Brakes lack sparkle but get the job done

Should Leamington achieve their ultimate aim of winning the Southern League Premier this April, the ability to grind out wins when not at their best will have been invaluable.

The three points bagged against Kettering on Tuesday were achieved in such circumstances, with the hosts showing worrying signs of complacency, especially in a first half in which 18-year-old Poppies winger Will Muzvimbiri sparkled.

Brakes still had the pick of the chances but lacked a ruthless streak in front of goal and needed a scruffy effort from Ricky Johnson to ensure they went in at the break level following Nathan Hicks’ 18th-minute opener.

Muzvimbiri struggled to make the same impact after the interval, with Leamington pressing higher up the field, but it still needed a deflected effort from Lee Chilton to settle the match in the hosts’ favour.

Kettering’s new-look side arrived at the New Windmill fresh from a last-minute defeat to Redditch last Saturday and were immediately on the back foot with Johnson testing keeper Yannick Nlate and Tom Berwick flashing an inviting ball across the six-yard box.

Chilton was inches away from getting a vital touch to Johnson’s pass as Brakes launched a swift counter, but slowly Kettering’s youngsters worked their way into the game, with Muzvimbiri and lanky striker Solomon Akinshade causing problems down the right flank.

Michael King had a first-time shot which Niall Cooper appeared to tip around the post, despite the officials awarding a goal kick and in the 18th minute the visitors stunned the majority of the 418 crowd with the opening goal.

A corner from the right was only half-cleared to Hicks, who sent in a first-time shot which had the sting taken out of it but still managed to trickle over the line.

The pace of Muzvimbiri was making it an uncomfortable night for Stephan Morley and the Brakes skipper again saw the winger skip past him, but the shot was dragged wide.

There was a good flow to the game and Leamington were immediately on the attack, with Nlate producing a fine save to deny Johnson after his shot had taken a wicked deflection on its way through.

It was to provide a temporary reprieve for the visitors, however, with Johnson backheeling the ball home from close range from the second of the subsequent corners.

A superb first touch from Chilton then presented him with a fine chance to put Leamington ahead, but he delayed his shot and was crowded out by the retreating defenders.

Tom Berwick was proving a lively presence up front for Brakes after being restored to the starting line-up and it was he who orchestrated the next series of chances, hitting the byeline before picking out an unmarked Matt Dodd just six yards from goal. However, with Nlate exposed, Dodd produced a nonchalant flick which hit the crossbar and the keeper and covering defender somehow managed to scramble the rebound off the goalline. The danger was still not over and Batchelor’s follow-up shot was blocked.

Batchelor and Berwick again combined in the 43rd minute, but after being put clear, Berwick was denied by the legs of Nlate.

As half-time approached, Muzvimbiri fizzed a shot past the angle of post and bar from the right flank with Cooper out of position, but it was to prove one of his last contributions as Brakes cut off the supply to the winger after the break.

Muzvimbiri did have one sight of goal, but his 64th-minute strike - the visitors’ only effort of note in the second half - failed to test Cooper.

Brakes had already seen two efforts from Chilton and one from Johnson go begging, with the latter’s cushioned volley from eight yards out the clearest of the chances after more good work from Berwick.

Kettering were finding it difficult to get out of their half and despite Leamington lacking any fluency, their territorial advantage eventually told in the 71st minute when Chilton’s shot from the edge of the box beat Nlate with the aid of an Adam Mitter deflection.

There was still plenty of time remaining, but both teams seemed to settle for the scoreline, with Town lacking the physical presence to impose themselves on the game and Brakes seemingly content to run down the clock.

Batchelor sidefooted over and substitute Sam Adkins introduced a little urgency with a superb turn and driving run which ended with his shot going agonisingly past the far post.

However, the final few minutes were seen out with with fellow substitute Alex Taylor playing keep ball in the corner as Brakes pocketed another vital three points.

Brakes: Niall Cooper, Martyn Naylor, Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, James Mace, Liam Daly, Matt Dodd (Alex Taylor, 83), Lee Chilton, Ricky Johnson, Tom Berwick (Lee Moore, 69), Richard Batchelor (Sam Adkins, 78). Subs not used: Jamie Hood, Dan Ward.

Kettering: Yannick Nlate, Joel Gyasi, Aidan Da Rosa, Daniel Crowie, Adam Mitter, Anish Khinda (Harry Beckley, 77), Troy Johnston, Nathan Hicks, Will Muzvimbiri, Solomon Akinshade (Tariq Kotey, 84, Mark Pryor, 88), Michael King. Subs not used: Tim Singh Gill, Kamran Glenn.