Bay Watch

Talking to someone about the game earlier in the day, I said that Leamington should win. I should know better than to read results off the table at this time of the year, or indeed at any time of the year with the Brakes going down 0-3 at home to Colwyn Bay.

Reading the programme, they had the look of a makeshift side with a lot of references to players 'showing potential'. In fact, at the very least, as the Bloke Behind Me put it, 'They are better rubbish than we are.' They decided to make a go of it and seemed to want it more. They at least tried to play football. We did at times, but mostly it was hit and hope, with the hot line to air traffic control glowing red as the ball sailed into the air. Why not play the ball along the ground which makes it easier to control?

It was also a tale of two keepers. Josh Ollerenshaw for the Bay was outstanding, making a series of great saves to preserve a clean sheet. Breedon is a hard act to follow, but Collett is too inclined to rush out of his goal and seems to exhibit nervousness, although today's result will do nothing for his confidence.

There was danger when Collett rushed out of his goal early in the game. Dodd won a free kick on the edge of the area, but the scramble in front of goal was unproductive. Stefan Moore put in a curling shot which nearly found the back of the net. Aaron Ray scored for Colwyn Bay on 21 minutes, Collett getting a hand to the ball but just pushing it into the back of the net.'

Pierpoint could feel the noose tightening around the Brakes and urged his fellow players (in more vigorous language), 'We've all got to wake up.' However, the sleep walking continued and after an inadequate save by Collett, Ray was able to find the back of the net again to make it 0-2 on 31 minutes. Goddard put in a good ball from distance, but Stefan Moore's effort was ruled offside. Chris Noone put in a rugby tackle and received the only yellow card of the game.

Both teams assembled on the pitch after the break, but there was no sign of the officials. The referee may be a postman, but he is clearly often late with his deliveries. Eventually he ambled out to shouts of 'Have you had enough, ref?

Ollerenshaw made a great save to deny Leamington. Newton had been on the bench, presumably because he was not fully fit, but he was prepared to come on, then stayed on the bench for some time as those around me called for a change. Eventually he did come on to replace Batchelor. Following a Brakes corner, Ollerenshaw made a great save on the line. Lee Moore was taken off and replaced by Wint who did add something. However, on 77 minutes Colwyn Bay were awarded a penalty scored by Barbados international Moss. The game was then effectively over although Brakes huffed and puffed, although it was nearly 0-4.

I missed last week's game because I was catching a play to Beijing where I was performing the role of 'elderly foreign person'. I am sure it wasn't just jet lag that made this seem like a poor performance. In fact it's the worst home performance I can remember since the midweek defeat by Vauxhall Motors and Bay's Noone used to play for them.

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.

Sending off ends match as a contest

Paul Holleran has made it clear that he doesn't like pre-season matches, stating in the programme today that they were a ritual that had to be gone through. He will be even less happy after Joe Magunda got sent off in the first half for a reckless tackle. The Nuneaton boss has claimed that it was a potential leg breaker, but arguably the referee was influenced by a worse tackle by James Mace shortly beforehand. I have seen referees just ask for the offending player to be replaced in such circumstances. Let's hope that the referee doesn't make a report and Magunda ends with a ban. The referee is a leisure centre manager, so probably gets lots of chances to be officious in his day job as well.

Nuneaton were already in a commanding position before we went down to ten men and it spoilt the match as a spectacle. Indeed, the greatest excitement was caused by a thunderstorm and heavy rain in the second half which caused the floodlights to be switched on. After the sending off, all Brakes could do most of the time was defend and they can claim some credit for keeping the score line to a respectable 0-2, both Nuneaton goals being scored in the first half. We were better in the second half, but whenever anyone broke forward they simply lacked enough support to achieve anything.

This was the first pre-season match I have been to and there is evidently still some work to do. The midfield can't keep possession well and as a result we are hoofing the ball forward. However, from time to time, we did pass the ball quite neatly. Good to see Richard Batchelor back, but he doesn't look match fit.

Breedon will be a hard act to follow, he saved us a number of points last season. The new keeper is not of the same calibre, but I wouldn't blame him for the two goals and he did make a couple of very good saves.

It will be a tough start against Guiseley next week.

Draw was no bore

Leamington played out a 0-0 draw with Boston United at the New Windmill Ground in front of a crowd of 792, but it was no bore draw. More was at stake for Boston United who were hoping to keep their play off hopes alive, but both sides battled away in what was often an end to end match. Both goalkeepers had an excellent game, although Boston's Lewis King looked as if he had injured himself at the end of the game by landing heavily.

Boston won an early corner, then Lee Chilton shot wide after good work by the tireless Danny Newton. The visitors hit the crossbar after they burst through, but their player looked offside, but the lino on the stand side had difficulty in raising his flag. Tony Breeden had to make a good save from a fiercely driven shot from distance. Nathan Hicks had a great run which led to a corner. Boston charm merchant Ricky Miller got a yellow card for dissent after disputing a Brakes free kick. Ryan Higgins picked up an unnecessary yellow card for a foul. Tony Breeden had been kept busy throughout the half with a number of on target shots but always dealt with them confidently.

In the second half the vociferous visiting contingent kept up their interventions, appealing for a penalty more than once. Boston headed over from a corner and then had their best chance of the game after another corner when they were gifted a free header but were not able to make use of it. Leamington had their best chance of the game when Danny Newton was one on one with the keeper, but somehow he managed to make a fingertip save. The referee somehow found five minutes to add on, but although most of the play was in Leamington's half, they stood firm. Liam Daly was solid in defence throughout.

The result and the performance shows how much progress we have made since a poor 2-0 defeat at Boston back in August. The day was only spoilt by a poor choice of music on the PA about which a number of people complained.

Brakes hold league leaders

Leamington held league leaders Telford United to a 2-2 draw this afternoon in front of a crowd of 843 at the New Windmill Ground. They may be league leaders, but Telford were exponents of a hit it hard and hope style of play, along with physicality and unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Brakes faced some early danger and the ball had to be cleared off the line. Then on 15 minutes Daly for some reason best known to himself handled the ball, conceding a penalty. Farrell scored decisively from the spot for the visitors.

However, their lead only lasted 12 minutes with Newton equalising after Telford had failed to clear a Flanagan corner, temporarily silencing the cocky Telford supporters. However, what looked like a miss kick led to Telford going 2-1 ahead in a crowded area. Their supporters were now boasting of 4-1 to them in the second half. On 40 minutes Newton and Chilton combined well, but Wint shot wide.

In time added on, there was a copy of the earlier handball incident, this time on the part of the visitors, and the referee pointed to the spot, Hicks scoring for Leamington. That was the way the score stayed, but there was plenty of incident in the second half.

Leamington's Reece Flanagan once again showed his skill on the ball and his anticipation of where it might go. However, he got involved in some exchanges with Telford charm merchant Shaun Walley and referee Michael D'aguillar, who had a good game, came over and told them to 'relax'. Dodd came on in place of Wint and soon showed his skill on the ball.

A push in the area on Magunda led to a penalty call for Leamington. I think that the referee was right not to award it, but presumably Magunda got his yellow card for dissent. Moogan cynically fouled Dodd and got a yellow card for his trouble. The Brakes free kick came off the wall. A cynical dive by Telford in the area brought a free kick for Leamington but no yellow card. Lee Chilton was withdrawn in favour of Peter Till. Danny Newton picked up a yellow card for dissent and was replaced shortly afterwards by Ricky Johnson.

In time added on, Breeden kicked the ball out when a Brakes player went down, but Telford refused to return the ball to the keeper. Fortunately, it didn't benefit them, but it just about summed up their approach to the game. I have seen better teams at the NWG this season, but the table, they say, doesn't lie. Anyway, a determined and often accomplished game by the Brakes.

Am I at the wrong ground?

That what was one wag asked tonight as Leamington beat Oxford City 4-0 at the New Windmill Ground in front of a crowd of 389 and one dog. I thought that I might be hallucinating as the Brake developed pacey attacks, passing to each other intelligently and even keeping the ball on the ground quite a lot of the time.

The first goal came on ten minutes when Lee Chilton forged through to score after the Brakes provided good approach play. Reece Flanagan then supplied a brilliant goal on 23 minutes, advancing along the goal line and getting past the keeper to score. The third goal came from Hicks on 36 minutes, a low drive into the corner of the net.

Oxford made a double substitution after the break and did look more of a threat. However, Newton put the match beyond doubt on 65 minutes when he scored in a crowded goalmouth following a corner.

There was to be no 'old five', but most fans went home well satisfied.

Brakes creep towards safety

Leamington continued their crawl towards safety in the Skrill North with a 1-1 draw with Barrow at the New Windmill Ground today in front of a crowd of 548, quite a few of whom had made the long journey from Cumbria. The Brakes are 16th in the league and 8 points clear of financially troubled Histon. Gainsborough Trinity, level on points, also drew 3-3 at home today.

The accomplished Ryan Higgins closed down early danger for Brakes with some good defensive work. Then on 14 minutes the visitors scored what had to be admitted was an excellent goal. A good cross found the head of Tom Corner, who has played in Spain, and he made no mistake with his header to make it 1-0 to Barrow.

Barrow's two giant centre backs were causing a few problems for the Brakes attackers, but the home side forced two corners as the half hour approached. On 36 minutes an inspired (or fortunate) substitution saw Peter Till coming off and Matty Dodd coming on.

I couldn't see where a goal was coming from, but just before the break Dodd was brought down in the area. At first I thought the referee was not going to give it, but the lino flagged for the penalty which was taken emphatically by Dodd to make it 1-1.

Leamington provided some early pressure in the second half with three corners in succession. With an open goal in front of him, but not an easy angle, Danny Newton hit the post. Breeden had to make a save at close range from Nick Rushton who had come on as a substitute. Around the 70 minute mark Lee Chilton came off and Ricky Johnson came on to the joy of his claque of followers.

Stefan Morley tested the keeper and won Brakes a corner which led to a second, but despite a goalmouth scramble the ball went wide. In three minutes added on, Barrow did have a penalty call which had more justification than their earlier appeals.

Despite some clogging from the Barrow players, and a certain amount of petulance, no cards were awarded. It was a better performance than on Tuesday, but that set a low benchmark.