Leamington down South Shields in entertaining midtable clash

On Saturday 22 March, Leamington returned to the Your Co-op Community Stadium for a midtable clash with South Shields, recording a fifteenth league win of the campaign to all but secure their Vanarama National League North status for another year.

The Brakes began play two points below their opposition in the league standings, the game taking place in front of a bumper crowd on what was the annual Non-League Day across the country.

It took the visitors until the midway point to create their first opening

Leamington began the brighter of the two sides, their first chance falling to George Ward in the ninth minute. Rob Evans’ trademark long throw and Ward’s aerial prowess caused chaos in the Mariners’ box, yet goalkeeper Kyle Seymour was equal to Ward’s header, diving low to his right to keep the scores level.

Nineteen minutes in, Leamington were rather fortunate to receive another long throw opportunity, as from where we were standing, the ball clearly went out of play, coming off a Leamington attacker. The South Shields protestations, though, were to no avail, Evans’ throw again finding Ward who headed beyond a helpless Seymour at his near post.

It took the visitors until the midway point to create their first opening, Bryan Taylor feeding Will Jenkins on the edge of the box who saw his effort comfortably held by Brakes goalkeeper Callum Hawkins.

South Shields were soon to be doubly punished for their sluggish start. Five minutes before the break, a long Leamington clearance forward was brilliantly taken down by Henry Landers, who had done well to keep himself onside. Landers cut inside and fed the onrushing Tim Berridge, who composed himself and fired home a left-footed drive off the upright.

If anything, the break only played into the hands of the visitors

Yet, the visitors still had time to spurn a golden opportunity to reduce the arrears. An acute passing move eventually fell to Paul Blackett in the box, whose initial effort with the outside of his boot struck the post before seeing his second attempt on the rebound smothered by Hawkins.

A well-struck effort from Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Owen Farmer that just evaded Seymour’s far post concluded a productive half for the Brakes. But, if anything, the break only played into the hands of the visitors.

Just a few minutes into the second half, Blackett saw his glancing header tipped over by Hawkins, and five minutes later, Hawkins was called upon once again to deny an effort from the encroaching Kyle Crossley.

A frantic following twenty ensued, the Leamington aerial dominance continuing to cause havoc. Midway through the half, a long free kick saw Seymour pull off a spectacular double-save to keep the Mariners in the game. The resultant clearance almost ended in disaster for Leamington at the other end of the pitch, falling to Dylan Stephenson on the stretch who couldn’t quite divert the ball beyond Hawkins.

The Brakes will be seeking to build on this result with the first of three final home fixtures this weekend

Hawkins was again on hand to keep the Leamington clean sheet intact, on this occasion athletically tipping substitute Ewan McGowan’s effort over the bar.

That, though, proved to be the last of the visitors’ real efforts on goal, with the flow of the game being disrupted by both Berridge and Josh Quaynor receiving treatment for the Brakes.

This weekend’s win sees Leamington leapfrog South Shields in the league standings. The Brakes will be seeking to build on this result with the first of three final home fixtures with this weekend’s visit of King’s Lynn Town.