That is the question preoccupying Leamington fans today. They were hoping to take the cardboard labrador mascot to tomorrow's big game at Stockport County, but he is nowhere to be found. Searches of the New Windmill Ground have so far been unproductive.
Reports that Hollers has sent Nimrod on loan to Stratford Town have been denied.
Nimrod's plight made the news on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire this morning and the breakfast show host tweeted a picture of the missing hound.
Leamington went down to a 1-2 defeat at the New Windmill Ground to Tamworth, non-league's in form team. However, I felt that we played well and deserved a share of the spoils.
Early pressure led to a Brakes free kick, but it was cleared off the line and then blasted over. Tamworth looked dangerous from a corner, but were unable to put the ball away as we headed off the line. They then had two corners in succession and from the second Paul Green put them ahead on 25 minutes. It was a sloppy goal to concede and the keeper should have done better
However, within four minutes, Brakes were on equal terms. A corner was converted with a powerful bullet header by Delroy Gordon.
Despite calls from behind me for Leamington to ripple the old onion bag, they were unable to score a second with the Tamworth keeper making a good reaction save from Goddard. Tamworth's Joshua Sampson got a yellow card.
After half time, the game was keenly contested, but neither side was able to make the decisive break through. Tamworth goal scorer Green got a yellow card for a nasty foul on Stephan Morley and was eventually withdrawn.
I thought that in the last quarter of an hour Tamworth started to predominate more and on 86 minutes with Atkins out of his goal, after being put in difficulty by a poor back pass, Brendon Daniels got round him to score the winner.
I didn't hear the attendance, but I think it was over 750 with the visitors well supported. However, they didn't have a dog in attendance like us.
It was a raw and foggy Sunday afternoon at the New Windmill Ground which kept the attendance down to under 350 (plus one faithful canine supporter) but Brakes made a good start to 2015 with a hard fought 4-3 victory over Bradford Park Avenue.
Leamington were ahead after two minutes when good work on the right enabled Lee Moore to put the ball into the net. A header from a free kick was not far wide. Then Stephan Morley delivered a belter of a shot from a free kick to make it 2-0 on 23 minutes. He was unable to repeat his feat from a similar position a few minutes later with the ball just going wide. The Avenue keeper looked to have carried the ball over the line and it could have been 3-0.
Leamington looked comfortably in control with most of the play in the opposition half, but break aways by Bradford enabled Chilaka to score on 38 and 44 minutes making it 2-2 at half time.
Tank had to be replaced by Edwards at half time because of an injury.
On 50 minutes good work on the left enabled Moore to make it 3-2. A shot almost went in after it bounced off the crossbar from Goddard. Then on 66 minutes Jordan Goddard put it in the goal of the game with a delightful lob over the keeper.
The call now was for the old five, but Avenue did not give up and made it 4-3 from a corner. Danny Newton, who had a good game, nearly scored but the ball was tipped over. In four minutes added on, Avenue had another corner, but Brakes got the ball down the other end and secured the win.
Driving rain which turned to sleet did not stop Leamington providing festive cheer at the New Windmill Ground this afternoon as they beat Oxford City 4-0 in front of a crowd of 512 and one dog. Their task was made easier by Oxford's No.3 being sent off for a second yellow card in the first half, but they showed their intent by forcing an early corner. Despite the poor weather, the ball was played along the ground much more than has been the case in recent games and the passing was accurate.
Goddard opened the scoring for the Brakes, although admittedly the ball might not have gone in but for a lucky deflection.
The keeper was brought down, producing the second yellow for the Oxford No.3, although the referee had to consult his linesman and the offending player tried to hard. The board was prepared to sub the keeper who was down for some time, but fortunately he was able to continue.
Brakes were 2-0 up at the break after the keeper had come rushing out, as he was prone to do and Dodd scored in time added on. The television results services showed them to have a half-time score of 3-0. It was not long before Fry confirmed this score and he scored the fourth, but the old five was not to be secured. Oxford showed their frustration by increasingly resorting to fouls and earned some more yellow cards.
Despite messing up a good chance in the first half, Matty Dodd proved to be handful for the Oxford defence.
The visiting Germans must have been lucky for us. If the result was not enough, festive cheer was provided by the voluble referee (who would not win the 'Yes, No' interlude and the difficulties the announcer experienced with the names of the cosmopolitan Oxford team.
After a poor start, Leamington improved as the match went on to secure a 1-1 draw with Hednesford Town at the New Windmill Ground on a cold afternoon. In the first half it was far from clear what the game plan was or, if it did exist, it was not being put into practice with any energy or enthusiasm. Hit and hope seemed to be the motto, either hoofing the ball into an empty space or hitting it upfield to Stefan Moore who was wandering lonely as a cloud with two defenders in attendance.
The Pitmen came out of the blocks quicker and went ahead on 3 minutes through Glenn Walker. They advanced down their left and then it was the familiar story of Brakes failing to control the ball in the box.
Trueman had to make a great fingertip save to stop the Pitmen getting a second while Brakes scarcely threatened in the first half.
Whatever Paul Holleran said at the break, there was more determination and a bit more skill in the second half. Leamington got their first corner of the game shortly after the break. Danny Newton made it 1-1 on 65 minutes.
The vociferous visiting supporters pleaded for a 'winner', but Brakes looked more likely to score in the last ten minutes, although they lived dangerously in the three minutes added on.
Attendance was stated to be 528 (probably about 100 Hednesford) plus one dog.
Leamington were outplayed as they went down 0-2 at home at the New Windmill Ground this afternoon to Stockport County in front of a crowd of 855. They were livelier in the second half as is shown by the fact that the half time scoreline did not change. However, a number of chances to score were not taken throughout the game.
The visitors went ahead on 11 minutes with a bullet header from a corner delivered into the net by Scott Spencer. The second goal was scored on 26 minutes, Collett fumbling the ball.
Stefan Moore let a chance slip when he dithered in front of goal. Newton just missed from close range, but it would have been offside anyway.
Bearded County charm merchant Steve O'Halloran received a yellow card for a foul.
After the break Newton somehow missed an open goal. Spencer hit the crossbar for County. The referee waved away a Leamington penalty appeal for handball. A double substitution for the Brakes saw Dodd taken off who had been one of our more effective players at least in terms of penetrating the County defence even if the final product was often not there.
Newton put a shot straight at the keeper and the crowd started to drift away as it was evident that even a consolation goal was not going to come.
Leamington will be in the draw for the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup on Monday after they secured a 1-1 draw with Worcester City at the New Windmill Ground this afternoon in front of a crowd of 755.
Worcester were dominant in the first half and went ahead through a shot that deflected off Batchelor. Ellis Deeney was a menace down the wing and helped to set up the goal. They continued to pepper the Brakes goal with shots and Collett had to make a particularly good save on 25 minutes.
Brakes came out early for the second half and looked livelier. A free kick led to Newton equalising on 52 minutes. It was then end-to-end stuff with some dangerous moments, Collett saving then the ball having to be cleared off the line. However, a draw increasingly looked like the likely and fair outcome.
So it's a replay at Aggborough on Tuesday and, as someone said, 'with the same crap referee.'
