Vanarama National League North
The Impact Arena
Tuesday 18th February 2020
Despite slipping to a fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions Leamington put in a committed, wholehearted battling display at the Impact Arena to restrict a frustrated Alfreton Town to just a single goal victory as they played for 85 minutes with ten men following the game changing eighth minute dismissal of goalkeeper Jake Weaver.
The on loan Birmingham City man has been Brakes’ only ever present this season but sadly that record will now come to an end as he will serve a one game suspension, giving Paul Holleran a selection headache for his number one slot with Ben Newey apparently injured.
With Junior English missing through suspension and Dexter Walters injured, Holleran handed full debuts to Josh Martin and Jack Storer, while Joe Parker returned to midfield having been cup tied for the previous two games.
The game got off to the worst possible start for Leamington as they lost Weaver to a red card inside the first ten minutes. The hosts had spent practically all of the opening exchanges camped inside the visitors’ half, and Amari Morgan-Smith turned and charged into space in the centre circle, playing Danny Elliott through on goal. Weaver charged to the edge of his box and made the challenge, but although there were at least three Brakes defenders between him and the empty goal, after a couple of minutes deliberating Referee Thomas Kirk brandished the red card to leave the goalkeeper with his head in his hands.
Callum Gittings was the man handed the task of filling the void, and his first contribution was to hold a low drive from Conor Branson at the second attempt. Leamington broke quickly and registered their first attempt at goal, Steph Morley standing the ball up to the far side for Storer to drive in a powerful low effort that flashed past the far post.
The next effort at goal was spilled by the stand in keeper, but as the minutes ticked by his handling and confidence improved as he saved a shot from Josh Wilde. He then watched a free kick from Bobby Johnson all the way to goal, pushing the ball to safety over his crossbar.
A rare attack for Leamington with some decent build up play ended with Parker curling a shot over the bar. Despite being a man light Brakes were maneuvering their way forward when able to, but it was inevitably at the other end of the pitch where most of the work would be done if they were to gain anything from the contest, and they continued to keep their shape and discipline well, frustrating the home side for long periods.
Gittings came confidently off his line to claim a high ball into his penalty area within seconds of the restart, but he needed to keep his wits about him as Alfreton applied concerted pressure which resulted in the only goal of the evening eventually arriving on 64 minutes. It was a little out of context with the home sides’ approach play as a whole; a neat exchange of passes between Branson and Johnson saw the former latch on to a neat flick and rifle the ball low past a helpless Gittings into the net.
The one way traffic continued for the remainder of the contest but Alfreton were simply unable to find the right pass to break down a determined and stubborn Leamington defence. Debutant West Bromwich Albion loanee Dan Meredith was involved with fellow substitute Kieran Dunbar late on as Leamington attempted to snatch a point, his low ball in from the right flashing across goal.
Another defeat it may have been, but the players deserve the utmost credit for digging in under the circumstances.
Paul Holleran’s Reaction
‘The biggest decision of the evening has gone against us early in the game. I think the pitch hasn’t helped Jake, the ball’s got stuck a bit, but he’s got his timing wrong with the tackle, I wouldn’t dispute that for one minute. I think we had a lot of covering defenders so it’s harsh, but it’s not the first time we’ve had it this season, it was the same with Stephan Morley (In the Guiseley home game). I think the officials all need to read that rule correctly, which is that it’s got to be a clear and obvious goalscoring opportunity, and that sentence in itself sums up that it’s got to be clear and obvious, and on both of those occasions it hasn’t been. But that’s where we are.
‘I think on a Tuesday night at Alfreton it’s always going to be a tough game. They are a big, strong experienced side, very powerful, and I thought we were excellent for long periods of the game. We couldn’t have done much more with ten men I don’t think. We had a couple of good chances in the first half but got a bit leggy in the second - you tend to sit in a bit and you’re sort of hoping you can stay in the game, even at 1-0 - it was a good goal from their boy, but if you can keep it at that.. We had a couple of good chances late on on that right hand side with Kieran and Dan. Sometimes with ten men you play for that really, you just have to be disciplined and keep good shape and then try and get your moments.
‘Obviously the results over recent weeks and the schedules have been difficult. I think the players have had to put up with a lot of things going against us, but we need to show a lot of character now We’ve got some home games coming up - tough games but home games, and we’ve got to turn the positivity of probably Concord and now Alfreton tonight into some points, and hopefully start climbing the league a little bit.
Attendance: 283
Alfreton Town: Jordan Wright, Danny East, Josh Wilde © (16 Shaun Tuton, 65), Danny Clarke, Ryan Qualter, Dominic Smith, Conor Branson, Danny Elliott (12 Ben Tomlinson, 89), David Lynch (15 Dale Witham, 54), Amari Morgan-Smith, Bobby Johnson.
Subs not used: 13 Teddy Unwin-Marris, 14 Michael Freiter.
Leamington: Jake Weaver, Josh Martin, Stephan Morley, Callum Maycock, James Mace, Jack Lane, Joe Parker (15 Kieran Dunbar, 85), Callum Gittings, Jack Storer (14 Dan Meredith, 68), Jack Edwards, Kaiman Anderson (12 Connor Taylor, 68).
Subs not used: 16 Kyle McFarlane, 17 Joe Clarke.
Referee: Mr Thomas Kirk
Assistant Referees: Mr Timothy Walker & Mr Pete Henger
Brakes Man of the Match: Callum Gittings.
