Wed, 18 Feb 2009 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Aylesbury United (1-2). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards. Tuesday 17th February, 2009.
The Ducks flew into the New Windmill Ground and inflicted a third straight league defeat on Jason Cadden's men. A goal in each half was enough to ensure that the visitors returned back down the M40 with the points. A late goal from second half substitute Marcus Jackson was no more than a consolation for Leamington, who look desparately short on confidence at present, despite the best efforts of the North Bank to galvanise them.
Aylesbury goalkeeper Tom Vincent was forced to make an early dash from his line to clear from the advancing Mykel Beckley, who was starting his first game for some time. Neither side started the game particularly brightly, but there was to be more pain for Leamington, as they fell behind on eight minutes. A cross in from the left hand side was met by Nathan Graham, who stooped to head his side in front. Yet again, Brakes were chasing the game, which until just recently was not something they have been too used to doing this season.
Mark Bellingham registered the first shot on target for the home side, on fourteen minutes, but his low effort from outside the box was never likely to beat Vincent, who got down at his near post to save. Guy Sanders struck a free kick over the crossbar from thirty yards out, but Leamington seemed bereft of ideas all over the pitch. The spark which lit up the teams' performances earlier in the season seemed to be missing, and Aylesbury did not really have to play at their best, as every loose ball seemed to go their way. In one such instance, Richard Softley almost appeared to jump over the ball as he attempted to control it, and the visitors broke quickly up the right, but the eventual shot at goal was straight at Richard Anstiss.
Nathan Graham was unfortunate to see Anstiss push a curling shot behind for a corner. It was a good stop from the veteran keeper, who was unsighted, with a crowd of players in front of him. Graham had another shot from the resulting dead ball, but it went tamely through to Anstiss.
On thirty five minutes Glenn Hawkins thought he had doubled his side's advantage with a close range header from another corner, but the officials spotted an infringement somewhere, and ruled the goal out. There was very little goalmouth action during the remainder of the half. Tom Vincent was forced to punch a corner kick away from his goal, and a free kick went high into the North Bank at the other end.
The first attack of the second half looked promising for Leamington, as Jamie Towers got clear up the right for almost the first time in the game, and sent in a dangerous looking cross that was missed by everyone, and landed at the feet of Jamie Lenton on the far side, but he hit a weak first time effort straight at Vincent. Chris Marsh sent a back header over the bar for Aylesbury at the other end, and Kevin Mealor tried an ambitious effort from out on the left that went wide.
Mark Bellingham looked in vain to the assistant referee as he was challenged by Carl Kavanagh in the penalty area after latching on to a header from Luke Corbett, but when things are going against you, these kind of decisions never seem to be forthcoming. Nathan Graham weaved his way into the Leamington penalty area at the Harbury Lane End, but his shot was diverted behind for a corner. Brakes searched in vain for a breakthrough that might produce an equaliser. Mykel Beckley was beaten to a good cross from Towers by Tom Vincent, before the keeper got down to hold a shot on the turn from Bellingham.
Aylesbury continued to make more of their possession, and broke quickly down field again. Two Brakes defenders did well to move the ball back towards Anstiss, but he was penalised for picking up the ball, which led to a free kick inside the 18 yard box. This was blocked twice, before an attacking player appeared to miss his kick almost right in front of goal on the right hand side. Brakes tried to retaliate, and Stuart Herlihy shot wide of the right hand upright. Jamie Lenton threaded a pass in for Bellingham on the left, but the angle was tight, and Vincent stood firm, beating away a powerful effort from the striker.
Richard Anstiss did well to make sure he was first to a ball stabbed towards goal, with Kevin Mealor lurking, but it was not long before Aylesbury grabbed what turned out to be the winner. Adam Cooper was replaced by Josh Blake, but with a gap temporarily appearing in the Brakes defence, the Ducks took advantage of this. A shot rebounded off the post, and Sam Swonnell was on hand to slam home the loose ball, to the delight of the travelling supporters.
Blake shot wide, as Leamington continued to try and chase what was now looking like a lost cause. Luke Corbett had a defender almost on his back as he tried to receive a pass inside the penalty area, but again, there was nothing doing. However, a ray of light appeared with a goal back, on 88 minutes. A free kick, around 25 yards out, in the centre of the pitch, was struck well by Guy Sanders. Tom Vincent could only parry, and the rebound was rammed into the roof of the net by Marcus Jackson.
Try as they might, Leamington just could not fashion another opportunity that might have led to an equaliser, and the Ducks were left to celebrate three points from a game that they probably expected to be a little more difficult than it turned out to be. It is hard to pinpoint just what has gone wrong over the last three games for Leamington, but perhaps with the next game being away from the New Windmill Ground, and with the backing of a committed travelling support, there can be a return to the sort of performance we have been more used to over the course of this season. However, with the next match being at Coles Lane against old adversaries Romulus, this will be far from easy.
Leamington: Richard Anstiss, Jamie Towers, Guy Sanders [C], Adam Cooper (Josh Blake, 78), Richard Softley (Martin Hier, 54), Liam Reynolds, Stuart Herlihy, Luke Corbett, Mark Bellingham, Mykel Beckley (Marcus Jackson, 59), Jamie Lenton.
Subs not used Steve Palmer, Ryan Parisi.
Aylesbury United: Tom Vincent, Ben Stevens [C], Danny Mead, James Saulsbury, Carl Kavanagh, Matt Butler, Chris Marsh, Sam Swonnell, Nathan Graham (Craig Henney, 62), Glenn Hawkins (Ross Taylor, 84), Kevin Mealor (Mark Jones, 79)