Hard won point

It was a hard won point for Leamington in a 2-2 draw with AFC Telford at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. It was a tense occasion at times and the referee had difficulty in keeping control despite issuing a flurry of yellow cards.

On August Bank Holiday last year Brakes went down 0-3 to the Bucks and I feared we would be relegated. This year it was a different story of fifth versus second.

Brakes went 1-0 ahead on seven minutes from a Matt Stenson penalty. Gittings put in a good shot. Telford were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position. It was well taken and there was nothing Tony Breeden could do to prevent the equaliser scored by Dawson. A Leamington effort was just over.

Telford went ahead immediately after half time following a defensive mix up right in front of goal. Brakes then equalised through Hood on 62 minutes when there was a scramble in front of goal from a corner.

Telford then won a penalty on 64 minutes, but it was well saved by Breeden. A deflected shot from Dunbar hit the post leading to a Leamington corner. Towards the end the match petered out with neither side dominant.

Attendance was 812 plus one dog.

Brakes remain in fifth place on goal difference.

Two points thrown away

Leamington were leading Guiseley 2-1 at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. They were putting the visitors under some pressure, but a stupid foul allowed the visitors to break away and score a late equaliser.

Brakes had lacked quality in the first half and seemed reluctant to create any width. However, on 37 minutes Matt Stenson provided a cool finish with the keeper out of his goal to put Brakes 1-0 ahead at half time.

Just after the break, Breeden fumbled a fierce shot from distance, allowing the visitors to scramble the ball home. Junior English, who had been having a good game, then put Brakes ahead again from a tight angle.

Brakes are now 7th in the table.

Attendance was a slightly disappointing 495 and one dog. There was a small but vociferous Guiseley contingent.

A valuable victory

Paul Holleran said in his programme notes that Boston United could be in the top seven at the end of the season. Maybe, but Leamington secured an emphatic 2-0 victory over them at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium tonight in front of 656 and two dogs. Some of Boston's passing was good, but their finishing left something to be desired. They seemed to be specialists at putting headers over the bar.

Boston hit the post early on in the first half, but dodgy work by the keeper contributed to the opener. A great ball into the box was met by a diving header by Matt Stenson. The keeper saved it but it bounced backwards and rolled into the net This silenced the vociferous away contingent.

On 71 minutes a Dunbar corner was converted by Junior English with a volley that left the keeper with no chance.

Callum Gittings got sent off by the rather ineffectual referee. Gittings got a second yellow for an off the ball incident.