Vanarama National League North
The Walks Stadium
Tuesday 12th November 2019

Brakes’ long midweek trip to Norfolk saw their winless National League North run stretch to seven games as they were defeated by a King’s Lynn Town side in no mood to surrender a long unbeaten run on their home turf.

Paul Holleran made one enforced change to his starting eleven from the defeat at Southport with Jack Lane slotting into the centre back position vacated by the departed Jamie Hood, while there was a welcome return for Jordan Murphy on the substitutes bench.

From the opening exchanges it was not difficult to see why the hosts have had such a good start to the season as they zipped the ball around at pace, using the wide positions at every opportunity and driving at their beleaguered opponents. Tom Ward saw an early header held under the crossbar by Jake Weaver, and save for a brief foray into their opponents half Brakes were unable to get out of their own, almost inevitably falling behind on fifteen minutes.

The move was orchestrated down the left by the nippy Nathan Fox, the Lynn players almost mesmerising their Leamington counterparts with the ball. Referee Calum Walchester looked set to blow for a penalty as Michael Clunan went to ground in the box but it wasn’t necessary as Adam Marriott crashed home his 18th goal of the season.

The Linnets’ top scorer scooped another effort just over the bar from a low cross by Chris Henderson before the hosts grabbed a second on 27 minutes, just after Brakes had begun to cause them a few problems, Carey thumping a half volley in from 25 yards.

Brakes were at least beginning to find a little forward momentum but they looked vulnerable every time the home side surged forward, which they did with alarming frequency, and they went three goals ahead ten minutes before half time, the predatory Marriott with his back to goal turning in a flash to fire home his second of the evening from close range as a left wing corner was allowed to reach him inside the six yard box.

Brakes stemmed the Linnets flow with a goal of their own five minutes before the break. Awarded a free kick seemingly out of nothing on the left edge of the box, Dexter Walters played the ball in low and it wasn’t dealt with, Junior English getting there just ahead of Jack Edwards to force the ball over the line for his first goal of the season.

March saw a shot blocked at source on the edge of the box as Leamington looked for more, Steph Morley firing a free kick past the post, but what was at times a scintillating first half performance from the hosts saw them return to the dressing room with a two goal cushion, which they soon restored to three within three minutes of the restart, the ball striking Jordan Richards in the six yard box and pinging past Weaver into the net as the home side finished off another attack to devastating effect.

It was disappointing as Brakes had certainly made a brighter start to the half, and to their credit they continued to plug away, Alex Street forced to punch a cross out from under his bar.

The lively Walters was replaced by Kaiman Anderson after taking a knock, receiving warm applause from some of the home support in the main stand.

The closing twenty minutes were perhaps understandably a little scrappy, as with the game in the bag the hosts allowed Leamington a little more space, and they looked to have brought a little more respectability to the scoreline when Jack Edwards nudged the ball home from close range after a free kick won on the right by March was headed back into his path, but the hosts simply went straight back up the other end and scored a fifth, this time Michael Gash driving a shot between Weaver and his near post to round off a very satisfactory evening for the home side, who are now just a point behind York City at the top of the table, albeit having played a game more.

Brakes meanwhile will have to lick their wounds and prepare for an important game at bottom of the table Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday.

Attendance: 871

King’s Lynn Town: Alex Street, Ross Barrows, Nathan Fox, Sonny Carey (16 Ryan Hawkins, 73), Tom Ward, Rory McAuley, Michael Clunan © (12 Alfie Payne, 81), Jordan Richards, Michael Gash, Adam Marriott, Chris Henderson (14 Sam Kelly, 73).

Subs not used: 15 Aaron Jones, 17 Nathan Stewart.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English (14 Kieran Dunbar, 74), Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke (12 Callum Gittings, 74), James Mace, Jack Lane, Dexter Walters (15 Kaiman Anderson, 68), Callum Maycock, Josh March, Jack Edwards, George Carline.

Subs not used: 16 Connor Taylor, 17 Jordan Murphy.

Referee: Mr Calum Walchester

Assistant Referees: Mr Duncan Robertson & Mr Andrew Hitchcox

Brakes Man of the Match: Josh March.