Victory at home at last

Leamington beat Bradford Park Avenue 2-1 at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon to move to fourth from bottom in the table. They gave away an easy early goal from a corner, but then Dunbar caught the keeper out of his goal and made no mistake in getting past him for the equaliser. It was 1-1 at half time and the match could have gone either way, but two substitutes provided decisive. Clever work in the box by Kurtis Revan set up Ahmed Obeng to make it 2-1.

It was a balmy early autumn afternoon, but the early setback with the visitors given a free header by calamity defending caused gloom among Leamington supporters. However, as the Bloke Beside Me pointed out, it could be a blessing in disguise as it stopped us being defensive.

There were too many hopeless balls being punted forward to no one in particular when short passes on the ground were needed. The visitors were getting a lot of corners. Hood put in some good defensive work, his headers stopping potential danger. Bradford's No.11 was booked for kicking the ball away, but continued to protest and seemed to blame the lino who had not touched the ball. It was quite a physical encounter.

Leamington applied pressure in the second half, but could not find the back of the net. Breeden had to make more than one excellent save. On one occasion Hood and English let their centre forward through on goal. Joe Magunda, who put in a fighting performance, got booked for a bit of afters. Many of us thought that the Bradford player should have been booked as well. Rob Thompson-Brown hit the keeper's knees from distance. After we scored the goal, we managed to hang on despite one or two scares.

I would rate this as the best home performance I have seen this season and the win was well deserved. We should remember that Bradford are an in form team.

Attendance 502 and one dog.

Brakethrough

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.

Well done Brakes!

A creditable, battling 1-1 draw at Curzon Ashton last night moved Leamington out of the relegation zone, albeit we have played one more game than most teams because of Curzon's curious (and unfair) practice of playing midweek games on Monday nights. All credit to those supporters who made the long trip. I remember going up there for a cup tie when it all kicked off.

The Leamington goal was scored by our non-league Beckham, Jack Edwards.

Just need to rectify the home form now. Yes, the new stadium is a 'game changer', but we also need game changers on the pitch.

Fighting draw at Darlington

Leamington put in a fighting performance to achieve a 0-0 draw at Darlington today. They could have nicked it at the end. It was a better result than I expected. All credit to the 30 or so Brakes supporters who made the long journey up there. I see that one Darlo fan has tweeted, indignant at the draw, that we are the 'worst team in the division.'

Just a pity about our home form.

Leamington remain second from bottom, but on the same number of points as FC United of Manchester and Gainsborough Trinity. This season is going to be about beating the teams around us. If we can do that, we can survive.

The loan signing of Charley Edge from Colchester United is a positive move. It's entirely possible that the board have awakened from their Rip van Winkle 'its all about a new stadium overcoming a flawed business model' dream and realised that they have to think about what's happening on the pitch at the moment. No doubt they would say they do, but homilies about stadiums in the programme don't help to give that impression.

Brakes lose at home again

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.

We're rubbish and know we are

It was at least 25 degrees today, but the non-league dog was not going to put off watching his team.

Leamington are bottom of the National League North tonight after going down 0-3 at home to AFC Telford. 711 and one dog, including a good contingent of Telford supporters, watched this latest humiliation.

All credit to Telford, they played well. Brakes couldn't pass, couldn't keep possession, couldn't get to the ball first, couldn't keep a shape, couldn't take scoring chances and couldn't defend. Even the flat back six couldn't save them.

They had a number of chances to go ahead in the first half, but were unable to get the ball in the back of the net from them. The visitors then killed the game off with two quick goals and scored a third in the second half.

Brakes put in four shots in the opening phase of the first half, three of them were chances. Thompson-Brown just missed and then Taundry put in a great shot that led to a Leamington corner. Brakes hit the crossbar.

On 19 minutes a defensive mix up involving Breeden created a scoring opportunity for Dwyer. On 21 minutes Telford parted our defence like the Red Sea, Hood failing to intercept and Dwyer put in a great shot from distance that outwitted Breeden.

The visiting supporters started to chant 'dodgy keeper' and Breeden's risk taking is being found out at this level. The midfield were giving the strikers no support and Leamington were being forced back. We were too narrow and had no width.

Thompson-Brown picked up a yellow card for a foul.

Half time: Brakes 0, AFC Telford 2

Telford eased off a little in the second half to conserve their energy. Mace replaced Hood who will be banned for the next three games. Obeng, who had had a poor game for him, was taken off and replaced by Colby Bishop and this did help a bit. Breeden made two good saves to keep the score line respectable. Telford's Dinanga got a yellow card for trying to stop Breeden taking a free kick. Telford then burst through to score a good goal and put the game beyond doubt. Revan was replaced by Canavan. Magunda picked up a yellow card.

Having Revan in the centre doesn't play to his strengths. Gittings had a decent game.

Paul Holleran was static as the game to an end. He wasn't even leafing through his book of excuses. However, the fundamental problem is that the players are not good enough for this level of football. The board always plead a lack of money and they have a point, given the number of wealthy clubs in this league. Even Telford have Wolves playing their reserve games there.

However, they had better take their eyes off the Eldorado of the new stadium and sort this out, otherwise we will be the first club in the top part of the non-league pyramid to go down.

Perhaps as a start they could pay the coach fare of fans going to FC United next Saturday.

Brakes hammered at Nuneaton

Leamington lost the Warwickshire derby 4-0 at Nuneaton this afternoon with Jamie Hood red carded. Let's hope it was actually Jamie Hodd as on the team sheet. However, he appeared to push an opposition player and make contact with his face.

Brakes were comprehensively outplayed and unable to deal with fierce shots from distance. It was all too easy for the home side. Leamington were 3-0 down at half time.

As someone said, bring on North Ferriby United so we can win something. Leamington now have the same number of points as North Ferriby and are second from bottom.

It is being argued that Holleran peaks at Southern League Premier level and can't cope with National League North. However, I am not sure that the squad is strong enough. Even the defence couldn't stand up to Nuneaton today.

Attendance was 712.