Sat, 28 Feb 2009 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Arlesey Town (3-1). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards.
If the last three home games have been a bit of a shock to the system, this one was certainly much more like what we have been used to seeing from Leamington, when watching them play at the New Windmill Ground. Brakes tore into Arlesey in the first forty five minutes, and but for some timely interventions, and good saves from their goalkeeper James Russell, they could have been several goals down at half time. There were clear signs of the confident play witnessed earlier in the campaign returning in this game, and Leamington appeared determined to put their recent bad spell to bed. Chris Kiely, the son of Premiership goalkeeper Dean, made his first start between the posts, having signed on loan for the rest of the season from Gillingham.
Stuart Herlihy perhaps had more space than he realised, on the edge of the penalty area inside the first couple of minutes, and looked better placed to try a shot at goal, rather than opting to put a pass through for Luke Corbett, who could not quite reach the ball. Brakes set a pattern for much of the first half, as they rampaged forward at every opportunity. Marcus Jackson cut into the penalty area on the right hand side, past a sliding challenge, but there was nobody in a gold and black shirt to get on the end of his cut back.
A free kick from midfield into the danger area saw Mark Bellingham head over the bar, but he appeared to be shoved as he did so. Brakes' top scorer was frustrated by an offside flag as he lifted a shot over the head of Arlesey goalkeeper James Russell, but the ball struck the crossbar. The visitors were struggling to make any kind of forward movement into the Leamington half, but they won a free kick out on the left, which was headed well clear by Liam Reynolds.
Luke Corbett popped up on the left wing, and his cross into the six yard box was plucked off Bellingham's head by keeper Russell. Marcus Jackson then fed Corbett inside the area, but his vicious first time shot was blocked, almost before it had left his boot. At the other end, Chris Kiely saw his first real touch of the ball when he moved to the edge of his area to collect a through ball.
A slick piece of footwork from Luke Corbett created the space for him to have another crack at goal, but another last ditch block sent the ball behind for a corner. It was from here that Leamington moved in front, as after Guy Sanders had headed towards goal, the ball struck the crossbar and was eventually forced in by Mark Bellingham, for his 30th goal of the season.
Adam Cooper seemed to have licence to roam up field when Brakes attacked, and he used this to good effect, showing up well on both sides of the pitch. He won the ball out on the left, close to the touch line, and slid it back towards Stuart Herlihy, who cracked in a superb shot that James Russell flung himself to his right to push behind his goal. The keeper was indebted to Dean Gilbert, as he cut out a dangerous cross from James Husband, as Leamington continued to swarm forward. Another fine pass from the left sided midfielder saw a first time effort from Luke Corbett fly over the bar. It seemed almost inevitable that the number 10 would get on the score sheet, he was that determined, and he got his goal on 29 minutes, running onto a sublime back heeled pass through the legs of a defender, from Marcus Jackson. Trying to find Husband in the middle with a cross, the ball ricocheted straight back into the path of Corbett, who slammed it home. He very nearly scrambled through for a second minutes afterwards, following another fine pass from Jackson, but was crowded off the ball.
Matthew Clarke shot wildly over for Arlesey, who in truth did not have a serious effort on Chris Kiely's goal during the first half. A vicious cross from Marcus Jackson was headed behind by Ricky Case, while some neat interplay between Jackson and Reynolds saw the former send in another good centre which was met by Corbett, who stretching a little, and his head narrowly cleared the bar.
An early scare for the visitors at the beginning of the second half saw keeper Russell neatly head an incoming ball over the head of the advancing Mark Bellingham for team mate Dean Gilbert to clear. Chris Kiely saved a free kick from Jamie Osbourne, before Luke Corbett saw another effort clear the bar after being played in by Jai Stanley, although had he been on target, it was likely to have been ruled out for offside. A cross in from the right by Marcus Jackson was helped on towards goal by Guy Sanders, and Bellingham flicked his header agonisingly wide of the post. Stuart Herlihy was equally as close with another header from a left wing corner, watching the ball flash just over. Mark Bellingham was cautioned, seemingly for saying something that the referee did not agree with, before Leamington established a three goal lead on 58 minutes. James Husband had possession on the edge of the Arlesey penalty area, and moved the ball across to Luke Corbett, who made space before firing in a shot that took a wicked deflection, looping it up and over a stranded James Russell, and down into the net.
Brakes were comfortable now, but continued to search for more goals. Russell was forced to push a swerving corner from the right over his bar. From the corner, Adam Cooper sent the ball towards goal, where it was only half cleared to James Husband, who from the edge of the area, headed it back towards goal where it was cleared. The visitors threatened briefly, but Ryan Parisi shepherded the ball safely out of play. Brakes were forced back into their own half for a short period, almost the first time in the game that this had happened. Jamie Osbourne was afforded space for a shot, but it travelled so far wide it went out for a throw in. Chris Kiely was forced into a save low down, but the rebound was blasted well over.
Josh Blake, on from the bench to replace Bellingham, really should have made it four, but he couldn't keep his shot down after being played in on goal. Fellow substitute Jamie Lenton placed a tame shot straight at Russell, following a free kick, and Kiely was forced into another save, as the game petered out a little during the closing stages. However, there was still time for Arlesey to take a little of the gloss off the result when they grabbed a late consolation through Jamie Osbourne. Guy Sanders was adamant he had been fouled, but Brakes were caught off guard a little as they pushed up field. Overall though, this was an encouraging performance after recent displays on home turf. Midweek sees us back on the road, with Dunstable the destination, where we will hopefully see a similar performance which will help to get the title challenge back on track.
Leamington: Chris Kiely, Marcus Jackson, Ryan Parisi, Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders [C], Liam Reynolds, Stuart Herlihy, Jai Stanley, Luke Corbett (Mykel Beckley, 75), Mark Bellingham (Josh Blake, 65), James Husband (Jamie Lenton, 72).
Subs not used: Jamie Towers, Richard Anstiss.
Arlesey Town: James Russell, Ricky Case, Shane Brown, Dean Gilbert, Tom Moran, Matthew Waldron [C], Thomas Hays (Richard Pringle, 75), Matthew Clarke, Leon Gutzmore, Jamie Osbourne, Matthew Kimani (Ryan Francis, 75).
Subs not used: Liam Beaumont, Cameron Facey, Freddie Hester.