Ten-man Redditch stun Brakes

BRAKES completed their Christmas and new year programme with just a solitary point to show from their three outings after conceding an injury-time winner to ten-man Redditch.

The defeat leaves Leamington three points adrift of leaders Brackley and, with all their promotion rivals bar Cambridge City holding games in hand on them, their hold on a play-off spot is now a tenuous one.

Paul Holleran’s side only had themselves to blame for their latest reverse after failing to take advantage of the 77th-minute sending-off of Redditch goalscorer Aaron Forde.

Sam Adkins came into the side for the injured Michael Tuohy in the only change from the side which drew against Frome, with Alex Taylor making the bench.

A sloppy start from the hosts afforded James Deabill a shooting chance inside the opening ten seconds, but Leamington quickly regrouped and were left wondering just how they had failed to open the scoring four minutes later with their first sight of goal.

Craig Owen’s cross found the unmarked Jacob Blyth just eight yards out and the striker connected firmly with his header to draw a fine parry from keeper Dean Coleman. With Coleman on the ground, Sam Adkins then proceeded to hit the rebound straight at the prone keeper, who diverted it on to the crossbar, with the ball bouncing down on the line before being cleared from danger.

Luke Corbett was then presented with a gilt-edged chance after James Mace’s long throw found its way to him eight yards from goal, but the normally clinical frontman could only put his shot tamely wide.

A spate of long throws from Aaron Williams caused consternation in the Leamington penalty area, but it was the home side who were creating the better of the chances from open play.

Corbett was inches away from applying the finishing touch to a Stephan Morley cross and then saw a shot blocked by a defender after good work from strike partner Blyth.

Brakes were finally rewarded in the 38th minute when Owen’s excellent corner was diverted home from close range by Blyth, who appeared to know little about the connection.

Corbett had an excellent oppportunity to double the advantage before the break but scooped his shot over the bar after being found by Owen inside the penalty area.

Joe Halsall spurned a couple of half-chances for Redditch as the half drew to a close.

The wind which had been at the visitors’ backs for the opening 45 minutes dropped for the second period, but undeterred, Leamington took a grip of proceedings.

Batchelor sent a fierce volley narrowly over, while Liam Francis threatened to embarrass Coleman with a 40-yard strike.

Corbett and Blyth both saw tame efforts comfortably dealt with by the visiting keeper before Redditch grabbed an unlikely equaliser, with Forde’s 73rd-minute corner curling straight in to the top corner, with Lee Evans motionless.

Forde had little time to celebrate his good fortune, leaving the field just four minutes later after a late challenge on Lee Downes earned him a second yellow card.

However, rather than making the extra man count, Brakes resorted to punting aimless balls forward, with Morley’s strike from distance their only effort of note in the remaining quarter-hour.

Sensing the chance of an unlikely win, Redditch continued to commit men forward and were almost rewarded in the 85th minute when Aaron Moses-Garvey’s cross caused confusion in the six-yard box and presented Jake Jones with an open goal. The teenager was unable to keep his volley down, though, and it clipped the crossbar on its way over.

Brakes did not learn from their let-off, however, and after being put through by Halsall’s clever through ball, the winger was not quite so wasteful second time around, slipping the ball past Evans to signal wild scenes among the travelling support.

Brakes: Lee Evans, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Lee Downes, Liam Francis, Asa Charlton, Craig Owen (Alex Taylor 83), Sam Adkins (James Husband, 62), Jacob Blyth, Luke Corbett (David Kolodynski 76), Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Dior Angus, Arthur Byrne.

Redditch: Dean Coleman, Kyle Knott, Aaron Stringfellow, Aaron Forde, Aaron Williams, Jamie Grimes, Aaron Moses-Garvey, Joe Halsall, James Deabill, Lee Osbourne, Jake Jones. Subs: Thomas Hurdman, Callum Clarke, James Travis, Thomas O’Callaghan, Jake Bedford.