Manarama National League North
Croft Park
Saturday 15th September 2018

Brakes returned to winning ways in the North East with a determined and disciplined display which sentenced Blyth Spartans to their third home defeat of the season.

Paul Holleran’s side embarked on their longest away day of the season without the injured Connor Gudger and Joe Magunda who was unavailable, while James Mace sat out the second game of his suspension but still travelled with his team mates, so it was to their immense credit that after a five hour coach journey they produced the performance they did.

After two successive defeats an early goal was exactly what was required, and the opening shot of the game sparked the events that led up to it. Kieran Dunbar’s drive was deflected behind for a corner which was only half cleared. The recalled Ahmed Obeng picked up possession on the left and was upended as he attempted to wriggle his way into the penalty area. A training ground set piece was then executed to precision as Dunbar floated the resulting free kick into a crowded penalty area, Jack Edwards ghosting in at the far post unmarked to slam a first time volley into the roof of the net to the delight of the travelling contingent behind the goal.

Matt Stenson had a busy afternoon and was just unable to direct his first effort at goal on target, heading Dunbar’s right wing corner back in the direction it had come. Buoyed by the goal, Leamington looked bright in the opening exchanges, Dunbar in particular surging forward at every opportunity.

Spartans’ Bradley Fewster thumped a header wide from Lewis Horner’s right wing centre, and the same player’s smart touch from another ball in from the right created space for a shot that was well blocked by Jamie Hood.

A handball by Horner presented Brakes with their second goal from a free kick some 25 yards out. Dunbar stepped up to drive a low curling effort around the defensive wall that nestled in the back of the net off the inside of the post.

Great anticipation from Dunbar saw him take advantage of a short back pass to goalkeeper Peter Jameson, playing the ball into the centre for Stenson to drive a difficult effort first time over the bar.

Sean Reid came closest to a Blyth reply before half time, arrowing a low first time drive just past the upright as the ball was cut back to him just outside the box.

Stenson came close to scoring twice early in the second half, firstly when played in by Callum Gittings after a swift break from his own half, the outstretched boot of a defender denying him. He was then just offside as Obeng played him through inside the area, Jameson saving his shot anyway.

Joe Clarke thrashed a half clearance just over the bar on the volley from the edge of the box as Leamington pushed for a third, and they sprung forward on the break once more, Gittings sending Obeng down the left with a fine ball out of defence, the speedy winger cutting inside and firing in a shot that was blocked, the ball then finding its way out to Clarke on the edge of the box, who took it down before also seeing his effort blocked.

With just over 20 minutes to play Blyth were awarded a penalty, allegedly for a push inside the box. Fewster stepped up to the spot but his kick was read all the way by Tony Breeden, who extended his impressive record of saving penalties with another fine stop.

Stenson looked to be in on the left after a driving run on the break by Obeng but the ball was hurriedly cleared to half way by Jameson, where it was picked up by Gittings who set off on a powerful run to the edge of the box before unleashing a low drive which was deflected behind.

Clarke hooked the ball away from goal as a downward header came in from the hosts, but while Blyth saw a lot of the ball inside the Leamington half it was the visitors who continued to look more threatening. A superb ball from Clarke out to Dunbar on the right saw the goalscorer find Stenson in the centre but he was just beaten to the ball by Michael Liddle.

Substitute Adam Wrightson drove in a shot that Breeden was unable to hold, his defence coming to his rescue and scrambling the ball clear, but this was as close as the home side came to a goal in the remaining minutes.

Stenson was almost in as Jameson was sold short by another back pass, but the goalkeeper got there just ahead of him. Substitute Anthony Dwyer saw a shot blocked after breaking clear down the left, but the hard work had been done and the players were able to celebrate a well earned victory with the hardy band who made the long trip north.

‘This is always one of the toughest away trips of the season,’ said Paul Holleran after the game. ‘The distance is a factor, and Blyth’s home form is always good. I think Alun (Armstrong) has had problems with injuries and what not, but they’re a good side here. I think this is the first time I have won here in a long time but it’s the way we won that’s pleased me the most today. We played good football with a good tempo, but it was also the way we saw out bits of the game, at times when we’ve been susceptible to conceding goals. There’s a penalty decision that’s gone against us but we’ve got away with, I think we deserved that though, our performance deserved a clean sheet. There were some massive individual performances but more importantly a massive collective team performance. It was pleasing for us as a group that things we’ve worked on this week and spoken about, it’s great when it comes to a Saturday afternoon and it all goes your way.’

‘Ten games in we have competed in each of them so far, which again is pleasing because at times in the first ten games last season we looked out of our depth. The squad was a little stretched today but it was an excellent performance today, I’m delighted.

Attendance: 596

Blyth Spartans: Peter Jameson, Alex Nicholson, Michael Liddle, Lewis Horner, Jordan Watson, Aaron Cunningham, Jarrett Rivers, Sean Reid, Daniel Maguire (17 Connor Oliver, 70), Robbie Dale © (12 Adam Wrightson, 56).

Subs not used: 14 Nathan Buddle 15 Ian Watson, 16 Damen Mullen.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, James Bowen, Joe Clarke, Jamie Hood, Jack Lane, Kieran Dunbar, Callum Gittings, Matt Stenson (14 Anthony Dwyer, 89), Jack Edwards, Ahmed Obeng (12 Connor Taylor, 74).

Subs not used: 15 Martin Naylor, 16 Shay Nicholson, 17 Tom James.

Referee: Mr David McNamara

Assistant Referees: Mr Michael Burrows & Mr Matthew East.

Brakes Man of the Match: Kieran Dunbar.