Sat, 01 Sep 2007 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Shifnal Town (1-0). The FA Cup Preliminary Round . By P Edwards. Brakes edged through to the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup after a single goal saw them to victory against Shifnal Town.
The clearer openings fell to the Shropshire side in the first half, as Brakes worked hard but couldnt impose themselves on the game. The second half saw Jason Caddens men come out with more purpose, and they were rewarded when Dunkley scored his first goal since signing from Woodford United.
A mistake in midfield presented Chris Huston with the first opportunity of the game early on, a shot along the ground which Richard Morris pushed out for a corner.
Shifnal got men behind the ball in numbers when Leamington attacked, and although Russell Dunkley was winning a lot of the ariel challenges, Josh Blake was crowded out on several occasions he tried to run on to the ball.
James Husband had our first shot of the game, but his effort lacked any power. Shifnal worked another opening when winning back possession, but their captain Stuart Corns shot over when he had time and space. His next effort on goal was gathered safely by Richard Morris.
Adam Knight stooped to head wide from a free kick from half way by Martin Hier, and Russell Dunkley nodded a deep cross from Marcus Jackson down for Josh Blake to strike, but his shot did not trouble Kevin Welsby in the Shifnal net.
Although the game was scrappy, the Leamington front line was working hard to create an opening which just wouldnt come. Marcus Jackson cut in from the right to place a shot wide of goal, and Ben Mackey battled for the ball in midfield, finding Martin Hier, whose cross in for Dunkley was headed over by the big striker under pressure from his marker.
The second half started in a more promising fashion for Leamington when Josh Blake headed just wide from a corner. A Shifnal free kick was easily collected by Richard Morris, before Ben Mackey had the best chance of the game so far. Blake helped the ball on from a knock down by Dunkley, and Mackey let the ball roll past him before turning to smash in a shot which was blocked almost from the moment it left his boot.
The crowd of 581 were apprehensive, while appreciating that Brakes were working hard to unlock the Shifnal defence, and they were rewarded on fifty eight minutes with the move of the match, which produced the winning goal. Craig Dutton laid the perfect ball off for Josh Blake to strike a stunning effort against the right hand post, but the ball rebounded kindly for Russell Dunkley on the right, and he sent it back past Welsby to put Leamington in front.
The game was generally played in the right spirit, but Referee Mr Martin had to break up an angry melee after Ben Mackey reacted to a poor challenge from Mark Hobson. Both players were cautioned, and Phillip Bates followed his team mate into the notebook shortly afterwards for a blatant tug on James Husbands shirt as he ran on to a flick from Dunkley.
Josh Blake almost played Mackey in with a through ball, but Bates got across well to clear the danger. Shifnal were awarded a contentious free kick, but once again Morris was well placed to claim the ball. He was in the right place to stop what was probably the visitors best effort of the game shortly afterwards, when Chris Huston ran at the Brakes defence, and as they backed off he struck a fierce shot which Morris got a strong hand to.
Richard Adams and Avun Jephcott were introduced to give the Leamington attack some fresh legs in the final ten minutes, and Adams almost capitalised on a loose ball from a clearance, but his cross/shot was cut out by Welsby. Jephcott had a couple of opportunities to make the game safe, and he looked very lively in his first appearance of the season after his suspension. A swift break saw Stuart Herlihy and Josh Blake sweep the ball wide to Jephcott, who steamed down the left and hit a powerful shot wide of the far post. The same player then accepted a pass from Husband on the edge of the box, swivelled and shot low towards the right hand corner, but Welsby reacted to save.
Shifnal pushed up in search of an equaliser in the closing minutes, forcing Brakes into some rushed and at times desperate defending, but Richard Morris instilled calm with his total dominance of his penalty area, and Leamington held on to record a narrow victory.
Leamington: Richard Morris, Marcus Jackson, Aaron Parkinson, Adam Knight, Martin Hier, Craig Dutton [Capt], Stuart Herlihy, Ben Mackey (Avun Jephcott, 81), Russell Dunkley Richard Adams, 78), Josh Blake, James Husband.
Subs not used: Chris Gibson, Adam Cooper, Tom Fountain.
Shifnal Town: Kevin Welsby, David Andrewartha, Hitchcroft (Jason Barton, 69), Phillip Bates, Mark Hobson, Rhys Adams, Jon Daniels, Stuart Corns [Capt], Steve Edwards, Chris Huston, Matthew Johnson.
Subs not used: Grant Joshua, Martin Poole, Aaron Whyte, Glyn Evans.
Attendance: 581
- MotM Russell Dunkley, for a hard working performance, and his first goal. .