Brakes left adrift of the play-offs after another stalemate

Brakes cemented their status alongside Frome Town as the draw specialists of the Premier Division, playing out their 15th stalemate of season at Banbury United, for whom a point edged them closer to safety, writes Paul Edwards.

It has been an inability to turn draws into wins that has prevented Leamington from remaining in the play-off places, and they are now guaranteed to finish seventh irrespective of the result in their final match of the season at home to Chesham United.

The outside chance Brakes had of snatching fifth spot evaporated inside the first half-hour, with Chesham taking a two-goal lead that they would not relinquish against Frome, but the players and management were unlikely to be aware of this.

Danny Edmond had a shot pushed behind by Nathan Vaughan early on but it was Leamington who created what other chances there were in a low-key first 45 minutes.

Alex Taylor’s shot from the edge of the box lacked the power to trouble goalkeeper Andy Kemp, who was then tested by Lee Chilton’s drive.

Jacob Blyth headed straight at Kemp when well placed before Leamington took the lead in the 38th minute, veteran goal poacher Lee Steele stabbing home at the far post.

It was the only clear sight of goal for either side in the first half, and though Craig Owen went very close with a powerful drive just after the break, Banbury were level eight minutes in when Ricky Johnson was left unmarked to head home a Ben Polk corner.

Owen went close again with a free-kick but the equaliser galvanised the home side, and with their supporters suddenly vocal under the cover of the Town End they looked the more threatening side.

Josh Blake, one of three former Leamington players on show, broke through the middle and slipped the ball through for strike partner Johnson, whose shot beat both Vaughan and the far post.

As the heavens opened, Chilton had a great chance to put Brakes back in front but blasted just over the bar from inside the area.

Steele almost capitalised on hesitancy in the Banbury defence to turn and shoot, but Kemp pushed the ball behind for a corner.

The conditions were causing players on both sides to lose their footing on the now greasy surface, but Banbury pushed again for the win that would see them clear of the bottom four.

Blake almost got a toe on a shot that was poked through from the edge of the area before Kemp saved well from a low driven shot by substitute David Kolodynski.

Seeing a Brakes legend score against his old club would have been a bitter pill for the travelling fans to swallow, but Blake had the opportunity to do just that when he looked to be clear through the middle again.

However, he chose to try and slip a pass to his left for Josh Cole and the shot was crowded out by the retreating Leamington defence.

Paul Holleran’s men rallied in the final moments and Kolodynski almost won it with a wicked curling effort that was pushed around the post by Kemp.

Banbury United: Andy Kemp, Joe Coleman, Tommy Kinch, Liam Dolman, Ben Thackeray, Ryan Howell, Danny Edmond (Dior Angus, 46), Josh Cole, Ricky Johnson, Josh Blake, Ben Polk. Subs not used: Nick Kingston, Liam Richardson, Joe Eyre, Howard Forinton.

Brakes: Nathan Vaughan, James Mace, Asa Charlton, Neil Barnfield, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Alex Taylor, Craig Owen (Matt Dodd, 71), Jacob Blyth, Lee Steele (David Kolodynski, 71), Lee Chilton. Subs not used: Michael Tuohy, James Husband, Ian King.