The Buildbase FA Trophy 3rd Round
The Racecourse Ground
Saturday 19th December 2020

Two fine saves from Jake Weaver in a penalty shoot out sealed Leamington’s progress in the Buildbase FA Trophy at a freezing Racecourse Ground as they pulled off an upset of sorts to dump out former winners Wrexham.

Paul Holleran unsurprisingly opted to name an unchanged starting eleven following the emphatic victory over St Ives Town in the Second Round on Tuesday evening, while Red Dragons’ boss Dean Keates named only three players in his starting eleven that began Tuesday’s National League game at Weymouth, with four of his substitutes from that game stepping up to kick off the game.

The visitors forged the first chance of the afternoon with three minutes played, Sam Osborne sending Danny Waldron scampering down the right with a pass from half way, the former Rushall man cutting inside before forcing Christian Dibble into a save at his near post with a low strike.

Wrexham’s opening opportunity was a good one, James Horsfield’s inviting ball in from the right was met by the head of Kwame Thomas, but the striker could only power his header over the bar into the empty terrace.

With dark clouds menacingly gathering over the nearby hills and rain starting to fall just prior to kick off, some of the players were having trouble keeping their footing in what was a scrappy opening to the game. The bounce of the ball on the slick playing surface also caught them out as they attempted to push forward.

Osborne uncharacteristically screwed a shot into the stand behind the Wrexham goal after gliding past two defenders, while former Coventry City man Thomas stretched to head another effort wide from Jordan Davies’ left wing cross as Wrexham began to look the more threatening going forward as half time approached.

They were foiled by the offside flag as Davies’ shot across the box was blocked, Elliott Durrell’s follow up going the same way before the flag was raised before the ball hit the back of the net from another effort.

Leamington began the second half in determined fashion and were a hair's breadth from taking the lead eight minutes in when Edwards found Osborne in a central position inside the Wrexham penalty area some ten yards from goal. His low drive struck the post with Smith tucking home the rebound only to be denied by an offside flag.

Brakes continued to threaten and came close once more when Osborne’s low driven cross was only cleared as far as Edwards, who had time to set himself and connect with a clean strike some 25 yards from goal, the ball deflected behind for the first corner of the afternoon, which was cleared as far as Steph Morley, whose first time drive was held by Dibble.

Osborne did well to win the ball back having been dispossessed, Simeon Maye nudging it forward to give him the chance of a strike at goal, which again was straight at Dibble. He then saw a free kick deflected inches over the crossbar after Maye had been felled by Wrexham skipper Shaun Pearson right on the edge of the box.

There was a blow for Leamington as Smith was forced off with little over five minutes remaining after going down on half way trying to win the ball. He was replaced by Junior English.

Wrexham came close to snatching it in bizarre fashion deep into injury time when a deflected cross from the right forced Weaver to palm the ball behind as it threatened to sneak into the top corner.

With neither side able to find the net the tie went to spot kicks. Osborne confidently put away the first, while Weaver got hands to Thomas’ effort but was unable to keep it out. Lane stepped up to smash in Brakes’ second, Davies following suit for Wrexham. Joe Clarke, who enjoyed a successful spell in North Wales and is still revered by the home fans to this day, scored Leamington’s third kick, Dan Jarvis levelling things up once more, but only just as Weaver got another strong hand to the ball.

Callum Gittings and Mark Carrington netted their penalties, as did Morley and Elliott Durrell, before second half substitute Kaiman Anderson smashed his against the crossbar, but just when it looked as though the game was up for Brakes, Weaver came up trumps with a fine save from Horsfield to keep them alive.

The skipper stepped up to confidently crash in the sixth penalty for Leamington before Weaver made himself the hero, brilliantly keeping out Anthony Jeffrey’s kick before being submerged by his jubilant team mates.

Wrexham’s players sportingly interrupted the celebrations to congratulate the players before leaving the field, leaving Holleran and his staff and players to toast progress into the fourth round for the second consecutive season.

Manager’s Reaction
‘I thought it was a very disciplined, organised performance. There weren’t many chances in the game. Kyle Morrison and Jack Lane performed superbly against their front two, who are a real handful, and kept them at bay. 

‘There were two different systems, and I think ours might just have edged it, on the balance of play. Wrexham were not quite at full strength but they still put out a strong side, and as I said, it was a really good, solid, hard working away performance. You could see the confidence in the boys - it didn’t phase them coming to play at Wrexham. There were a lot of seven out of tens out there today. Jake Weaver was superb in the shoot out, and we hit some really good penalties - even Kaiman’s that hit the bar. 

‘As much as I’m praising Kyle and Jack, the whole of the back four - Josh Martin and Steph Morley too, had to be big, strong and disciplined today against their attack, and they did that really well. There were some big performances, and then in the penalty shoot out you have to say Jake Weaver was the hero.

‘It’s been a fantastic day. Each time you think these lads have hit their ceiling they go another notch up. I can’t speak highly enough of them.’

Wrexham: 21 Christian Dibble, 15 James Horsfield, 5 Shaun Pearson, 32 Max Cleworth, 29 Jordan Davies, 7 Elliott Durrell, 12 Dan Jarvis, 13 Mark Carrington, 14 Paul Rutherford ( 11 Anthony Jeffrey, 62), 19 Adi Yussuf (27 Jake Bickerstaff, 81), 39 Kwame Thomas.

Subs not used: 1 Rob Lainton, 2 Reece Hall-Johnson, 3 Jamie Reckford.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Josh Martin, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke, Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Sam Osborne, Simeon Maye (15 Callum Gittings, 88), Lance Smith (16 Junior English, 85), Jack Edwards ©, Danny Waldron (14 Kaiman Anderson, 72).

Subs not used: 12 Dan Meredith, 17 Connor Taylor.

Referee: Mr Martin Woods

Assistant Referees: Mr Stuart Morland & Mr Mr William Davis

Fourth Official: Mr David Croft

Brakes Man of the Match: Kyle Morrison.

Many thanks to Wrexham AFC  and Alun Roberts for the use of their photographs.