AFC Telford celebrate away game victory as Leamington falter again

A first game in ten days saw Leamington FC continue to search for an elusive win that could kickstart a move away from bottom spot in the table as they welcomed AFC Telford United to Your-Coop Community Stadium. This was a fixture sure to evoke happy memories for home fans, given it was the Brakes’ first game against the Bucks since their magical away win that secured an immediate return to the National League North in 2024.That game was played on a sunny afternoon, whilst this midweek fixture required both sets of supporters to show up well-layered to stave off the December cold.

The formbook favoured the visitors, who came into this game unbeaten across five league and cup fixtures and looked well-placed in their attempt to banish playoff demons. However, this masked their away form struggles, with the Bucks yet to win away from home. A fixture against the league’s worst home team was therefore tantalisingly set up.

Leamington had made two additions to their squad in the form of EFL loanees. Central defender Josh Tomlinson and forward Frank Tattum were immediately thrust into the starting lineup, while Josh Quaynor and Tim Berridge were handed starts too. The visitors, lining up in a mint-coloured strip, elected to make two changes from their 2-2 draw against Southport.

Tattum made himself useful early on, drawing a yellow card after a central run towards goal. From the resulting free kick, Seb Thompson applied a knuckleball technique to the ball and forced a parry from away goalkeeper Josh Gracey. As might be expected, the Bucks saw most of the ball early on. During the opinion period, the game could best be described as a stop-start affair, with both sides committing several fouls that halted the flow of play.

The first moment of consternation saw Telford fashion a chance through a one-two which the onrushing Brearey could only parry away. The ball then fell to Telford midfielder Khanya Leshabela, who saw his shot from the edge of the area trickle wide. A mere thirty seconds later, frontman Matt Stenton put a shot similarly wide of Brearey’s left post.

A 1-1 score at half-time seemed a fair reflection of an action-packed half

High drama ensued, as Leamington were certain they had broken the deadlock in fifteen minutes. Thompson recreated his heroics against Worksop by beating multiple men, but this time he elected to go for a cross that fell invitingly for Berridge at the back post. Berridge’s contact went past the goalkeeper and seemed to have crossed the line, sparking celebrations, but the absence of a referee’s whistle cut the celebrations short.

Telford almost capitalised on the Brakes’ confusion about the non-goal, going straight down the other end. A goal for the visitors, which would have added insult to injury, did not materialise as Stenton sent a shot narrowly wide.  A few moments later, Stenton was involved again as he escaped Tomlinson’s attentions to send a shot crashing against the outside of the post before Brearey was required to parry away a stinging shot from Anmar Dyer.

Thompson channelled his frustrations into another promising move, as he unleashed a howitzer of a shot which sailed narrowly wide. True redemption for the home team would only have to wait a few more minutes. Halfway through the half, a near-carbon copy of the earlier ghost goal saw the Brakes take the lead. Thompson was found by a searching through ball from Dylan Mitchell. He produced a chipped cross for Berridge, who didn’t need a touch, instead confidently finding the bottom corner past a despairing Gracey. The elated celebrations after the goal proved this was a fixture with added spice.

Taking the lead did not stop the Brakes from attacking, as a dangerous Ewan Williams cutback needed to be cleared for a corner. Nevertheless, the game somewhat settled from the frantic pace which had seen a hatful of chances at both ends.

That all changed with ten minutes of the half to play. A brilliant double save from Brearey kept Telford at bay; however, the relief ended up being momentary as Dylan Hadley-Allen found the bottom right corner from a classy cut inside to get the equaliser.

Jamie Meddows then produced a cross-cum-shot which kept Brearey busy with a parry. On the cusp of half-time, Archie Crowther also needed to be very alert to block a Stenton header at the back post. A 1-1 score at half-time seemed a fair reflection of an action-packed half that proved brilliant, if nervous, watching for both sets of fans.

The Brakes had to contend with the strong wind which had afflicted Telford’s balls forward in the first half, yet Tattum found the ever-threatening Thompson, whose shot from a narrow angle fizzed into the left side-netting. The Bucks’ first chance of the half fell to Charlie Williams, who drilled a shot straight at Brearey.

For the second time in the game, Tattum caused chaos in the Telford backline with a run at goal. This time, Leshabela scythed him down as he was bearing down on the goalie and earned himself a booking. Although, this time around, Thompson could not trouble the keeper with his free kick.

It was a punch to the gut to go behind in a game the Brakes had led in

Thompson’s inventiveness showed no signs of stopping, as a heel flick found Williams in the box, but his shot from close range was deflected over for a corner. Telford countered rapidly from the corner and had multiple bites at the cherry, but some solid defensive work kept them out. Five minutes later, Josh Quaynor was required to make a headed clearance on the line.

The referee had a decision to make as Remi Walker went down in the area under pressure from Mitchell and ultimately booked him for simulation. Paul Holleran sent on his first two subs just as Telford were having their strongest spell of the game, sending on Joe Clarke and Will van Lier for Dylan Mitchell and Tim Berridge.

Parity was broken just before the seventy-minute mark as Dyer found himself in far too much space on the edge of the area and benefitted from a deflection which wrongfooted Brearey. It was a punch to the gut to go behind in a game the Brakes had led in. Stenton then fancied getting himself on the scoresheet too, but his long-range dink went over the bar.

Tempers were flaring and tackles flying in a feisty affair. Dan Meredith ventured forward once again, but his deflected shot flew narrowly wide for a corner. Paul Holleran then brought on Ant Lynn and Demico Burton for Tattum and Josh Quaynor.

A ferocious shot from a one-on-one was blocked by the legs of Brearey before he had to stretch to his fullest to push away a Stenton shot from close range. The final roll of the dice saw Miro Pais replace Williams. Unfortunately for the Brakes, it was Brearey who was continuously required to keep his side in the game as he held a Rhys Hilton shot from the edge of the area.

Thompson then forced another parry from Gracey with a free kick, but Leamington were unable to capitalise from the corner with time running out. Five minutes added would be what the Brakes had to work with. However, it would be Hilton who would add another to the scoreline from inside the area and secure Telford’s first away win of the season.