Sun, 26 Apr 2009 @ Bell Close, Leighton Buzzard. vs Leighton Town (5-2). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards.
Saturday April 25th, 2009
This was almost the perfect end to a perfect season. Brakes rounded off their victorious title winning year by eventually cantering to victory, in a game that many had marked down as a tough one when the fixtures were first viewed. Indeed, this was our first victory over Leighton after three draws, and it was made all the more impressive by the fact that the team played for just over an hour with ten men, after Adam Cooper was rather harshly sent off for conceding the penalty which led to the opening goal. However, this only served to galvanise Brakes, and they went in front before riding out some pressure from the home side, rounding a memorable season off with a fine second half display.
There was a real end of season feel about the place before kick off, with a relaxed atmosphere, gold and black replica shirts resplendent, as the crowd soaked up the April sunshine. Keeper Lee Clark plucked an early cross from James Husband off the head of Josh Blake, and Husband then tried to curl a pass around the last man for Blake to latch on to, but Clark was off his line to claim. The home side may have narrowly missed out on the play off places, but they were keen to take the scalp of the Champions, and Liam Hatch forced Chris Kiely to push his fierce shot over the bar.
There was a scramble for the ball inside Kiely's penalty area, as Leighton continued to press, but the home side were unable to force the ball home. Marcus Jackson then crossed for Blake, who held the ball up and turned well, but his shot lacked the power to trouble Clark. A dangerous ball in from the left was missed by the Leighton forwards, and Kiely was eventually able to claim.
On 28 minutes the game exploded into life, as Adam Cooper's afternoon came to a premature end. He was given a straight red card for pulling back a Leighton attacker, and Dennis Fenemore coolly dispatched the resulting penalty kick past Kiely to put his side in front. The Brakes stopper was then forced into another save from a low shot by Liam Hatch.
It appeared that Brakes may have a tough task on their hands to avoid defeat, but they were determined to smash the 100 point barrier, and were level within five minutes. Jai Stanley slung a cross in from the right, and Mark Bellingham, despite being tightly marked, got enough on his header to carry the ball past a flat footed Lee Clark and into the corner of the net.
The goal, and the resilience shown by Leamington seemed to take the sting out of the home side, and they found themselves behind six minutes before the break. James Husband sent over a searching ball from the middle of the park, and Chris Murphy stole in unmarked on the right, and sent a first time shot into the far corner for a fine goal. Jai Stanley had a chance to extend the lead further, but flighted his free kick from the edge of the area just over the bar.
For a short period at the beginning of the second half, it appeared that the players minds may be on their upcoming summer break, as they conceded a rather soft equaliser, but after that, there was only one team that looked likely to win this game. Leighton pushed forward from the restart, and were rewarded on 49 minutes, when a shot from the right evaded Chris Kiely and struck the far post, with Liam Hatch tucking away the rebound. Brakes were after an immediate reply, and Bellingham was caught offside as Stanley played the ball over to him inside the area. Only a well timed last ditch challenge from Charlie Cunningham prevented Josh Blake from a clear run on goal as the pair chased a through ball. At this stage, both goalkeepers were seeing a lot of the ball without having to make too many saves. However, just after the hour mark, Leamington moved back in front, a position they would not relinquish during the remainder of the game.
A clearance from defence by captain Martin Hier was helped on by the head of Josh Blake. Mark Bellingham relishes these kind of situations, and he was onto the ball, in a straight chase with his marker, but there was only going to be one winner. With keeper Clark stranded off his line, Bellingham clipped his shot past the helpless keeper and the ball looped into the net.
Marcus Jackson made a timely intervention in defence to prevent a dangerous cross from causing problems for Chris Kiely, but Leighton were seeing less and less of the ball in attacking positions, while Leamington looked threatening every time they went forward, causing panic in the home defence. Jai Stanley left the field to a raucous ovation, to be replaced by a hungry looking Luke Corbett, who immediately began making a nuisance of himself all over the pitch. He played a big part in Leamington's fourth goal on 75 minutes, picking up a stray pass on the right to spring Brakes into a counter attack, with the home side pushed up field. Corbett's cross was inches from the head of Josh Blake, who flung himself forward to try and connect with the ball, but instead it found Mark Bellingham at the back post. Lee Clark made himself big and blocked the initial shot well, but Bellingham had time to pick himself up, and laid a pass back to James Husband outside the area, and he arrowed a powerful strike through the crowd and into the far corner.
The travelling support were in party mood now, and Chris Kiely received a well deserved ovation as he was replaced by the returning Richard Morris for the final minutes of the game. If this was to be his last game for the club, his contribution has been very much appreciated by all, and hopefully he has enjoyed his stay at Leamington enough to consider a return, if the opportunity arises. However, it was good to see Mozza back between the posts, and he was no doubt relieved to be back, even though he had practically nothing to do during his time on the pitch.
Leighton keeper Clark was perhaps fortunate that the Referee was unsighted when he charged out of his area to contest a high ball with Luke Corbett, as there was a suspicion of handball as he made contact. An exchange of wry smiles with Bello told its own story. The Brakes striker looked to be in with a chance of a hat trick, as he robbed Liam Howley on the left touchline and charged towards the area, but with two players hot on his heels, he ran the ball out of play.
Mykel Beckley, fit again after his recent injury, stepped off the bench to provide further torment for the Leighton back line. He will no doubt be hoping for an injury free season next time out, as his chances of cementing a place in the side have been hampered by long spells on the sidelines. He saw a cross pushed out by Clark, which fell to Husband outside the area. His shot nicked a home player on the way through, and went behind for a corner. As the ball was played into the 6 yard box, an almighty scramble ensued, with shots being desparately blocked, before Mark Bellingham forced the ball home. He was mobbed by his team mates as they celebrated his sixth hat trick of the season, and a second in two games. Brakes fans have seen some prolific goalscorers play for their team since the renaissance in 2000, but surely none more so than this man. He has finished the season with a record of practically a goal a game, which even at this level, is astonishing. The adulation he receives from supporters, young and old, knows no bounds, and he certainly seems happy to be playing for Leamington. It is to be hoped that the club can persuade him to return for our assault on the Premier Division, next time out, because it would surely prove very difficult to replace a player of such quality.
Bellingham so nearly grabbed a sixth goal for Leamington, as a cross from strike partner Corbett squirmed through the legs of keeper Clark, and hit the post, before the keeper got his hands to it just in time.
This was allegedly Martin Hier's final game for the club, as he has apparently decided to hang up his boots while at the top, and he almost connected with a corner kick, which would have been a fitting send off for a player who has had a big part to play in the successes of recent seasons. The game ended with Brakes firmly in the ascendancy, and the players and management were warmly applauded from the pitch.
Even before the memories of this wonderful campaign have time to fade, thoughts turn to next season. It is sure to be another exciting, eventful campaign. The buzzword is always 'consolidation', when entering a new, unknown division, with new opponents and fresh challenges, but with the way our team has approached these situations before, it would be foolish to bet against another successful season for Jason Cadden's men, next time out. The team have been an absolute pleasure to watch and report on, at times this season, and will no doubt continue to be so. The future's bright. The future's Gold and Black!
Leighton Town: Lee Clark, Charlie Cunningham, Jack Copson Jamie O'Grady, 75), James McNulty, Peter Clifford [C] (Dean Buss, 69), Liam Howley, Scott Thomas, Enzo Silvestri, Dennis Fenemore, James Hatch (Bilal Hassan, 81), Aston Goss.
Subs not used: Steve Root [GK], James Lasbrey.
Leamington: Chris Kiely (Richard Morris, 75), Chris Murphy, Martin Hier [C], Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders, Marcus Jackson, Stuart Herlihy, Jai Stanley (Luke Corbett, 69), Josh Blake (Mykel Beckley, 81), Mark Bellingham, James Husband.