| Pride in our past The history of Leamington Football Club 1891-2009 |
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| LEAMINGTON 3 v ATHERSTONE TOWN 1 Midland Alliance League Cup Semi Final |
Tue 3 Apr 07 |
By David HuckerJephcott is hat-trick hero as Brakes secure first leg winAvun Jephcott struck with his first hat-trick for the club on Tuesday to give Brakes a two-goal margin after the first leg of the Midland Alliance League Cup semi-final.Winter returned to Harbury Lane and a strong, cold wind blew off the North Bank towards the clubhouse. The Adders made the early running, forcing three corners in the first eight minutes. In reply, Jon Adams brought a good save from visiting 'keeper Richard Williams and, at the other end, Richard Morris showed that he would be equally difficult to beat when denying Ashley Wells in the 16th. The best chance of the opening twenty minutes fell to Roy Dunkley who blasted wide from close range. Brakes soon made the visitors pay for this miss when, on 24 minutes, Avun Jephcott rose high to head home a Jamie Towers free-kick after Stuart Herlihy had been fouled by Gary Redgate on the edge of the penalty area. Martin Thompson limped off with a groin injury in the 36th minute which will rule him out of the Bank Holiday fixtures. He was replaced by leading scorer Ben Mackey, who will also be missing at the weekend on holiday, so there will be a new strike partnership at Cradley Town. The lead lasted until the 40th minute when, against the run of play, Roy Dunkley outpaced the Brakes defence to latch onto a long clearance and put the ball under the advancing Morris. Then, with the first half well into stoppage time, James Husband sent in a free-kick from the left and Avun Jephcott again outjumped the defence to head firmly into the net and restore the Brakes lead at 2-1. It was all action right from the start of the second half with Morris getting down well to save from Dunkley, Herlihy shooting over the bar for Brakes and then Ben Mackey trying his luck from long-range. However, the match turned on the hour with Brakes getting a third when the excellent Towers put over a high cross from the right and Avun Jephcott was again the finisher with another powerful header. With confidence flowing throughout the side, Brakes played some lovely football and should have scored more, but Williams pulled off some fine saves including one at point-blank range to deny Mackey in the 69th minute. Adam Cooper tried his best to get on the scoresheet, sending a long-range shot over the bar with five minutes remaining, but this was still a convincing win and will send Brakes to Atherstone on April 24th with high hopes in the second leg. "I couldn't have been more pleased" was the verdict of manager, Jason Cadden, who added "we wanted a two-goal cushion and did the job well. We controlled the game and let in a goal against the run of play. Their 'keeper played a blinder to keep the score to three." Brakes Richard Morris; Jamie Towers; Martin Hier; Adam Cooper; Andy Gregory; Craig Dutton [Capt.]; Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams (Dave Pearson 69); Martin Thompson (Ben Mackey 36); Avun Jephcott; James Husband (Tom James 85) Subs Not Used Morton Titterton; Adam Knight Atherstone Town Richard Williams; Stefan Beale (Mark Williams 69); Cameron Stuart; Jamie Hood; Leigh Everitt [Capt.]; Gary Redgate; Chris Long; Ashley Wells; Chris Partridge (Daniel Gaunt 88); Roy Dunkley (Michael Swan 68); Tommy Browett Subs Not Used Craig Civzelis; Courtney Belford Attendance 564 Man of the Match Avun Jephcott Match Sponsors The Wednesday Morning Scrubbers Club Match Ball Sponsor Gordon Hucker | |
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