Johnson hat-trick gives more cause for celebration

A warm night and relaxed atmosphere gave the air of a pre-season friendly as Leamington were welcomed on to the pitch by a guard of honour from their visitors.

Hemel still needed a point to make sure of their play-off spot after a nightmare run which has seen them fall away from title contention. However, it was the home side who dominated the opening half-hour.

Ricky Johnson and Lee Chilton both had shots blocked, while Liam Daly headed wide before Brakes opened the scoring in the 30th minute.

It was a goal worthy of a higher level as the ball was patiently worked down the right before Stefan Moore’s inch-perfect cross found the head of Johnson, who made no mistake from eight yards.

Minutes later, Johnson was unable to guide a lob inside the post after latching on to a Stefan Moore flick-on.

Little had been seen of Hemel as an attacking force but they gave notice of their threat when pouncing on an errant Daly pass and Jimmy Husband had to be alert to snuff out the danger.

Martin Naylor was then called on to head a Matt Nolan flick-on away from goal and Laurie Walker made a smart block from Dave Pearce.

It was somewhat against the run of play then that Brakes doubled their advantage and it was the Stefan Moore-Johnson combination again, with the former Banbury striker reacting quickest to latch on to Moore’s header and drill the ball past Sam Beagle.

It was almost the last kick of the half, but Hemel were quick to respond when the action resumed after the break.

Substitute David Hutton fired a half-volley over before The Tudors halved the deficit in the 50th minute.

A free-kick to the far post looked to have too much on it, but Jordan Parkes produced an excellent header to beat Walker and, although the he was denied by the crossbar, Pearce followed up to nod the rebound home from close range.

Five minutes later, Brakes restored their two-goal cushion with Johnson completing his hat-trick from close range after again being picked out by Stefan Moore.

Walker saved with his legs to deny Steve O’Leary, while Pearce dragged a shot across goal after beating the offside trap as Hemel tried to respond.

Stefan Moore could have put the game to bed after outmuscling two defenders to go one-on-one with Beagle. However, the former Villa forward dinked the ball into the body of the keeper.

Richard Batchelor was denied Brakes’ fourth by the offside flag and he and substitute Tom Berwick contrived to waste two one on ones as Hemel chased the game.

A strong hand from Walker denied Pearce before the home keeper produced a fine save in injury time to tip Nolan’s back-header on to the bar. However, defender Anthony Maisatt was on hand to force the ball over the line, to the obvious displeasure of Walker whose shoving of James Mace was most certainly not in the party spirit.

Brakes: Laurie Walker, Martyn Naylor, James Husband, Joe Magunda (Craig Owen, 62), James Mace, Liam Daly, Lee Moore, Lee Chilton, Stefan Moore (Sam Adkins, 76), Ricky Johnson (Tom Berwick, 74), Richard Batchelor.Subs not used: Josh Tiff, Niall Cooper.