Leamington fightback falls short in defeat at Peterborough Sports

That was despite a rousing second half display that saw them haul themselves back to within a goal of the visitors after they went in three goals behind at half-time.

Boss Scott Easterlow made a single change to the XI which had started at Halesowen with Raj Palit returning in place of Cam Eubank.

The Turbines were first to show in attack, and it seemed alarmingly easy for the visitors to find Ben Beresford inside the box in far too much space, but fortunately Owen Farmer was alert to the danger and put in a superb block challenge to deny him a shooting opportunity.

The ball was not properly cleared however, and Ben Hart’s ball back in was nodded on by Beresford to Leon Lobjoit, who turned his man well but shot straight at Okonkwo.

Farmer himself was brought down just outside the Sports’ penalty area after a driving run, and he took the free kick himself, placing it over the defensive wall but straight into the arms of Daniel Wilks.

The visitors moved in front on 12 minutes. A corner was punched clear by Okonkwo, but Turbines skipper Michael Richens headed the ball – via the outstretched hands of the keeper – back into the net.

Beresford saw a shot on the turn straight at Okonkwo as Peterborough continued to create all the chances, and they doubled their lead on 23 minutes thanks to a lovely piece of improvisation from Harry Vince, who spotted Okonkwo off centre in his goalmouth and lifted the ball over him into the far corner.

Leamington enjoyed a spell in and around the Sports’ penalty area which ended with a shot high and wide from Kyle Belmonte.

The visitors added a third goal six minutes before half time through Jevani Brown, who pounced after the Leamington defence blocked the initial effort from Beresford to rifle a powerful drive beyond Okonkwo.

There was some good work from Kai Tonge to end the half as he got the better of his man in a foot race to a high ball, but his shot lacked the purchase to trouble Wilks.

Brakes hadn’t really been at the races, and had been well and truly punished.

An immediate response was needed if Leamington were to have any hope of taking something from this contest, and that was exactly what was delivered.

Farmer had already seen a shot saved before Raj Palit robbed a Peterborough man midway through the visitors half and found himself in on goal.

He did not disappoint, curling his first goal of the season low past Wilks into the net.

The home support had already started the vocal support as the half kicked off, and buoyed by this they cranked it up a notch.

Okonkwo got down well to keep out a curling effort at the second attempt from Luca Miller as Sports attempted to reorganise.

But they were second best at this stage, and Leamington were suddenly right back in this game on 57 minutes as Wilkes could only parry Farmer’s long range effort, Tonge getting there first to poke home his fifth of the season.

Okonkwo was on hand to thwart Beresford again as he sent in a low strike, and Lobjoit curled another onto the frame of the goal before later dragging another effort wide of the target as the visitors began to get back on top in the closing stages.

They delivered the killer blow with three minutes remaining, Lobjoit the man to get the goal as he mopped up after substitute Harvey Williams saw his shot parried by Okonkwo.

Leamington had a flurry of late efforts blocked, the best of which came from substitute Koby Arthur, whose fierce snapshot on the turn was met by an equally good save from Wilks, who also denied Kyle Finn from a late free kick.

But it was their first half display which won this game for the visitors.

Brakes will be happy to put October firmly behind them, and will now look to get November off to a winning start when they travel down the M40 to Banbury on Saturday.

BRAKES: Okonkwo, Cockerill-Mollett, Kelly (Wright 79), Tonge, Finn, Farmer, Fuseini, Flanagan, Belmonte (Eubank 46), Palit (Arthur, 79), Wilson (Fridye-Harper 65). SUBS NOTUSED: Pennell.

REFEREE: Jonathan Lam.

ATTENDANCE: 352.

BRAKES MAN OF THE MATCH: Owen Farmer.