Sat, 27 Dec 2008 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Bromsgrove Rovers (2-0). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards. Leamington 2 Bromsgrove Rovers 0
Brakes responded to the marker that Nuneaton Town laid down by winning their derby match at Bedworth United, grinding out another three points against a stubborn Bromsgrove Rovers side at a bitterly cold New Windmill Ground, to ensure that the gap between the top two remained at eleven points. Guy Sanders and Liam Reynolds both made a welcome return to the side, with Steve Palmer and Josh Blake dropping to the bench.
There was an early scare inside the first minute of the match for Leamington, as Bromsgrove broke quickly, and Richard Morris was forced into an early stop down at his near post. The opening stages were scrappy, with neither side particularly on top, and no real tests for either goalkeeper. Brakes were seeing plenty of the ball, but too often the final pass was astray. The visitors got back in numbers in an attempt to stifle the movement of the Leamington side, and at times it was effective, as their big defenders moved quickly to close down any attacks.
Luke Corbett saw a back header drop wide of the far post early on, and Mark Bellingham got through down the right and played an intelligent ball across the face of the Rovers goal, but it was easily cleared. Jai Stanley played a ball over the covering defender for Bellingham to latch on to on the left of the penalty area, but the striker chose to hit his shot first time, and it did not trouble James Dormand in the Bromsgrove goal.
The Leamington midfield were involved in much of the goalmouth action during the game, and Jamie Towers tricked his way past two defenders to send a high ball in from the right, which was met by James Husband on the far side. His powerful low shot into the near post was parried by Dormand, and put behind by a team mate before Bellingham could snap up the rebound.
Jemiah Richards was a prominent figure in the Bromsgrove rearguard, and he did well to hold off Bellingham as he tried to go past him inside the area, and then blocked Jai Stanley's follow up shot from the loose ball. A concerted spell of pressure from Leamington ended with a shot on the turn by Corbett that went over the bar. Marcus Jackson then went on mazy run which was halted as he moved into the area, and Luke Corbett followed suit as he cut in from the left touchline to strike a powerful low shot which took a deflection on its way through to Dormand, who stuck out a hand to save.
There was a brief moment of panic at the other end of the pitch, when a poor clearance from Richard Morris was worked out to Kevin Banner in space on the left hand side, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. James Husband again saw a shot blocked as Leamington continued to press, and was denied for a third time after Jamie Towers had lofted the ball in from the dead ball line. The clearance went out as far as Liam Reynolds, who lifted his shot slightly too high, and it dropped onto the roof of the net.
The breakthrough was achieved seven minutes before the interval. Marcus Jackson was becoming more of an influence in the centre of midfield, and he made space for himself to strike a low shot at goal which was only parried by Dormand. Jai Stanley reacted quickest to stab home the loose ball, to the delight of the Harbury Lane End.
The goal rocked the visitors back on their heels briefly, and Mark Bellingham very nearly engineered a chance for himself of the left, but he saw his shot blocked. The ball ran across to Jackson, who was quickly closed down. Bellingham picked it up again, and smashed in a shot that was charged down. Nathaniel Waite scored both goals in Bromsgrove's Birmingham Senior Cup win here last month, but Morris was equal to his smart shot on the turn, dropping to claim the ball at his near post. Jemiah Richards hooked a shot well over as the Referee blew the half time whistle.
The visitors started the second half strongly, as they had done in the cup tie here, and Morris did well to parry a fiercely struck shot in the early moments. The ball pinged around the Leamington area, and the defence did just enough to scramble it clear. More pressure saw another goal bound effort blocked, and the attack was ended by an offside flag.
An excellent cross from James Husband which flashed across the goalmouth was sent back in from the right by Jamie Towers, and this time Luke Corbett headed towards goal, only to see the ball drop onto the roof of the net.
Another ball in from Towers was heading towards James Husband at the back post, but Barry Woolley nipped in to put it behind for a corner.
Although Leamington were having a lot of possession, Richard Morris was the busier keeper, and he had to stretch to keep out another shot, with Martin Hier smacking the clearance away from goal before a visiting player could ram in the loose ball. Luke Corbett flicked a Towers' cross wide, before another excellent interception by Hier bought a dangerous looking run to an end inside the penalty area. Another low cross in from the right was deflected onto the Leamington crossbar, as Rovers probed for an equaliser.
Luke Corbett did well to leave two defenders on the floor as he twisted and turned on the edge of the box, but blasted his shot straight at Dormand. Josh Blake came on to replace Jai Stanley, and added some pace to the Brakes attacks, but Kevin Banner saw another shot go wide of the far post at the other end, and Richard Morris saw another effort fly wide of his goal from a dangerous position. James Husband cut in from the left, as Leamington pushed for the goal that would make the closing minutes a little more comfortable, but his shot was saved by the impressive Dormand.
Mark Bellingham had one of his quieter days in front of goal, but he is also very adept at creating chances for his team mates, and he shielded a high cross well to provide Jamie Towers with a strike at goal, but the shot was quickly blocked at source. Guy Sanders moved up field to strike a free kick straight into the arms of Dormand, before Bellingham was inches away from turning home a shot across the area by Josh Blake. There were further half chances at the other end, as the Brakes defence stood up well to the two big Bromsgrove front men, but the clinching goal arrived in the final minute. Luke Corbett spotted James Husband in space out of the left, and floated over a perfect ball for the winger to control and strike low into the corner. In many ways it was carbon copy of his winning goal against Bury Town in the last home game.
As with the previous few games, this was by no means a vintage Brakes performance, but they took the two clear cut chances that came their way, whilst relying on stout defending and a little luck at times, at the other end.
The squad will be virtually back to full strength for the trip to Chasetown on Thursday, with only Mykel Beckley to return from injury after Stuart Herlihy sat out the final match of his ban.
2008 has been perhaps the best twelve months in terms of league points gained, since the renaissance. Here's hoping that the run continues into 2009, as Brakes continue their challenge for a Premier Division place with one of the toughest away trips of the season so far.
Leamington: Richard Morris, Jamie Towers, Martin Hier, Guy Sanders [C], Adam Cooper, Marcus Jackson, Liam Reynolds, Jai Stanley (Josh Blake, 73), Luke Corbett, Mark Bellingham, James Husband.
Subs not used: Steve, Palmer, Jamie Lenton, Ryan Parisi, Richard Anstiss.
Bromsgrove Rovers: James Dormand [C], Matt Gardiner, Jamie Barrett, Barry Woolley, Jemiah, Richard, Carl Slater, Keenan Meakin-Richards, Sam Alsop (Davion Hamilton), Leon Kelly, Nathaniel Waite, Kevin Banner.
Subs not used: Jason Taylor, Chris McHale, Cameron Jones, Graham Deakin.