Sat, 09 Feb 2008 @ Bell Close, Leighton Buzzard. vs Leighton Town (1-1). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards.
Brakes ground out a point without playing particularly well, as the trip to Leighton Buzzard produced the same result as in our maiden fixture back in this division at the New Windmill Ground last August. The travelling support contributed to a seasons best attendance for the hosts, but left somewhat frustrated at witnessing another stalemate.
The opening quarter was to be the most eventful period of the game in terms of goals. In Brakes first attack, they won a free kick in midfield, and Liam Reynolds lofted ball into the Leighton penalty area was adjudged to have been handled by someone in a red and white shirt by Mr Field, the match Referee. It looked a harsh decision. Before we had time to worry about our poor recent record from the spot, Ben Mackey had stepped up to send keeper Nigel Maarman the wrong way and put Leamington a goal up with his eleventh league strike of the season.
The home side pushed forward in search of a quick response, and they got one six minutes later as they were awarded a penalty of their own. Again, the decision looked harsh. With the afternoon sun low in the sky, it was difficult to see who the guilty party was. Enzo Silvestri levelled the scores, despite the valiant efforts of Richard Morris to keep the ball out. The Brakes custodian was called into action twice more, as Leighton looked to push on. He got down well to smother a close range effort after a scramble in the area, and then blocked another good effort, and looked on as the rebound nearly cleared the flats behind the ground.
Leamington responded by coming close to going in front on a couple of occasions before half time. Jamie Towers threaded a pass across to James Husband, who had work to do to create an opening for himself on the left edge of the penalty area, but he sidestepped his marker and curled a shot in that Maarman got down to parry. The home keeper smiled at some good natured banter from the away fans behind the goal about the fact that he had lasted longer than he had in the match at the New Windmill, when he was dismissed in the first minute. He was no doubt relieved to see a bullet header from Stuart Herlihy whistle narrowly over his crossbar. Ben Mackey slipped a pass to Liam Reynolds in a good position just before the break, but Maarman was smartly off his line again to block the shot.
Goalmouth action at either end was hard to come by in the second forty five minutes. Richard Morris made the first save of the half, comfortably dealing with a shot that had the sting taken out of it by a deflection. Jason Cadden made changes as he looked for a spark that would fire Brakes to a win. Too often passes were were being misplaced when a simple ball would have been sufficient, and the forward line were forced to feed off scraps all afternoon.
In the last fifteen minutes things started to look a little better. One of the substitutes, Craig Dutton, floated a cross in for Ben Mackey, who in turn tried to lay the ball off. As he did so, it struck a Leighton hand, but the Referee seemed to change his mind and waved play on. Mackey also had a shot just wide as he twisted and turned away from his markers, who were no doubt mindful of his goal in the reverse fixture, as they stuck close to him during the game.
Hesitancy in the Brakes defence then almost cost them dearly, as Leighton played the ball in to their striker, who instead of firing in a first time shot, tried to take his time, and ended up shooting so far wide he caught a team mate offside.
Keith Rostill had another hard working game, and made space for a shot, but couldn't quite get enough power in his effort to trouble Maarman.
At the other end, a hopeful long range effort hit a red and white shirt and dropped just wide. James Husband saw a cross-shot caught under his crossbar by Maarman, and Mackey had the last meaningful effort of the game, as he escaped the attentions of his markers, but hit his shot straight at the keeper.
Jason Cadden was not happy with the way his team had played, but conceded that he was happy with a point, under the circumstances. 'If we can go to Aylesbury and win next week, that'll be eight points from twelve from our four games on the road, and that will be a good return', he said. 'There are a lot more twists and turns ahead yet.'
Attendance: 314
Leighton Town: Nigel Maarman, Andrew Fagan, Leon Cashman, Lance Gentle-King, Peter Clifford [Capt], Liam Howley, James McNulty, Enzo Silvestri, Ben Gallant, Richard Pringle, Julian Old.
Substitutes: Liam Jahn, Bilal Hassan, Billy Perry, Jack Copson.
Leamington: Richard Morris, Jamie Towers, Arron Parkinson [Capt], Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders, Stuart Herlihy, Liam Reynolds (Craig Dutton,67), Ben Mackey, Robbie Beard (Vijay Sidhu,71), Keith Rostill, James Husband.
Substitutes not used: Ryan Parisi, Martin Thompson, Martin Hier.
- MotM Guy Sanders.