 1-0 victory through a Matty Dodd penalty in the 77th minute gives us three points which are an important contribution to our campaign for survival in the Skrill North.

We played better against Gainsborough Trinity and plenty in the larger crowd of 545 expressed their frustration. However, Histon were a better side. They were well marshalled at the back and in the first half in particular released their right back Remy Clamira to forage down the wing. They were also better at finding their man and keeping possession.

Saves from Breeden and a good intervention by Liam Daly kept us in the game in the first half, while Jay Dowie received a yellow card for felling Dodd. Our best chance came when Ricky Johnson was given a good through ball, but he was unable to outwit the keeper. Magunda received a yellow card and an injury which meant he had to be substituted after half time. The resultant free kick came off the wall.

A deflection nearly saw the ball in the net for the Brakes. We were getting into the game more and then we were awarded the penalty. It was a penalty, although a relatively soft one and Dodd made no mistake with his strike. After that we did just enough to prevent an equaliser. As they say, one is enough.

Tuesday 19 November 2013

Inept referee adds to bitter feelings between clubs

This appeared in the programme for the Burton game:

A great deal of bad blood existed in 1913 between Leamington Town and C.Y.M.S. from Coventry or the ‘Catholics’ as they were known. This had its origins in the matches in the preceding season for the Leamington Hospital Cup (which Town lost) and the Birmingham Junior Cup (which Town won). Matters were not improved by an away game which ended in a 3-3 draw, the opposition levelling through a goal that was clearly offside in the view of ‘Looker On’ from the Courier.

The referee was seen as completely incompetent and lost control of the game, making matters worse by leaving ten minutes before the end of the match and handing over to a friend. ‘Looker On’ concluded, ‘Saturday’s game was rougher than should have been the case and the referee’s decision concerning that last goal will not in the least mend matters, but rather tend to add to the feelings of bitterness between the clubs.’

‘Looker On’ admitted that although the opposition’s football was ‘crude and inartistic, they bombarded the Leamington goal for long periods in the game. On the other hand, when one took a more comprehensive view of the play, one could see that Leamington were playing much better football, and although the forwards did not receive a great deal of help from the halves – who had difficulty in keeping their feet – they were possessed of a harmony which was not to be found among their more weighty but tactless opponents.’ ‘Looker On’ seemed to be implying that the Catholics had eaten too many pies.

Leamington did not appear to be playing at their best: ‘As a spectator, I was disappointed with the character of the play. There was none of that enthusiasm and virility which have characterised the Leamington team of late. The opening witnessed very poor football.’ Even so, Leamington were two goals ahead within the quarter of an hour. The first came after a well-organised rush with ‘China’ Hill passing to Bert Adams who quickly passed to Ludford. The winger drew the defence on to himself, passing to Holmes who scored. Then Hill got the ball through to Howard Adams to score the second. The Catholics pulled one back before half time.

The second half was characterised by continuous fouling, but the inept referee seemed to have lost his whistle. The home side scored a second and this was followed by the disputed goal which was obtained when Town had stopped playing because the scorer was so blatantly offside. Momentarily, Town considered walking off in protest, but they continued and Holmes scored the equaliser.

Compared with first place at the equivalent time in the preceding season, Leamington were fourth at the beginning of November in the Coventry and North Warwickshire League, Division 1, three points behind the leaders Courtaulds. Cubbington Albion were bottom with just one point. ‘Looker On’ noted that Leamington ‘have spent most of the time so far in choosing the best team available. I think at last they have discovered it, and will now begin to make rapid strides for the top of the league.’ Elsewhere, Bramble suffered a 20-0 defeat at the hands of Siddeley Deasy in the Midland Daily Telegraph Junior Cup.

Saturday 16 November 2013

Brakes Are Up For The Cup

Leamington won a convincing 2-0 victory over Gainsborough Trinity in the FA Trophy at the New Windmill Ground this afternoon. A number of people said to me that the first half was the best performance by the Brakes they had seen this season and a high standard was maintained after the break, only the Trinity keeper preventing a higher score. Matty Dodd and Stefan Moore both had a particularly good game. Unfortunately only 373 people came to the match, although the canine attendance doubled to two.

Ricky Johnson had an effort in the opening minutes when he burst through and hit the advertising hoardings with a powerful header. Trinity then had a chance at the Harbury Lane end with a free header, but put the ball over. Trinity's Josh Wilde was yellow carded for a blatant trip on Dodd as he powered up the wing. Leamington kept up the pressure with two corners and then great work by Moore set up Johnson, but a save was made on the line.

On 32 minutes Moore laid the ball off for Chilton who seized the opportunity with an excellent finish to make it 1-0. Dan Clayton was given a yellow card for a foul on Dodd.

The Trinity keeper kept them in the game with a series of instinctive series in the second half. In particular, he made a great save on the line from Johnson. Then on 77 minutes good work by Dodd set up Moore who calmly slotted the ball in the net to make it 2-0. Barnes in the Trinity goal made another great save at the expense of a Brakes corner.

Brakes switched off a bit towards the end and in the four minutes added on Trinity scored, but it was ruled to be offside. Coming on the back of the midweek victory, this was a very encouraging performance.