Mon, 30 Mar 2009 @ Sheepy Road, Atherstone. vs Atherstone Town (0-0). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards.
Saturday March 28th, 2009
Leamington emerged with a hard earned point from the top of the table Warwickshire derby at Sheepy Road. The outcome of this clash was important for both clubs, and it showed. Clear cut chances for either side were few and far between, but this did not stop the bumper crowd of 1,020 from creating a good atmosphere. Local pride, added to the fact that both clubs are still chasing the ultimate prize of the Midland Division title, and automatic promotion, meant that there was also some tension in the air.
The Adders were first to show up in the early stages, and Brakes could barely muster a move out of their own half in the first quarter of the game, but stout defending was the order of the day, and the back three were clearly up for the task. Guy Sanders blocked an early shot inside the penalty area, and Lee Greenway fired a good effort just wide.
The style of play employed by Jimmy Ginnelly may not be what most football followers like to watch, but his team are certainly effective with it, and they put Leamington under pressure for long periods of the first half. Sanders was alert again to cut out a ball up the left that was intended for Matt Brown. The first sniff of an attack for Leamington came when Sanders launched a ball out of defence, Liam Reynolds and Mark Bellingham went up with Farhad Afandiyev, but the Adders keeper claimed the ball. Luke Barlone turned his marker just outside the Brakes penalty area, but rolled his shot wide of Chris Kiely's goal.
Kiely was then forced to back peddle and push a high cross over his bar. The corner kick, struck by Tom Bates, hit the roof of the net. James Husband then found some space and accelerated down the left, sending over an inviting looking ball that Luke Corbett was unable to connect with. Bates then volleyed a good effort over for Atherstone at the other end.
The effectiveness of the former Leamington player from dead ball situations would not have been lost on Jason Cadden and his coaching staff, who must have been pulling their hair out at the number of opportunities presented to the home side as a result of needless fouls. The first free kick was awarded at least thirty five yards out, but Bates still struck a shot towards goal. Unfortunately for him, it was a red and white shirt that diverted it behind. The next one shot over the bar, and another was confidently claimed by Chris Kiely.
Ryan Parisi, who replaced the suspended Adam Cooper, battled well all afternoon, and won pushed the ball behind for a corner, after losing possession on the left. The Adders players were in the faces of their counterparts whenever they did not have the ball, forcing mistakes, and Bates capitalised on one such error by Jai Stanley, but just couldn't find his range, and hit his shot narrowly over the bar.
As a result of the midfield having little time on the ball, the front pairing of Luke Corbett and Mark Bellingham were seeing even less of it. Corbett shot well over from a tight angle out on the right, before a gilt edged opportunity fell to Matt Brown inside the area to open the scoring for Atherstone. Brakes failed to properly clear their lines, and the ball was stabbed through a crowded 18 yard box to the feet of Brown, who somehow stabbed his shot wide, but his embarrassment was spared by an offside flag.
Bellingham got his first sniff of a chance as he received the ball outside the area, but he was well marshalled as he probed for an opening. Liam Reynolds was then bought down, but from the free kick Guy Sanders could only hit a shot weakly at Afandiyev.
The first opportunity of the second half came the way of Luke Corbett, who controlled a clever pass in from the right touchline by Jai Stanley, turned his marker, and fired just over. Greenway headed a corner kick well over for Atherstone, before Marcus Jackson forced a corner kick, from which Guy Sanders saw a first time volley deflected over the bar.
As the minutes ticked by, the game began to open up a little for Leamington. Marcus Jackson did well to cut a ball which would have seen Tom Bates in some space on the left. Play immediately switched up field, and Afandiyev was forced to sprint from his line to clear the ball out of play. The Adders keeper appeared to be somewhat fortunate to receive the benefit of the doubt from the match officials shortly afterwards, when he dropped onto the ball on the edge of his penalty area, as Mark Bellingham tried to challenge him. Bellingham protested that the stopper had handled it outside of the line, and having dug it out from under Afandiyev, he fired it into the net, but the free kick was awarded to the relieved goalkeeper.
It was then Chris Kiely's turn to beat out a well struck effort, as the Adders countered, but he looked to have been beaten when Luke Barlone steamed into the area, and looked certain to score, but desperate challenges from Parisi, Sanders, and finally a goal line clearance from Hier saved Leamington.
The introduction of Mykel Beckley bought fresh impetus to the attack, as he caused panic in the Atherstone defence with his darting runs. James Mace was booked for a late lunge at the substitute. The final chances of this tight tussle fell to Luke Corbett. He looked to have got the legs on his marker as he ran for a through ball, but he went for power rather than precision, and his shot cleared the bar. There was almost a similar chance for him as the game ran into added time, but his shot was diverted behind, with Afandiyev claiming the corner, leaving both sides to settle for a share of the spoils.
Atherstone Town: Farhad Afandiyev, James Mace, Ben Twigger, Scott Clamp (Danny Gaunt, 63), Jamie Hood [C], Chris Tullin, Lee Greenway, Craig Civzelis, Luke Barlone, Matthew Brown (Tom Guiney, 87), Tom Bates.
Subs not used: Todd Perry, Dale Belford, Ben Ashby.
Leamington: Chris Kiely, Marcus Jackson, Ryan Parisi, Guy Sanders [C], Martin Hier, Liam Reynolds, Stuart Herlihy, Jai Stanley (Chris Murphy, 68), Luke Corbett, Mark Bellingham (Mykel Beckley, 76), James Husband.
Subs not used: Steve Palmer, Richard Anstiss, Josh Blake.
Attendance: 1,020.
Copyright Leamington Football Club.
*Apologies for the lateness of this report.
- MotM Luke Corbett.