Leamington left in the dark after Rugby floodlight failure

RUGBY TOWN A BRAKES A

A partial floodlight failure at Butlin Road brought this Red Insure Cup tie to a premature end on Tuesday night, writes Paul Edwards.

But despite Brakes being a goal to the good at the time of the 75th-minute abandonment, the home side had equal reason to be frustrated having subjected the visitors to long periods of pressure, especially after the break.

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Brakes started the evening at pace and were well on top in the opening 20 minutes. Liam Daly headed past the post from a corner and James Mace saw a 20-yard drive flash wide before the opening goal arrived.

Ricky Johnson tried to pick out Matt Dodd with a pass and, after the ball was half-cleared, James Husband crashed it low past David Bevan.

Young striker Nic Evangelinos almost bought the hosts level against the run of play when he wriggled free in the area, forcing a good save from the outstretched leg of Niall Cooper.

Leamington had two penalty claims during the first half, the second of which saw Dodd shoved over as he shaped to cut the ball back from the byline, but the referee was unmoved.

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Rugby were beginning to come more into the game as the half wore on and David Kolodynski, who had recently returned to the club where he began his career, blazed an effort high over the stand behind the goal.

Brakes responded with a smart one-touch move which ended with Alex Taylor sweeping a shot just over.

Kolodynski fired another effort across the goalmouth, while Taylor was involved again for Leamington when he danced into the area and drove the ball across goal, where it was cleared by Alex Austin. Sam Adkins then shot wide from distance.

As the first half drew to a close, Fazel Koriya miscued his shot horribly after cutting in from the left wing.

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Evangelinos was almost presented with an equaliser early in the second half as the Brakes defence tied itself in knots, but his lob over Cooper took a deflection that helped it just wide. Ellis Myles then went on a jinking run before cracking a good effort just over the bar.

The home side continued to move the ball about well and Sam Youngs’ shot brought an acrobatic save out of Cooper.

Mace headed over from a corner for Leamington, who were playing the ball around well themselves, but their attacks were increasingly few and far between as the second half progressed.

However, as the game moved towards the final quarter of an hour, a number of bulbs on the floodlights suddenly went out and, after a delay of around 15 minutes the players were led off the pitch never to return.

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Rugby Town: David Bevan, Alex Austin, Craig Kelly, Mason Rowley, Alex Gudger, Steve Palmer, Ellis Myles, Sam Youngs, David Kolodynski, Nik Evangelinos, Fazel Koriya. Substitutes: Robbie Banks, Seb Lake-Gaskin, Ed Booth, Jemal Wilson,Danny Hall.

Brakes: Niall Cooper, Martyn Naylor, Stephan Morley, Sam Adkins, James Mace, Liam Daly, Matt Dodd, Alex Taylor, Ricky Johnson, Lee Moore, Jam-es Husband (Lee Chilton, 69). Subs not used: Joe Magunda, Tom Berwick, Joshua Tiff, Dan Ward.

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