Stunning strike seals Brakes’ win

Stalybridge joined in the spirit of the occasion with 3 giant mascots entertaining the crowd at half time with an impromptu penalty shoot out, including the Manchester United mascot Fred the Red.

Paul Holleran restored Joe Magunda, Aron Wint and Danny Newton to the starting line up and his side made a strong start to the game, Jamie Tank going close to opening the scoring with a firm header that bounced just past the upright after a couple of minutes, while Neil Collett was forced to push a low drive around the post for a Stalybridge corner.

Although the hosts looked to spread the play wherever possible when attacking they were only able to trouble the Leamington goal on a few occasions, while at the other end the match sponsors voted Celtic keeper Lewis King their man of the match. He made his first contribution when Richard Batchelor and Newton helped the ball in to Stefan Moore just inside the box where despite the attentions of two defenders he was able to stab in a first time shot that King parried well.

He was only able to look on however as Newton latched on to a weak defensive header to crash in a first time volley from distance that bounced off the top of the bar.

Paul Ennis played a dangerous ball across the box that was missed by all and cleared the far post, while Sam Staunton-Turner’s free kick was deflected over the bar by Stuart Pierpoint. Liam Dickinson’s well struck free kick was then turned away by Collett as the hosts enjoyed what was their best spell of the game.

Leamington were back on the offensive before half time though, Newton turning his marker on the edge of the box to fire a low drive across goal and narrowly wide while Aron Wint saw a shot deflected through to King by Matty Mainwaring.

Pierpoint was in the right place to prevent what would have been the opening goal early in the second half as Collett was grounded following a blocked shot at goal. Jack Trulove then picked up a needless booking for the hosts after fouling Wint and then kicking the ball at him.

Brakes were finding plenty of space down both wings, and Moore latched on to a good pass down the left by Stephan Morley, taking the ball around Lewis King only for the keeper to get a strong hand in the way to block his path.

The only goal arrived on 56 minutes. Dickinson was penalised for what the hosts thought was a fair challenge on Newton in the middle of the pitch around 30 yards from goal, and Goddard stepped up to curl a fantastic strike around the wall and into the top corner past the despairing dive of King, where the ball pinged off the inside of the post into the net for good effect.

Newton was getting plenty of shooting practice as he continued to plug away in search of his first goal of the season but found King in the way again as he hit Moore’s knock down towards goal inside the area.

Collett made a routine stop from Ben McKenna as the Stalybridge number 9 cut in from the right and fired low towards goal, and the home side were furious when Aidan Chippendale appeared to be brought down by Morley just inside the box on the right, only for Referee Steven Copeland to award a free kick to Leamington and book the Celtic player for diving.

Substitute Matt Dodd almost beat King to a high ball under his crossbar as Leamington continued to search for a match clinching second goal but they did not need one, as they comfortably snuffed out anything their hosts could muster to pick up a welcome three points.