Sun, 12 Oct 2008 @ Chateau Roux Stadium. vs Arlesey Town (4-1). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards.
Leamington marked their first visit to the Chateau Roux Stadium with a convincing victory in the autumn sunshine. Despite their name, Arlesey are actually situated in a village, but have a tidy set up that would put many larger clubs to shame. One of the most famous players to have worn their colours is Stoke City striker Dave Kitson, and we were greeted by the sight of him standing at the bar as we entered the clubhouse. Despite some negative press in the national media, it is clear he hasn't forgotten his friends at the club where he rediscovered his passion for the game, after giving up on football at his home town club, Hitchin. He seemed very down to earth, and was happy to sign autographs and pose for photos.
We were relieved to hear that his name wasn't down on the Arlesey team sheet.
In the absence of Stuart Herlihy, Marcus Jackson was restored to the starting line up, and it was he who struck the first effort on goal of the afternoon, skipping past a challenge and firing low towards the corner, only to see his shot pushed behind by goalkeeper Jorden Houghton. The home side lined up with only one up front, but the defensive formation did not prove to be an effective barrier over the course of the afternoon. Guy Sanders and Adam Cooper went close with headed efforts before the opening goal arrived on nineteen minutes. Mark Bellingham was the scorer, but the build up involved a clever piece of play from Josh Blake. Breaking quickly from midfield, with Luke Corbett and Bellingham either side of him, Blake fooled the back peddling Arlesey defenders into thinking that he was going to try and play Corbett in on goal. Instead, he played Bellingham clear on the right, and he cut into the area and arrowed his shot across Houghton and into the far corner.
After his fine start to the campaign, Luke Corbett had what he would probably describe as a bad day at the office in front of goal, but he kept plugging away, and was involved throughout, as Brakes continued to pour forward at every opportunity. A dipping long range strike flew just over the bar, and James Husband volleyed a difficult shot over after Sanders headed across goal.
Leamington's second goal came via a contentious penalty decision given by match official Mr Field. Josh Blake attempted to bring down a high ball into the area, but as Brakes looked for a pass into the danger zone, Mark Bellingham was presented with the chance to double the lead, which he did with consummate ease.
Up until this point, the home side had done little to trouble the Brakes defence, who dealt with a couple of attacks down the right. Adam Cooper was in the right place to block attempted shots from Matt Kimani, who looked lively when in possession on the left, and it was he who reduced the arrears five minutes before the break, ghosting in unmarked to slot home a cross. It was a sloppy goal for Brakes to concede after they had largely controlled the half, as Jason Cadden admitted after the game, and he clearly used that during his half time talk to spur the side on, as they produced a second half performance which at times was a joy to watch. Arlesey saw a shot drop just wide, but were soon on the defensive again. Marcus Jackson spread the play with another superb ball out to James Husband on the left, and his low cross to the back post needed only a touch to divert it goal bound, but it was put behind for a corner, from which Sanders fired a shot over the bar. Jackson was again involved, terrier like in midfield as he won the ball, threading a pass through for Bellingham to sprint onto. His ball into the box found Blake, running in at speed, but he put his shot over. At the other end, Richard Morris was alert enough to spot the danger when the ball was played over the top for Kimani to run onto, and came off his line to clear.
Josh Blake was rewarded for a hard working performance with his second goal of the season on sixty eight minutes, when his firm downward header from a corner found the back of the net to restore Brakes' two goal cushion. The home side responded with a free kick from the right wing that forced Morris to palm the ball over his crossbar. However, substitute Mykel Beckley rounded off the scoring in fine style with six minutes to play, picking up the ball around thirty yards from goal and advancing forward, before unleashing a rocket of a shot that hit the back of the net before Houghton had even seen it. There could have been more goals towards the end, as Cadsey introduced most of his outfield substitutes. Glenn Webb chested down a clearance just outside the box, and hammered a volley towards goal that was tipped over by Houghton. Bellingham was inches too high with a back header from the resulting corner.
Going back to March 29th last season, when Leamington recorded a 2-0 victory over Bishops Cleeve at the New Windmill, this success at Arlesey is actually the 15th league win in a row, if you discount the two Play Off fixtures, which is some achievement. Jason Cadden declared himself happy with the performance, apart from the goal that was conceded. "We weren't happy with that at half time, but we told the lads that if we stayed disciplined and kept our shape, then the third goal would come. We could have been a bit better in front of goal, but we're pleased with what's gone on. I still think there's teams that are capable of putting a run together, but whatever happens, we've given ourselves a platform to build on."
Arlesey Town: Jorden Houghton, James Dillnut (Matt Clarke, 39), Paul Bloss, Shane Brown, Tom Moran, Lee Allen, Matt Kimani, Owen Beale, Richard Pringle, Leon Gutzmore, Jamie Osbourne (Arin Fehmi, 52).
Subs not used: Fred Hester, Liam Beaumont, Ryan Francis.
Leamington: Richard Morris, Jamie Towers (Ryan Parisi, 82), Martin Hier, Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders [Capt], Marcus Jackson, Jai Stanley, Luke Corbett (Glenn Webb, 83), Mark Bellingham, Josh Blake, James Husband (Mykel Beckley, 79).
Subs not used: Richard Anstiss, Liam Reynolds.