Cooper at the double to deny Chippenham

Leamington edged past Chippenham on Saturday without coming anywhere near matching the heights of their previous win at Hemel.

However, in claiming three points against robust opponents, Brakes showed they can win ugly when the situation demands it.

Ricky Johnson’s eighth-minute goal settled the match, but it needed two point-blank saves from Niall Cooper to preserve the hosts’ clean sheet as Chippenham gave as good as they got.

In fact, the visitors thought it was they who had taken the lead just two minutes before Brakes’ opener.

With all eyes focused on Matt Dodd’s reintroduction following a contact lens problem, Cooper placed the ball down for a free-kick after an offside decision.

However, after noting the referee had waved play on, Chippenham striker Alan Griffin nipped in to place the ball into the empty net.

As Chippenham celebrated, Cooper led the protests to the assistant referee and the goal was eventually chalked off, with play restarting with an indirect free-kick to the home side.

To complete Chippenham’s sense of injustice, Brakes promptly went up the other end and scored a legitimate goal.

Stephan Morley’s cross from the left ricocheted its way to Dodd at the far post, who despite initially miscontrolling it, managed to beat his man and cut the ball back for Johnson to drive through the legs of Ben John.

Jimmy Husband came close to making it 2-0 four minutes later, with his cross hitting the inside of the post and bouncing away to safety after Joe Magunda had regained possession with an excellent tackle.

The Bluebirds, who had offered little going forward up to that point, then went on to dominate the next 20 minutes, with skipper Scott Rogers and Lee Phillips blasting wildly over and Phillips then failing to get a decent contact on a header after a fine cross from Guthrie.

Cooper was called on to make his first save in the 40th minute after Scott Lye was allowed to muscle his way to the edge of the six-yard box, saving well with his legs at the near post.

Two minutes later, Cooper was in action again, palming away a powerful Griffin shot.

The closing chance of the half fell to the hosts, however, with Husband working a neat one-two with Chilton before driving into the box and working John at his near post.

Lye had a chance to bring his side level just 30 seconds into the second half, but his point-blank cushioned volley from Rogers’ cross was straight at Cooper, when a yard either side of him would surely have registered a goal.

Johnson lashed a shot over from a good position after a neat lay-off from Chilton, while at the other end, Stephan Morley got an excellent foot in to deny Phillips after the striker had looked to be clean through on goal.

Liam Daly’s long punt forward then turned into an excellent pass as Chilton controlled it first time, but the striker was just unable to divert the ball past the onrushing John.

Brakes were to spurn an even more gilt-edged chance a minute later when Johnson had time and space to pick out the onrushing Dodd six yards out. However, the winger somehow contrived to hit the keeper with his shot when it looked easier to score. Further injustice was added when the rebound then hit Dodd and trickled out for a goal kick.

It was then Chippenham’s turn to put their head in their hands as a glorious chance went begging.

Phillips’ cross to the far post looked to be on a plate for substitute Luke Ballinger, but Cooper flung himself across goal to somehow claw out his close-range header.

As Brakes re-established something of a grip on the game, substitute Tom Berwick had a chance to ease the tension after robbing last-man Steve Casey, but his shot was at a comfortable height for John, while Johnson curled an effort well over.

There was to be one final anxious moment for the home side after Richard Batchelor bundled over Ashley Williams on the edge of the box.

However, with almost the last kick of the game, Brandon Barnes curled the free-kick in to the Harbury Lane End.

Brakes: Niall Cooper, Martyn Naylor, Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, James Mace, Liam Daly, Matt Dodd (Alex Taylor, 87), Craig Owen (Richard Batchelor, 80), Ricky Johnson, Lee Chilton, James Husband (Tom Berwick, 60). Subs not used: Lee Moore, Sam Adkins

Chippenham Town: Ben John, Adie Harris, Tyrone Mings (Brandon Barnes, 80), Ashley Williams, Steve Casey, Nathan Rudge, Scott Lye, Scott Rogers, Alan Griffin, James Guthrie (Luke Ballinger, 72), Lee Phillips. Subs not used: Alex Kite, Iain Harvey, Richard Fey.