Sat, 24 Jan 2009 @ Walshes Meadow, Stourport-on-Severn. vs Stourport Swifts (2-1). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards. Brakes squelched their way to their third win in a week at a muddy Walshes Meadow, but they were forced to come from behind after Stourport took the lead early in the second half. A quickfire double from Jamie Lenton and Mark Bellingham turned the game in Leamington's favour around the hour mark, but a side that contained several changes from Tuesday was made to fight until the final whistle to secure the points.
Save for an early scare at the back, the first fifteen minutes were dominated by Leamington. An early corner from the left was played short to Marcus Jackson, who played the ball in low. Luke Corbett connected with a first time shot which lacked power, and went straight into the hands of Swifts goalkeeper Paul Evans. Mark Bellingham was then unfortunate to see his lofted shot drop just over the crossbar, after a shot had rebounded into his path. A free kick was directed into the path of Corbett by his strike partner, but his side footed effort was again, straight at the keeper.
The pitch was always going to be a leveller, and was very sticky in midfield, but both teams tried their best to play football. A good flick sent Scott Morris away down the left channel for Stourport, and his cross was headed behind by Liam Reynolds. Another Leamington free kick into the penalty area found Adam Cooper lurking at the far post, and his shot was deflected away from goal, and smothered on the touchline by Evans. The Swifts keeper was at this point proving to be a solid last line of defence, and he pushed a dangerous cross from Jackson away from the head of Bellingham. However, his afternoon was unfortunately to be cut short after he landed badly following a challenge with Luke Corbett, who won the ball and did not appear to make any contact with the keeper. He looked to be in some pain, and apparently the diagnosis was that he had broken his arm. We wish him a speedy recovery. Young Brakes fan Lizzie Fisher circled the ground during the second half to make a collection for the injured stopper.
The home side were without a recognised second choice goalkeeper on their bench, so midfielder Chris Cornes donned the jersey. His first contribution was to block a shot from Bellingham out on the right. Richard Anstiss had little to do for the first half an hour or so, but he was alert enough to get down well to block a shot from Morris right in front of goal.
Mark Bellingham unfortunately was in the firing line as Marcus Jackson took a strike at goal from outside the box, and Leigh Downing slammed a shot high and wide following a corner for Stourport. Cornes ensured that his side would go in level at the break when he finger tipped a curling effort from Jamie Lenton over his bar. Brakes seemed to be lacking enterprise in the final third during the first half, with Swifts defending in numbers, content to get the ball clear at the first opportunity.
The home side shocked their visitors however, by taking the lead with their first attack of the second half. Mark Owen showed good control on the left hand side of the area, and the former Evesham United striker evaded a couple of challenges before slipping the ball under Richard Anstiss, to the delight of the home supporters.
This was now a real test for Leamington. Shaken by conceding the goal, they gradually worked their way back into the game. Bellingham headed onto the roof of the net from a corner, and Corbett sent a low shot into the hands of Cornes from the edge of the box, when he perhaps had more time than he realised. Adam Cooper headed over from another flag kick, before the equaliser arrived on 59 minutes. James Husband had a fine game in midfield, covering a lot of ground, and his searching cross from the right was somehow missed by the Swifts defence, and landed at the back post, leaving Jamie Lenton with the simple task of slotting the ball past an exposed Chris Cornes. There was barely time for the game to settle down again, when Mark Bellingham looped a header over Cornes and into the far corner from a left wing cross, to move Leamington in front for the first time in the game. The ace marksman, now on 27 goals for the season, hit another shot narrowly over the bar, before he was replaced by Mykel Beckley.
Brakes had an excellent chance to make it three when Husband rode a tackle and broke at speed from midfield. With a three on two advantage, another goal looked likely, as the ball was crossed to substitute Josh Blake, but he hit his shot wide. A good cross was dug out from the right to fashion an opportunity for the evergreen Mark Owen, but he arched his header just over the bar. Richard Anstiss came out well to claim the ball from a dangerous free kick, as Stourport showed that Leamington were not going to have things all their own way.
There was a heart in mouth moment when Guy Sanders went down clutching his shoulder after heading the ball back to his keeper, but he was able to rejoin the action after treatment. Jamie Towers replaced Liam Reynolds for the last ten minutes or so, and Brakes played the ball around well, winning important challenges in midfield, and continuing to attack. Swifts were still searching for an equaliser though, and Owen went for the ball in a straight sprint with Ryan Parisi, just inching his foot to the ball first, forcing Anstiss to block with his feet, and the Brakes keeper gathered the ball as Owen tried to get a cross in.
The match officials had a good game, save for a rather unnecessary booking for Stuart Herlihy late on. The Referee explained afterwards that it was the way that Herlihy had won the ball which forced his hand, but he had been lenient for the rest of the game, preferring to let things go rather than flash the cards, so it was disappointing to see another caution for a Leamington player.
There was another injury scare when Ryan Parisi went down awkwardly after heading the ball out of play, but he managed to soldier on for the remainder of the match. Stourport were agonisingly close to levelling things up when the ball found its way to Scott Morris at the far post following a corner on the right. He had time to curl a shot towards goal which whistled past the far post to the relief of those with a Leamington persuasion.
Brakes were on the attack right until the full time whistle blew, and Mykel Beckley and Josh Blake played a neat one two, Chris Cornes spilling Beckley's low shot. Jamie Lenton had the final effort of the game, which was easily saved by the stand in keeper, who could be pleased with his efforts, as he had no chance with either goal.
Jason Cadden was satisfied with the outcome. 'We just wanted to get in and out with the three points, especially with the conditions,' he said. 'We weren't great in the final third in the first half, but were much better in the second. Some of the players were tired from Tuesday, and that was why we had to switch things around. We couldn't come here after Tuesday and just expect it to be a foregone conclusion, and they made us work hard.'
Romulus are next up on Tuesday, and will no doubt fancy their chances of turning Brakes over, having taken four points from the two fixtures last season, but with key players such as Jai Stanley and Martin Hier rested for today's game, and Bellingham and Corbett withdrawn during the second half, no doubt Leamington will be up for what is sure to be another battle.
Stourport Swifts: Paul Evans (Will Gayton), Chris Duggan, Adam Robinson, Mark Benbow, Todd Perry, Rich Tomkins, Luke Whittington, Chris Cornes, Mark Owen, Scott Morris, Leigh Downing.
Subs not used: Gabriele Maffei, Alex Lavery, Ashley Robinson.
Leamington: Richard Anstiss, Marcus Jackson, Ryan Parisi, Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders, Liam Reynolds (Jamie Towers, 82), Stuart Herlihy, James Husband, Mark Bellingham (Mykel Beckley, 66), Luke Corbett (Josh Blake, 60), Jamie Lenton.