Wed, 08 Apr 2009 @ Ram Meadow, Bury St Edmunds . vs Bury Town (2-2). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards.
Tuesday April 7th, 2009.
Brakes made the long trip back up the A14 to Warwickshire with a point from what was, at times, an enthralling contest, at Ram Meadow. Having recovered from the shock of going behind very early on, they hit back to have the best of the first half, before being forced to battle their way through the second, conceding an equaliser inside the final ten minutes, but those who were present agreed that a draw was the right result from an entertaining match.
The hosts were on the attack straight from the kick off, and inside the first minute, Martin Hier was forced to scoop a shot over the crossbar. The resulting corner was cleared away from the goal line, a second was put behind, and from the third, Sam Reed forced a shot in to put his side in front.
This was not the start that the travelling contingent had hoped for, but as Brakes settled down they began to get into the game. Mark Bellingham got into a good position on the left of the penalty area, but did not have complete control of the ball, and as it was played away from him, Mykel Beckley picked up possession, and steamed into the area. He was bought down for what looked like a clear penalty, but with an offside flag up on the far side, the Referee was left to face the wrath of the fans behind the goal, as he checked on the condition of Beckley, who stayed down for several minutes.
A goal of immense quality bought Leamington back on level terms on 9 minutes, and it was scored by Chris Murphy, who was given a start ahead of Jai Stanley. The ball sat up for him perfectly, 25 yards out, as Brakes attacked, and the shot was an absolute screamer, a dipping first time effort that sailed over the head of Marcus Garnham in the Bury goal, and into the net.
At this point the game was flowing from end to end, with both sides looking threatening. Ben Coker lashed a shot high over the bar, and Bellingham got into a good position on the right wing, only to see his cross towards Mykel Beckley cut out. Beckley also forced Marcus Garnham to sprint from his line and clear the ball out of play, but he was struggling after taking a knock, and having been given a starting place, he must have been incredibly frustrated to have to go off. Luke Corbett replaced him.
The home fans at the far end let out a cry when they thought their side had gone back in front, but Chris Kiely held on to the ball. Luke Corbett made progress on the right, and put in a dangerous cross that evaded all in a gold and black shirt inside the area, and flashed across goal. Brakes were looking menacing now, and Mark Bellingham provided the deftest of touches to a left wing cross at the near post on 25 minutes to put Leamington into the lead. He could have added to it shortly afterwards, when finishing off a pass from Murphy, only for a questionable offside flag to be raised, which saw the goal ruled out. At the other end, a shot whistled past the far post for Bury.
The work rate and endeavour from both teams was frantic, and Liam Reynolds did well to earn a corner, from which Guy Sanders saw a shot deflected over the bar. You sensed that this game was far from over, as the teams went in at the break with Leamington a solitary goal in front.
There were a few decisions from the officials that were debated during the second half, one being when Marcus Jackson appeared to be helped to the turf inside the penalty area. Chris Murphy saw another effort well saved by Garnham, and Jackson played the rebound in at speed, only for Bellingham to scoop it over from close range. Bury saw a handball claim waved away as a free kick was played into the Leamington area, and Guy Sanders was on hand to clear away from the goal line. Stuart Herlihy was forced to clear away another dangerous corner kick, and Ryan Parisi did well to get a challenge in as a home player almost went one on one with Chris Kiely.
Lee Reed saw a shot fly over the bar, and Chris Murphy was in the thick of things again for Leamington, lifting the ball quickly past Garnham as he raced from his line to try and clear, but the ball dropped wide. Mark Bellingham was forced off with twenty minutes remaining with an injury that is not thought to be too serious, and he was replaced by Josh Blake, who really should have tried to play the ball towards goal when presented with it just outside the box later on in the game, but he opted to try and play a team mate in.
Brakes were under the cosh for large periods of the second half, and were not able to build too many attacks. Bury looked the more likely side to score, and they got the equaliser they deserved nine minutes from time, courtesy of a free kick from Lee Smith, following a challenge on the edge of the area. Leamington battled well for the remainder of the game, without creating anything, and the draw sees them gain another point over county rivals Nuneaton and Atherstone Town, but with both sides now having an extra game to play, the opportunity is there for them to close the gap. The Easter fixtures are certainly going to be interesting.
Bury Town Marcus Garnham, Russell Short, Ashley Sloots, Callum Kearns, Roscoe Hipperson, Gavin Johnson, Lee Smith, Michael Steward, Sam Reed, Lee Reed, Ben Coker.
Substitutes: Liam Barrett, Stuart Walker, Scott Chaplin, Tom Bullard, Dean Greygoose.
Leamington: Chris Kiely, Marcus Jackson, Ryan Parisi, Guy Sanders [C], Martin Hier, Liam Reynolds, Stuart Herlihy, Chris Murphy, Mykel Beckley (Luke Corbett, 16), Mark Bellingham (Josh Blake, 70), James Husband.
Subs not used: Steve Palmer, Jai Stanley, Richard Anstiss.