Mon, 13 Apr 2009 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Chasetown (1-3). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards.
The stage was set. This was Leamington's 600th Southern League fixture, and if they could win it, they would achieve promotion to the Premier Division. Unfortunately, they put in what was probably their worst performance of the season, to give Chasetown a helping hand in being the party poopers. It was evident from the outset that the visitors were in no mood to roll over and allow Brakes the win that they needed. Charlie Blakemore had his troops fired up. He still harbours ambitions of managing his side at Step 3 next season, and on this evidence, they have as good a chance as the other contenders.
A early warning shot was sent out when Chasetown hit the side netting, but they were gifted the lead on 6 minutes when, with the Leamington defence getting themselves into all kinds of trouble trying to clear their lines, Dean Perrow was left with the simple task of slotting into an empty net. Just the start we didn't want. Brakes almost produced a quick response, Mark Bellingham pouncing on a loose ball inside the penalty area and getting the wrong side of his marker, but without a clear sight of goal he tried to square it for Chris Murphy. Chad Sheppard managed to get a boot in, and the ball rolled into the arms of grateful keeper Ryan Price. This was to be something of a sign that things were not going to go Leamington's way for the rest of the afternoon.
Leamington did not seem to be playing their usual passing game, the players appeared nervous, perhaps with the expectation of the large crowd, the highest of the season at the New Windmill, and every stray pass seemed to spring into a Chasetown attack. Gary Birch sent in a shot from the right which saw Chris Kiely save down to his left. Guy Sanders fired in a low free kick for Leamington which Price got down at his near post to save, but it was the visitors who looked more likely to score. Perrow tested Kiely with another low, well struck shot. Bellingham had a half chance when he controlled a high ball from Palmer inside the area, but his shot was from a tight angle, and lacked the power to trouble Ryan Price.
Chris Kiely produced a fine stop with his legs to prevent a second Chasetown goal, and Ryan Price palmed a dangerous corner off the head of Stuart Herlihy, before the Brakes' match winner at Marlow was given a straight red card in controversial circumstances, five minutes before half time. Vaughan Thomas went down clutching his face following an aerial challenge, and on seeing blood, Referee Mr Fielding had no hesitation in producing a red card for Herlihy. However, the Chasetown player is alleged to have said that the clash was accidental, and video evidence proves that the two players clashed heads, while the Referee seemed to indicate an elbow had been used, so with any luck, the sending off may be rescinded if the FA view the evidence.
Being reduced to ten men now made what was a tough task to begin with, even more difficult, but Brakes almost fashioned an opening before the break. Liam Reynolds had replaced Steve Palmer midway through the half, and although he was a little fortunate to win the ball back after a challenge on the left, he played a dangerous cross into the 18 yard box, which was cleared by a hesitant defence.
Leamington began the second half with a little more purpose, despite being a man light, but this soon turned to frustration, which was echoed off the pitch. Mark Bellingham turned his marker well to latch onto a high ball, but Chris Slater got across well to prevent him from getting a shot away. Bellingham then got into a good position to get a cross in, inside the area, but the ball was put behind. From the corner, Luke Corbett hooked the ball back into the six yard box, but it was headed away.
Chasetown nearly profited again, as James Husband lost possession on the wing, and despite his efforts to track back, John Branch advanced and put in a good cross. Chris Kiely was clearly given a nudge to stop him from reaching the ball, which was inexplicably ignored by the officials. However, when presented with an open goal again, Dean Perrow somehow managed to side foot his shot wide.
For those of a gold and black persuasion, the Referee was not the most popular figure on the pitch, as he proceeded to book James Husband and Mark Bellingham, presumably for dissent, and send Morton Titterton from the Leamington bench, all during a break in play. The players and management were clearly not happy with the way things were going. Guy Sanders pushed up for a free kick, and lashed in a fierce shot that Ryan Price could only parry, but worse was to come for Leamington, as Ben Steane was presented with a simple finish, with the Brakes defence carved open, to put his side two goals up and effectively end the contest.
Steane had another opportunity shortly afterwards, as the route to goal seemed to open up in front of him, but he chose to strike his shot early, and it was straight at Kiely. Brakes forced a couple of corners, the second of which Guy Sanders headed just over at the back post, but they fell three goals behind on 70 minutes, as Gary Birch looped a header over Kiely following a free kick.
Leamington fashioned what was probably their best chance of the game after this, when Sanders knocked on a free kick, and Liam Reynolds powered a header towards goal, but Price produced a fine stop, pushing the ball over the bar. Reynolds headed a corner kick over the bar shortly afterwards.
It was only in the final ten minutes, when the game was lost, that we began to see anything like the real Leamington. Some great interplay between Husband and Bellingham on the left saw the former play an inviting ball across the six yard box, but Josh Blake couldn't reach it, and Price was just in front of substitute Jai Stanley to clear away. Large portions of the crowd were streaming out of the ground with over five minutes to play, which was disappointing to see. Danny Smith fired a shot well over for Chasetown, and Ryan Parisi recovered well to prevent a clear run in on goal for a fourth for Chasetown. Jai Stanley worked his way out to the right hand side well, and fired in a cross which went through the legs of Chris Slater, but Mark Bellingham fired a first time shot over the bar.
The away fans in the Harbury Lane End thought their side had scored another when a shot billowed the side netting, but it was Leamington who had the last say, finally getting some luck in front of goal, but unfortunately it was too little, too late. James Husband made the telling pass across the penalty area, Josh Blake shook the crossbar with a powerful strike, and Jai Stanley was on hand to ram home the loose ball, giving those who remained something to cheer. Mark Bellingham fired just wide under pressure, after Marcus Jackson and Liam Reynolds had linked up well on the right, but in truth a one goal margin would have flattered Leamington, as Chasetown were the better side throughout the game, and deserved the win. After the elation of Saturday, it will now be the fans of Nuneaton Town who have fresh optimism, and it is to be hoped that Brakes will make the most of their second chance to secure promotion, on Saturday. Although our opponents are Malvern Town, who already look doomed to a return to the Midland Alliance next season, it does not make the result a foregone conclusion.
Leamington: Chris Kiely, Marcus Jackson, Ryan Parisi, Guy Sanders [C], Martin Hier (Josh Blake, 66), Stuart Herlihy, Steve Palmer (Liam Reynolds, 35), Chris Murphy, Luke Corbett (Jai Stanley, 63), Mark Bellingham, James Husband.
Subs not used: Adam Cooper, Richard Anstiss.
Chasetown: Ryan Price, John Branch, Mark Branch, Chris Slater, Vaughan Thomas (Joe Williams, 40), Richard Teesdale [C], Ben Steane, Chad Sheppard, Gary Birch (Harry Harris, 90), Dean Perrow (Danny Smith, 80), Richard Batchelor.