Leamington vs Marine: Brakes hit rock bottom as winless slump continues

On a day when wings of an edible form were visible all around Your-Coop Community Stadium, Leamington were hoping their season could experience some lift-off. Their winless stretch in the league extended to two months prior to kick-off, and they occupied one of the relegation spaces that Paul Holleran’s side have mostly managed to avoid since their return to Step 2 football. The unravelling of their home form had played a part in this, with the Brakes seeking to return to winning ways against visitors Marine.

The Mariners – who came to national prominence after an FA Cup fixture against Spurs during Covid – boast recent away form which is the envy of the league, earning three wins and a draw in their last four on the road. This included a creditable stalemate against Chester in midweek.

Lining up in their green away strip, Marine made two changes for this game. The Brakes also made a pair of changes from midweek defeat to King’s Lynn. Rob Evans (back from suspension) and Luke Shaw came in for Theo Streete and Josh Quaynor. It was home debutant Seb Thompson’s task to add a spark to an offensive line which has too often drawn blanks in recent games, while Tim Berridge was preferred through the middle.

It was a nightmare start for the Brakes after Marine’s first real moment of threat

Prior to kick off, the teams and their fans gathered together to pay a solemn and respectful tribute during the Brakes’ Remembrance Day fixture.

Leamington started on the front foot with Dan Meredith driving forward and launching a cross which needed to be punched clear by away keeper Fraser Barnsley. However, it was then Marine’s turn to exert some pressure with a sustained period of possession in the Brakes’ half.

Leamington gladly profited from Marine’s struggles to clear their lines in the opening period of the match but were unable to generate real openings on goal. On the whole it was an even start to a game of great importance to the hosts.

Thompson’s first notable contribution at home was to earn himself a yellow for a lunge on Bailey Marsden. Caution was the better part of valour for Rogan Ravenhill who pushed the long-distance free kick wide for a corner.

Disaster then struck for the Brakes on ten minutes, as an inswinging cross from Finlay Sinclair-Smith found the head of Adam Anson who guided an angled header into the far corner. Ravenhill was only able to palm it into the net. It was a nightmare start for the Brakes after Marine’s first real moment of threat.

The potent November sun meant that away keeper Barnsley donned a cap. However, neither him nor his headwear saw much action, even as Leamington were chasing an equaliser in the aftermath of the Marine opener.

Berridge flashed a shot across goal after twenty minutes after a counter-attack, whilst there were half-hearted appeals for a penalty as he went down in the box under pressure.

The following portion of the first half was short of goalmouth action, with Marine content to manage the game and Brakes failing to produce the attacking ingenuity needed for an equaliser.

Nevertheless, towards the end of half Leamington began to occupy more promising positions. A penalty-box shot from Ewan Williams unfortunately hit his own man and led to an offside call. In addition, crosses from Berridge and Shaw were overhit and the whistle blew after three added minutes.

At the interval, Will Shorrock replaced Luke Shaw, to make what was confirmed to be his final appearance for the Brakes.

It was a game very much up for grabs despite the away goalkeeper having not been tested at all

Marine’s first foray forward of the half required a brilliant Ravenhill save to keep it out, although the offside flag was subsequently raised. Their ascendancy continued as the perennially dangerous Sinclair-Smith made a number of threatening carries of the ball without producing any end product. Meanwhile, Samuel Fielding tried to catch Ravenhill out with an audacious attempt from his own half which flew just wide.

Away skipper Harvey Gregson’s pirouette away from Adam Walker then led to a long-range shot straight down the throat of Ravenhill, before Samuels-Smith ballooned a shot over from tight angle. Marine were finding more space as Leamington committed bodies forward. However, both sides seemed were unable to profit from a relatively open game. For the home side, sloppy play meant attacks were often over before they had really begun.

A double change on 65 minutes was Paul Holleran’s attempt to right things, with Ant Lynn replacing Berridge, while Joe Clarke came on in midfield for Dylan Mitchell. Lynn immediately showed his hold-up capabilities and contested a cross but could not connect with the ball. In the Marine counter that followed, Gregson could not direct his shot on target after a mazy run.

It was a game very much up for grabs despite the away goalkeeper having not been tested at all. Marine failed to deal a killer blow as they steered numerous shots wide. The Brakes’ desire was not found wanting, as they put the away side under increasing pressure with a number of crosses and long balls, yet chances were still in short supply as the clock neared ninety.

There are two home fixtures in cups to come this week for the Brakes

As the full-time whistle edged nearer Leamington found themselves in control of the ball but unable to break down a stubborn Mariners defence. An optimistic effort from Walker went sailing over and saw him collide into a number of away defenders. The announcement of six additional minutes led to a flurry of excitement amongst home fans, who had been vocal throughout.

They were left empty-handed, as a tame effort from Marine’s Marsden turned out to be the only remaining meaningful chance. Evans tried to make inroads with long throws and a final hopeful cross in, but these were to no avail.

The day’s other results unfortunately saw Leamington drop to bottom in league, albeit it two points from safety, while the visitors rose to eleventh place. There are two home fixtures in cups to come this week for the Brakes.