Not that relaxing

'Relax! Relax!' was the repeated cry of the referee at the New Windmill Ground. But it wasn't that relaxing as Leamington went down 0-1 at home to Guiseley with the referee and his incompetent linesman ignoring a handball from an extended arm in the area. The assessor ran out before the end of the game, but I hoped he noted the error in his report.

Having said that, I did not think our performance was all that good in a rather dull match. Stefan Moore is a cut above the other players, but the midfield still seems to fail to function properly. Of course, they may be because the ball is soaring over their heads. There was too much reliance on a rather predictable long ball. In the second half, moreover, we failed to get a really convincing shot on target. At times there were potential chances, but the advancing player failed to take a shot which might at least have led to a corner.

Some silky skills were shown early in the half when Danny Newton released Stefan Moore but the Guiseley keeper managed to save. A good Leamington attack then broke down through ball watching. Guiseley started a spell of pressure with two corners. It was a bit worrying that Guiseley's Gavin Rothery was virtually able to walk through the Brakes defence. Towards the end of the half Collett had to make a diving save, but it was one that a good keeper should have been able to make.

The new first aid facility was useful at half time when a number of fans in the crowd of 523 and the customary dog had to be treated for over excitement at the spectacle they had seen.

Guiseley had a near miss early in the first half. Danny Newton failed to make use of one of the best chances of the game for Leamington. On 57 minutes the visitors scored with a shot from distance. Collett seemed to be rooted to the spot, only making a slight movement as the ball went in the net.

The home crowd set up a chant of 'Richard Batchelor' and the 'impact player' came on and he certainly put himself about. Collett made a good save. We then had the handball incident which led to the rather unusual chant of 'You're not fit to run the line.'

The visitors were not really being troubled by Leamington and it was difficult to see where a goal would come from, although one late effort by Lee Moore was just wide of the post. Not a surprising result, but still a disappointing one.