Leamington continue impressive run with Buxton draw

On Tuesday 18th February, Paul Holleran’s Leamington side returned to Your Co-op Community Stadium for their third home encounter in a week against playoff-chasing Buxton.

Attempting to win their fourth game on the spin following an inconsistent couple of months, the home side secured a valuable point that keeps them within striking distance of the top half of the Vanarama National League North.

In front of a crowd of 458 braving the sub-zero temperatures, the opening ten minutes went by largely without incident with the two sides feeling each other out.

It was Leamington who opened the scoring just before the half

The first real chance of the evening fell to Buxton, as a long ball evaded everyone and found its way to Luke Brennan in a great deal of space. Instead of hitting it the first time, the winger decided to cut inside, only to have his shot charged down by a combination of Leamington defenders.

The home side soon grew into the game, their first opening coming through Will Shorrock who saw his cross narrowly evade a lurking Dan Turner in the box.

Minutes later, the Brakes really should have opened the scoring. Owen Farmer, who arrived recently on loan from Wolves, spooned a golden chance over the bar from six yards, after being picked out by fantastic holdup play and a fizzed cutback from Turner.

Buxton soon mounted their own period of pressure. Thirty minutes in, Connor Kirby saw his volley from just inside the area denied by Leamington goalkeeper Callum Hawkins. A minute later Brennan saw another chance go to waste, his effort being denied by a heroic goal-line clearance from George Ward.

Despite this pressure, it was Leamington who opened the scoring just before the half.

Defender Kieran Burton, having not enjoyed a comfortable evening’s showing thus far, was booked on the halfway line after mistiming another header and hauling down a Leamington attacker.

The resultant set piece from deep was cleared only into the path of an onrushing Farmer, who fired a spectacular half volley into the top corner for his maiden Brakes goal.

Farmer continued to cause the visitors trouble into the second half, forcing a foul and a booking from Bobby Faulkner with the resultant free-kick from Henry Landers being tipped over the bar by Buxton goalkeeper True Grant.

Yet Buxton soon demonstrated that they were still very much in this game. A Leamington corner almost turned into disaster as the ball was cleared to Burton who raced up the right flank, his cross just evading Oliver Ewing at the back post.

Just before the hour, Leamington had an ideal chance to double their lead, Farmer being sent through on goal having intercepted a lacklustre Buxton pass. His inroads were halted through a fantastic recovering block from Faulkner.

Buxton continued to knock on the door midway through the half, spurning two consecutive set pieces over the bar from promising positions – the second being met by sarcastic chants of “Jonny Wilkinson” from the Leamington faithful.

Leamington will play their next home game on Saturday 1st March

Soon after, Landers was denied by Grant at his near post with Leamington pushing to seal another three points, but ten minutes from time Buxton found their equaliser.

An inswinging free-kick from Ethan Fitzhugh in close proximity to the corner flag was headed home by Burton, making amends for his catalogue of errors in the first half.

Yet Leamington still had the chance to win the game through substitute Tim Berridge, who found himself bearing down on goal having been played through by a looped ball over the top. Grant ensured the visitors returned to Derbyshire with a point, charging down Berridge to provide a crucial save in the dying embers of the game.

The five minutes of additional time added on by referee Lewis Smith were to no avail, with a point apiece probably being a fair result between two sides in good form.

Leamington will play their next home game on Saturday 1st March, hosting former National League side Chorley Town.