AP Leamington faced table topping Burton Albion, now a League One side, away in mid-March 1974 in a match in which the inactions of the referee were a focus of attention for media commentators (note that the report quoted is written from a Burton perspective). ‘Burton Albion dropped another away point in their quest for the championship of the Southern League First Division North when they were unable to break through a tough uncompromising AP Leamington on defence.’
‘Phil Annable starts a week’s suspension today following his
dismissal from the field towards the end of a Southern League game at
Wellingborough earlier in the season, and after an amazing scene in the
Leamington penalty area just before the interval he, and the Brake’s Foster, could
count themselves very lucky not to be sent off again.
The incident came after tempers frayed following several
niggling fouls from both sides. Buckley
broke down the left and centred. Former
Albion keeper Dave Jones, who gave an impressive display, failed to collect the
cross and both Naylor and Annable at the far post raced in to grab the loose
ball. Annable just got to it, Naylor
left the race falling to the ground with a leg injury and Foster tangled with
Annable.
The first blow came from the Leamington player but he came
out on the worst side of the deal. He
recovered after treatment. Incredibly,
the referee took no action against Foster or Annable and started the game with
a free kick to Leamington. Naylor, who had taken a lot of stick from the
opposition, gamely soldiered on in search of the elusive goal.
Fortunately, before and after this brief period, play had
been more constructive with Burton always in command and pushing forward
relentlessly against a Leamington side prepared to pull everyone back and to
give away a free kick if threatened, but Albion usually so creative from these
set piece situations could not capitalise on them.
Right on half time, Wilkinson blocked a goal bound header
from the diving Naylor after a hard low centre from Buckley. Buckley continued to give the Leamington
defence a lot of trouble and in the 70th minute Lee was booked for a
foul on him. Just before this, Buckley
slotted the ball to Brown, but the advancing Jones dived heavily at his feet to
collect. Then from another Corrigan
centre the visiting keeper was deceived by the flight of the ball and Buckley
was able to get in a header but Bowden managed to hook it clear.
Albion now had the crowd right behind them. A loudspeaker message had announced that
Stourbridge were trailing 3-1 at Tamworth.
Albion battled on but in the packed Leamington area had all of their
efforts blocked.
Then at the other end
Leamington almost snatched both points when they were gifted a great chance by
a dreadful back pass. Foster nipped in,
but Robinson dived to save. Burton had
held a special training session in the morning before the game and this was the
first time they failed to score all season.’
Burton remained four points clear at the top of the table with Brakes
twelve points behind in seventh place.
Leamington: Jones, Taylor, Brady, Bowden, Wilkinson,
Shrimpton, Armstrong, Lee, Talbot. Foster, Goodfellow. Sub: Stewart.
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