Tony Breeden has left the Brakes after a training ground incident that left Jack Edwards with a broken nose: Breeden departs
This is sad end to a long career at the Brakes during which Breeden has contributed much, not just to results but also in entertainment value. It is not a good start to the impending National League North season.
It's ours again
It was the icing on the cake of a successful season when Leamington beat Nuneaton Borough 4-1 at St.Andrews tonight to win the historic Birmingham Senior Cup for the seventh time. Several hundred Brakes fans turned up, substantially outnumbering the Nuneaton massive.
It was very much a game of two halves with the score 0-0 at half time. In the first half Leamington had most of the possession but had difficulty in penetrating the two back lines of four. Nuneaton players fell over at every opportunity to disrupt the rhythm of the game and they succeeded. The game plan was evidently to take it to penalties. There were a couple of moments when Nuneaton looked as if they could score, but they failed to take their opportunities
Brakes upped their tempo in the second half and Colby Bishop, who won the man of the match award, opened the scoring on 51 minutes with a well taken goal. Nuneaton equalised, but Brakes were back on top after a couple of minutes through an own goal created by Obeng. Bishop scored the third. Ahmed Obeng had been playing well all game and when he scored the fourth goal, he leapt into the crowd to embrace relatives, receiving the obligatory yellow card.
Brakes were a bit careless in the closing minutes and the old five was not achieved, but soon the game was over to chants of 'Tony Breeden, on the wing, on the wing'. Breeden nearly knocked himself out with the lid of the trophy.
Congratulations to Sally Ellis, our programme editor, on her well-deserved volunteer's award.
Leamington finished a creditable 13th with 54 points in the National League North after a 1-1 draw at Darlington this afternoon. This is the best finish since the club was resurrected in 2000.
Leamington managed to contain the home side until just before half time when they went ahead. Bishop equalised in the second half. Breeden made a number of good saves throughout the game: how much we owe him.
Congratulations to the 20 or so Brakes fans who made the long trip.
Next season only two clubs go down as the pyramid is reorganised so we should still be in tier two when (hopefully) our new stadium nears completion.
Praise is due to the board, the manager, the players and all the volunteers who keep the club going. Paul Holleran has his critics, and I have sometimes had reservations about our style of play, but his contacts enable us to bring in great loan players.
And we have a cup final to look forward to.
No one can fault the effort put in by Leamington's players against Stockport County on a cold Tuesday night at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium. However, it was not enough to prevent a 0-1 defeat by high flying Stockport County in front of a crowd of 604 (no dogs seen).
The visitors were often faster to the ball than the Brakes and showed considerable speed down the wings. However, I did hope that we could hold on until half time but a simple header on 37 minutes gave Stockport their winning goal.
If it was not for two brilliant saves by Tony Breeden, the margin of defeat could have been bigger. For me, Ahmed Obeng, with his ability to get round opposition players, was my man of the match.
The first half in particular was relatively free of fouls, but a yellow card was issued to each team in the second half, Colby Bishop for Leamington.
A Stockport fan said that we had given them as hard a time as anyone in the last twenty minutes. Maybe. According to social media there was trouble afterwards in the car park with charm merchants from up north giving it large.
Leamington drew 0-0 with Brackley Town at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium in front of a crowd of 643 and one dog. They remain in 12th place in the table.
Junior English was unavailable because of injury.
Brackley had the edge for large parts of the game with the number of their corners well into double figures. They often seemed to be first to the ball, while Leamington lacked width. We really only had one shot on target during the whole game.
The visitors had an early soft penalty but Glenn Walker managed to send it well wide. Indeed, throughout Brackley's shooting let them down, although Breeden was troubled more than his opposite number.
Brakes looked a bit brighter in the second half, but Breeden had to make one great one handed save to keep them in the game.
Leamington have now drawn four of their last five games.
A last minute equaliser by high flying Chorley held Leamington to a 1-1 draw at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. Four minutes were added on, but the referee decided to go for more and the visitors seized their chance.
This was very much a game dominated by a strong wind. Leamington had the benefit in the first half and Chorley in the second.
The first half was relatively uneventful and quite scrappy, although two Chorley charm merchants were booked for obstructing Breeden. Then a good move started by Gudger (who had an excellent game throughout) enabled Colby Bishop to score on the half hour mark.
Chorley stepped up a gear in the last five minutes of the half and Breeden had to make a one handed save after he saw the ball late.
The visitors came out of the traps in determined mood after the break. Leamington held firm, although the wind meant there were few effective attacking moves. Breeden made a great save, tipping the ball over the bar. Leamington used all three substitutes, but I thought Dwyer was flimsy when he came. The Brakes withstood a series of corners, but were not able to hold on to the ball and eventually conceded.
Disappointing to lose in that way, but it was probably a fair result and one we would have taken before the game.
Leamington won 1-0 against high flying Chester in a hard fought contest at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium today in front of a crowd of 975 and two dogs. They are now 11th in the table. The Brakes played as well as I have seen them do all season.
It was a good game of football, only spoilt by self-important referee Elliott Swallow who issued a blizzard of yellow cards to Leamington players.
Leamington threatened early on with a great run from a Chester corner, but the keeper saved with his feet. After charm merchant Adam Dawson rolled around on the ground in agony, Callum Gittings was the first Brakes player to be booked. (Dawson was with AFC Telford until recently, the latest stage in a varied career, and Telford have reported Chester to the FA for an alleged illegal approach). The referee did then manage to book Chester captain Gary Roberts, although it was not clear what he had done.
Chester hit the crossbar from a free kick and Tony Breeden had to be very mobile in the follow up to make a great save.
The visitors came out of the traps at a fast and furious pace after half time, but Tony Breeden made a good save from Dawson. Chester had an open goal, but failed to take advantage.
After good work by Connor Taylor, Colby Bishop (who had been holding the ball up well) had a tap in to make it 1-0 on 82 minutes. Chester had a couple of good attempts on goal and Tony Breeden, who had been a rock throughout, had to be at his very best.
Very fair report from Chester here: Match report
Leamington are 14th in the National North after losing 0-1 at home to Curzon Ashton today. What is more worrying is that they have won only one of the last five league games. The good start to the season is fading fast.
Unfortunately, referee Amy Fearn had a poor game. When I have seen her before she has been good. But the decisive penalty she awarded early in the game was never a penalty, as far as I could see it was two players coming together.
Having said that, Brakes were poor in the first half. They were outplayed by the visitors, were slow to the ball and had just one shot on target.
The performance in the second half was better, but still not clinical enough in front of goal. Tony Breeden had to make one great save and Curzon could and should have scored a second.
The antics of Curzon's No.10, charm merchant Adam Morgan, towards the end of the game were a sight to behold. He kept falling over, but his basic problem was that he was carrying too much weight and had a low centre of gravity.
There's a lot of work to be done if we are to avoid being sucked into a relegation struggle. Too often we seemed to lack any width.
Attendance on Non-League Day was 705 and one dog.
It was the longest away trip of the season, but Brakes secured a 2-0 victory over Blyth Spartans this afternoon.
Brakes had an excellent first fifteen minutes and a brilliant first half. On six minutes Edwards headed home from a Dunbar free kick. Dunbar himself then scored on 32 minutes with a 25-yard free kick that dipped over the wall and went off the inside of the post leaving the keeper stranded.
Ahmed Obeng and Matt Stenson both have chances to score before half time.
The home side got a penalty on 64 minutes for a push in the back, but penalties don't faze us and Breeden made the save, anticipating the right way to go.
On 70 minutes Clarke cleared off the line from a free kick.
Brakes could have added a third in injury time, but Dwyer opted to shoot rather than passing.
Brakes are now 8th, behind Brackley in the play off places on goal difference.
Attendance 596, no figures on dogs.
The coach had to stop at Leicester Forest East on the way back, but the players seem to have enjoyed themselves judging by the photos on social media.
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.
Tony Breeden was the hero of the hour when he took a penalty this evening to put Leamington 1-0 up against Chorley. He then wisely did not take the second penalty in time added on, leaving it to Callum Gittings to make it 2-0.
Leamington are not mathematically safe, but they are 15th and it would take a very odd combination of results in the remaining games to see them relegated even if they don't pick up a point from their two remaining fixtures.
It was a feisty encounter with a blizzard of yellow cards and eventually Chorley charm merchant Josh O'Keefe got sent off for a second yellow in the dying minutes of the game.
In the first half Dodd had a one on one chance, but blasted the ball over. Chorley also wasted a good chance by blasting the ball over.
In the second half Chorley put the ball just over from a corner. In the closing minutes they had two free kicks in dangerous positions. The first came off the wall and the second was blasted over.
There wasn't much quality, but a lot of heart and commitment. I agree that we were unlikely to score from open play and the second penalty was a bit soft, but I'll take it.
My first live football for over two months and good to see Leamington secure a much needed three points with a 1-0 victory over FC United of Manchester. It was a tight game, as was to be expected, but we are now six points off the drop zone.
Edwards hit the bar early on with a looping shot. Breeden made a good save to stop the visitors going ahead. Charm merchant Daniel Racchi received a yellow card for a foul. In play following a free kick, Jamie Hood scored a vital goal just before the break. (For me and others he was man of the match). Dunbar sent the ball in and it came off Hood's knee. There was still time for the referee to give Jack Edwards his birthday card and it was yellow.
Dodd replaced Obening in the second half and then Magunda replaced Clarke. Breeden made a vital one handed save. The visitors kept up the pressure through corners, but Brakes were resolute. Racchi finally got a second yellow card and his marching orders.
Attendance 1,005 plus one away dog.
I wish I could have been at the 1-0 victory over Blyth Spartans in front of a crowd of 524, but I have only just got out of hospital. Leamington have recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season and are now 15th in the table.
Tony Breeden is the hero for saving a penalty, but all credit to Udoh for his goal.
It seems to have been a real nail biter in the closing fifteen minutes.
Former Leamington player Alex Rodman scored the opener for Shrewsbury against Charlton today.
The Non-League Paper has given Tony Breeden the accolade of a rare score of 9 for his performance in the 4-0 victory over Spennymoor, well-deserved given his two super penalty saves. Colby Bishop also received a 9.
Other scores: Taundry, 8; Gudger, 7; Magunda, 7; Hood, 7; English, 7; Dunbar, 7; Gittings, 7; Bishop, 9 (Revan, 7); Clarke, 7; Felix, 7.
One tweeter described it as the outstanding result of Non-League Day as Leamington beat promotion challengers Salford City 3-2 and ended their unbeaten home run in front of a crowd of 1,582.
I would not have been able to make it as I was taking part in the Alzheimer's Society Memory Walk in Leamington in memory of my wife Maggie, a former vice-president. At least it was good to see I could walk 5.5 kms without difficulty, albeit a bit slowly.
The report in the Non-League Paper is a bit grudging, describing it as 'unlikely win'. At least one of the Salford fans seems upset with the officials for not dealing with Leamington 'cheating' and is going to report them. Good luck with that (I think the standard of officiating at this level is much better than it was in the third tier). Leamington goals were:
Non-League Paper Player Ratings
Star man: Tony Breeden. Mace, 6; Gudger, 7; Hood, 6; English, 6; Clarke, 6; Dunbar, 7 (Taundry 90); Magunda, 6; Moore, 6 (Revan, 68, 7); Edwards, 5; Thompson-Brown, 6 (Gittings, 80, 6).
It looked as if it was going to end in a dull 0-0 draw and a replay at home, or possibly yet another early exit from the FA Cup. However, Leamington scored two late goals at Westfields this afternoon to put themselves in the draw for the 3rd qualifying round.
Breeden gave away a penalty on 15 minutes, but then redeemed himself by saving the home side's effort. After a poor first half for the visitors, things brightened up somewhat in the second half with Jamie Hood (who had earlier received a harsh booking) hitting the bar.
Bishop scored for the Brakes on 89 minutes after a Dunbar free kick initially went into the wall. Brakes then won a penalty which was scored by Robbie Thompson-Brown to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
Leamington lost their third home match of the season when they went down 2-3 at home to Alfreton Town at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium last night. Fortunately, North Ferriby United , who were ahead at half time, lost 2-1 so the Brakes are not bottom of the table.
The heavy rain in the run up to the match undoubtedly kept the crowd down which was 435 and I didn't see the non-league dog. The rain stopped before long.
After Obeng was brought down, having taken advantage of a good through ball from Dunbar, Leamington were awarded a penalty which was decisively taken by Tony Breeden. The visitors then equalised through play from a corner, but Stefan Moore put the Brakes 2-1 ahead with a poacher's goal. He is looking leaner and meaner this season. The target was then to keep the lead until half time, but a defensive mix up saw the equaliser scored on 45 minutes.
It was end-to-end in the second half, but Alfreton showed considerable pace, were quicker to the ball and provided some accurate long-range passes. It looked as if we were settling for a point. It was no surprise when they scored the winner after a defensive mix up following a free kick. Once again we were being forced back with the striker isolated up front and we start to tire in the last 15 minutes, leading to panic stations.
A splendid full moon came out, but even broomsticks wouldn't have helped Leamington get an equaliser.
The returning Jack Edwards, whose visage was on the front of the programme, contributed well. He picked up a head wound and also a yellow card.
Paul Holleran was given a resounding vote of confidence by chairman Jim Scott in the programme. The real problem, anyway, is that the players are not good enough for this level.
Brakes went down 2-0 at Kidderminster Harriers last night. I had hoped to get to Kiddy, but was feeling a bit under the weather yesterday.
In the second half the hosts were awarded what some who were thought was a soft penalty, possibly even diving. Then later Breeden went up for a corner and Kiddy seized their opportunity and scored from 40 yards.
I enjoy watching Tony Breeden, he reminds me of my boyhood hero Sam Bartram who was also a bit of a showman who liked to play out of his goal, but I think that Breeden needs to calm down a bit.
Leamington are now 17th. I think the one hope this season is that there are a few weaker sides in the division. Village team North Ferriby United are still on zero points after four games.
Unofficial Brakes commented, 'Just as you'd expect. We worked hard, hard to break down, never looked like scoring. We HAVE to sign a goal scorer, else we will go down. Simple as that.'
Courtney Baker-Richardson came on for Swansea City in the Checkatrade Trophy and provided the assist that led to the winning goal.
