Brakes lose Battle of the Spas

It was a frustrating afternoon for Brakes supporters at Harbury Lane as Leamington lost the Battle of the Spas, going down 1-2 at home to Harrogate Town on a cold and blustery afternoon in front of crowd of 608. Following a good draw away at Solihull and a creditable performance against league leaders North Ferriby United, supporters were hoping for more from this mid-table clash.

Leamington started brightly enough and things were looking promising on 19 minutes when Newton burst through on the right wing. For a moment it looked as if the keeper might stop him but Newton got round him to make the score 1-0.

Tony Breeden in the Brakes goal required treatment after making a save from Steve Mallory. Then Ashley Worsfold got the wrong side of Daly and managed to make Breeden, although possibly the keeper should have done better. Breeden then had to make a good save just before half time to keep the score at 1-1.

HT 1-1

Harrogate made the first of a number of substitutions immediately after the break which seemed to serve them well. A great run down the wing by Lee Moore brought chants of 'We've only got one Moore' from the Harbury Lane end. Don't we know it.

The visitors made two more substitutions and kept up the pressure, winning some corners. But then we turned the tables and piled on the pressure with a series of corners. Daly put in a good ball to Ricky Johnson but, in the best chance of the half, he headed the ball just over. If he hadn't had jumped, he might have found the target.

On 79 minutes we failed to clear the ball and Harrogate went ahead through substitute Conor Sellars. Given the quality of our play, with the ball in the air far too much, we seemed unlikely to equalise. Indeed, Hawker picked up the only yellow card of the game, while Breeden had to make another great save to keep the score line respectable. Leamington were not able to make use of four minutes added on. We missed the injured Dodd and Magunda today.

Moore! Moore! Moore!

That was the chant of the Harbury Lane End as Stefan Moore was substituted at the end of Leamington's convincing 3-1 victory over Brackley Town at the New Windmill Ground this afternoon in front of a crowd of 504 and the usual enthusiastic dog. The Skrill North Player of the Month scored two of the goals and created the third.

When I got to the ground I heard that it had been touch and go whether it would called off. Many non-league games were called off, with only that at Ebbsfleet going ahead in the Skrill South. As it was the game was played in torrential rain and strong winds that had the ball swirling around. A kick out by Tony Breeden went into reverse and fortunately went out for a throw in.

Brakes went ahead on 17 minutes when Moore burst down the right after Ricky Johnson had laid the ball off to him. Then Moore made it 2-0 on 26 minutes with another great run. However, Brackley grabbed one back minutes later when Charlie Griffin took advantage of a goalmouth scramble.

HT 2-1

Leamington earned a free kick on the edge of the box with Eddie Nisevic receiving a yellow card for Brackley. Some thought it was inside the box, but I thought it was just outside. On the whole, young referee John Brooks had a good game.

A shot was deflected to produce a Brakes corner, followed by a second. Brackley had a free kick, but it was unproductive. Then excellent work by Stefan Moore on the right wing set up Ricky Johnson to score the third.

Brackley piled on the pressure in the last ten minutes of the game and there were moments of danger with Breeden having to make one save under real pressure. However, Leamington stood firm, with Liam Daly having a good game in defence. It was another excellent result and a great start to 2014.