Sun, 08 Mar 2009 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Bedworth United (4-1). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards. Saturday March 7th, 2009.
Brakes turned in a commanding performance against Warwickshire rivals Bedworth United at a blustery New Windmill Ground. With many disappointed Sky Blues fans turning up for the game after Coventry City had slipped to defeat against Chelsea in the FA Cup, the boys in Gold and Black provided the perfect pick me up, storming into a three goal lead inside 28 first half minutes.
With Liam Reynolds having failed a pre match fitness test, and Marcus Jackson passing one, the only change from the side that won at Dunstable was Steve Palmer replacing Reynolds in midfield.
Mark Bellingham smacked a shot narrowly wide after three minutes, which was almost a signal of intent, as within two minutes he had given Brakes the lead. Jai Stanley picked up possession in midfield and played the ball through for Bellingham to run onto, and having got the better of his marker, he spotted Andrew Kemp off his line and lofted a shot over the stranded keeper and into the net. As if to show that the squad are united, following the departure of Jamie Towers during the week, virtually the whole team ran to congratulate the goal scorer.
Leamington were almost two goals up in double quick time, as in the next attack Luke Corbett struck a thirty yard shot onto the roof of the net after Bellingham had been fouled. The prolific marksman clearly sensed more goals were on the way, and he was denied by a smart block from Kemp, who got down well to block a shot after Stanley had again played the killer pass through.
Jermaine Gordon used his considerable frame to try and get the better of the Brakes defence early on, but Adam Cooper put in a couple of robust challenges to let him know that he and his team mates were equal to the task. Jai Stanley appeared to be up for this clash against his home town club, and he sent another excellent pass out to the right for Marcus Jackson, who won the ball back after losing possession, and forced a corner, from which another shot was deflected over the bar.
Ashley Pringle was indirectly at fault for the next goal that his side conceded, on 16 minutes, as he was penalised for a blatant shove in the back of Bellingham on the left. The visitors were unprepared for the quick free kick that Jai Stanley played into the area, and Mark Bellingham demonstrated just why he scores so many goals, as he was in the right place to steer the ball home.
Matthew Lee was perhaps fortunate that the match officials did not spot him holding on to Bellingham to make sure he did not connect with a fine cross in from Luke Corbett out on the left, but on 22 minutes Leamington went three goals in front, much to the anger of the Bedworth players and bench. Corbett went in for a challenge with Andrew Kemp in the 18 yard area, and caught the keeper in the chest as he connected with the ball, which ran loose to Stuart Herlihy on the edge of the area, and the midfielder stroked it into the net. Kemp was understandably annoyed that he did not get the decision, but Referee Mr Rathbone clearly indicated that Corbett had won the ball. The keeper showed that he had not suffered any ill effects from the clash, as he rose to claim the next cross from in front of Mark Bellingham.
At this stage there appeared to be little hope for the Greenbacks, but they found themselves back in with a chance, as they converted what was their only clear cut chance of the game. Ashley Pringle pushed up for a free kick, and atoned in some way for his earlier misdemeanour by stabbing in a shot at the back post, with the Leamington defence stood watching.
Mark Bellingham clipped another shot past Kemp and into the net, following yet more good work from Jai Stanley, but a raised offside flag denied him his hat trick. Leamington seemed to lose their edge a little following the Bedworth goal, and Adam Kinder scooped a good effort wide after the ball was not properly cleared, but the visitors were still not seriously threatening Chris Kiely's goal. James Husband saw his first proper run up the left end with a cross shot that cleared the bar, and Stuart Herlihy was desparately unlucky not to add to his earlier goal, when he thumped a powerful header against the woodwork from a Jai Stanley cross.
Luke Corbett saw a fine volley deflected behind for a corner, from which Stanley saw a header cleared away from goal, and Bellingham hit another shot high and wide. Brakes were firmly back in the ascendancy as the half time whistle sounded.
After an incident packed first forty five minutes, it was perhaps inevitable that the second half would not be of the same standard, but after a quiet first period, Leamington sparked back into life. Adam Kinder tired a hopeful shot from distance for Bedworth, but had already been flagged offside. Matthew Lee became the first player to go into the Referee's notebook for a late challenge on Marcus Jackson, and Chris Kiely saved the first of a number of free kicks awarded to the away side during the second half.
Both sides seemed unable to move the ball out of midfield, until Leamington broke, and half time substitute Chris Murphy evaded a couple of challenges and crossed with the outside of his right boot for Luke Corbett on the right, who pulled the ball back for Mark Bellingham to smack in a shot which was blocked. Stuart Herlihy was left cursing the frame of the goal again after he picked up a pass on the edge of the area threaded through from the left by James Husband, and hammered in a shot that cannoned off the angle of post and bar, with Kemp beaten. The keeper dived low to save a header from Guy Sanders, following a corner from Husband. At the other end of the pitch, Kiely was down to save just in front of Paul Lamb, following a free kick from out on the left.
The quiet start to the half had been replicated off the pitch, but the Harbury Lane End showed signs of life as the team began to hunt for more goals. Mark Bellingham's cross in from the right was picked up by Chris Murphy, but his shot was blocked. Jermaine Gordon shot wide for Bedworth as he fell to the turf, before Mark Bellingham completed his third hat trick of the season on 78 minutes. Luke Corbett sent the ammunition in from the left, Stuart Herlihy provided the knock down at the far post, and the goal poacher supreme unloaded a powerful shot into the roof of the net to seal the points.
The hard working front two were replaced late on by the equally industrious Josh Blake and Mykel Beckley, and both were unfortunate not to add their names to the score sheet. Marcus Jackson did well on the right to let the ball roll for Beckley, and with a drop of his shoulder the striker was away from his marker and haring towards goal. He struck a powerful shot that Kemp did well to beat behind for a corner, from which Blake was a matter of inches away from scoring, his back header whistling over the bar.
The visitors had a shot go wide of Chris Kiely's far post as the game drew to a close, but they were well beaten on the day, and Brakes can turn their attention to a tough trip to Chesham on Tuesday night with renewed confidence.
Leamington: Chris Kiely, Marcus Jackson, Ryan Parisi, Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders [C], Steve Palmer, Stuart Herlihy, Jai Stanley (Chris Murphy, 46), Luke Corbett (Mykel Beckley,80), Mark Bellingham (Josh Blake, 79), James Husband.
Subs not used: Jamie Lenton, Martin Hier.
Bedworth United: Andrew Kemp, Ben Thackeray, Matthew Lee, Paul Lamb, Ashley Pringle, Andreas Kattos, Jermaine Gordon (Kyle King, 79), Kieran Fitzharris, Adam Kinder, Patrick Connolly [C], Aston Jephcott (Stefan McGrath).
Subs not used: Daniel Edmond, Joshua Ruff, Ebeneezer Ofori.