Vanarama National League North
Horsfall Stadium
Saturday 16th November 2019

Brakes handed Paul Holleran the perfect tenth anniversary present as the long wait for a National League North victory emphatically came to an end at a ground where Leamington had never previously enjoyed any form of success, Josh March scoring his first hat trick for the club as they saw off a beleaguered Bradford Park Avenue on their own turf for the first time in six attempts.

The manager made just one change to his starting eleven from Tuesday’s game at King’s Lynn, restoring Kaiman Anderson to the starting line up in place of Dexter Walters.

The game exploded into life for Brakes with seven minutes played. March had already tried his luck from distance in the opening moments, but was on the spot as Leamington won a corner on the left, the ball was played to the near post for the striker to thump home a header, his 14th goal of the season.

There was barely a chance to settle down before the visitors were gifted the chance to go two goals ahead just two minutes later. March was hauled back by Liam Hughes as he set himself to touch Kaiman Anderson’s low left wing cross into the net. Having awarded a penalty, Referee David McNamara duly showed the Avenue number five a red card. March doubled the punishment by sending Joe Green the wrong way from 12 yards.

Perhaps understandably for two out of form sides the game did quieten down after this, but March came close to a hat trick goal on the half hour as his powerful drive from outside the box was straight at keeper Green, who inexplicably shovelled it over the bar. Another effort was struck from the edge of the box, straight at the keeper as March was slipping, and he had a great chance to complete a first half hat trick when Anderson slung in another left wing centre, but his header was directed straight at Green.

For their part Bradford looked like they might carry a threat when breaking, but more often than not they picked the wrong pass and surrendered possession or were halted in their tracks by determined Brakes defending.

March completed his hat trick in style five minutes into the second half, charging onto a fine through ball from George Carline to outpace and outmuscle two defenders before driving his shot under the goalkeeper.

Joe Clarke was the width of the crossbar from scoring his first goal for the club when he turned past his marker and clipped a shot over the advancing Green only to see the ball cannon back off the frame of the goal.

March almost bagged his fourth of the afternoon when neatly exchanging passes with Anderson just outside the box before thundering another strike towards goal, Green doing well to help the ball over the bar.

Substitute Callum Gittings sent a close range header into the arms of the goalkeeper, while the closest Bradford came to a consolation was when James Mace poked the ball behind for a corner, Jake Weaver commanding his area superbly as he rose to punch the ball clear.

This was a timely and much needed victory for Brakes on a day when some of the teams below them also picked up wins and hopefully it will give them the confidence to turn the corner after a poor run of results.

Attendance: 442

Bradford (Park Avenue): Joe Green, Isiah Bazeley, Billy Priestley, Keith Lowe ©, Liam Hughes, Jon Royle, Lewis Knight (17 Oli Johnson. 67), Isaace Knight, Dan Sweeney (15 Josh Heaton, 39), Alex Hurst, Adam Nowakowski (14 Andre Johnson, 75).

Subs not used: 12 Lewis Rathbone,

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, Stephan Morley, Callum Maycock, James Mace, Jack Lane, George Carline, Joe Clarke, Josh March (16 Connor Taylor, 78), Jack Edwards (15 Callum Gittings, 61), Kaiman Anderson (14 Kieran Dunbar, 70).

Subs not used: 12 Dexter Walters, 17 Jordan Murphy.

Referee: Mr David McNamara

Assistant Referees: Mr Martin Parker & Mr Alexander Beckett

Brakes Man of the Match: Josh March.

Managers Reaction

‘Bradford is a tough old place to come, but I think the most pleasing thing for me was possibly, after a difficult period, in the first ten-fifteen minutes we didn’t look like a team that’s had some poor results and some poor performances. We looked on the front foot and positive, which from a personal point of view, you sort of look at it and think, how we’ve managed this situation is probably right, and even though there weren't many changes in the team personnel wise, we tinkered with the shape and put people in different positions and it really worked great, they couldn’t cope with us in the first fifteen minutes. It was pretty similar to what Southport did to us really. The player getting sent off was difficult, but they’re becoming a big strong experienced side, Bradford, and we kept the ball well, looked a threat all afternoon. Listen, some of the results we’ve had we’ve deserved, but there’s also some we haven’t deserved, and I think today it was just nice for everybody - and I mean everybody connected with the football club, because we all feel it - to have a real positive performance, and a great result. But I think possibly, looking at the application and performance of the players, some of our senior players today, our defensive mode was where it should be for this division, and I think we’ve possibly looked a bit better in recent games offensively, but we’ve lost our way defensively, but we got back to basics, we looked after our individual performances and the combination collectively comes together. It’s been a good day for us, and I think we all needed it, being bluntly honest.

‘I don’t really want to pick anyone out but I thought Callum Maycock was excellent in there today; Josh’s hat trick which was great; there were lots of plusses for us. I think we’ve all shown great character, but it’s only a start for us. It’s a step in the right direction and hopefully we can bring that performance into the next few games.

‘It’s been great to win against Brackley on the 500th game, and to win here for the tenth year anniversary. I’ve never won here before, whether it’s been with Leamington, Halesowen or Solihull...I don’t think I brought Rushall here… It’s a tough old place to come, and you know for a fact that with Mark Bower back, they’ve beat Hereford here, they’ve beat Gloucester here, they were unlucky last week against King’s Lynn - they’ll slowly but surely pick some points up so I don’t think we can look at it too lightly - a 3-0 result here is fantastic and the manner of it. The most pleasing thing for me is that we didn’t look like a side that’s had a tough period - we were on the front foot, nice and positive, and then I look at the way we as the staff have managed the situation, and we’ve done things right, so yeah, I’m delighted, and I’m going to enjoy the journey back!’