Pub team defending angers Brakes boss

A third-minute Luke Corbett goal put Leamington in front in the bank holiday Monday fixture, only for Danny Quinn to equalise ten minutes later, with the home side appealing in vain for offside.

A mistake from Tony Breeden then allowed The Pitmen to take all three points, with Nick Wellecomme the man to take advantage after a poor kick-out from Brakes’ number one.

“It’s always a tricky game, first game back. But considering we hadn’t played for so long I was more than happy with the first half,” said Holleran.

“After their goal we had a really good spell. We missed a chance on the line and the penalty and their keeper kept them in the game - we had enough chances to win two games.

“I expected us to push on and make the game safe.

“But, with their extra man in midfield we needed to get the ball wide and there was not enough quality.

“Having said that I still felt in control defensively, only for Tony Breeden to make a terrible error - the first one from Tony since he came here.

“It was a goal the Dog and Duck wouldn’t concede.”

Brakes could have been well out of sight before Wellecomme’s winner, with Matt Lewis spurning two glaring opportunities, the second from the penalty spot.

But despite seeing Hednesford leapfrog Brakes into the final play-off position, Holleran believes there will be plenty more twist and turns, with the season not yet halfway through.

“It was a bad day at the office for a couple of our players,” he said.

“Poor finishing and a horrendous error have cost us the game.”

“However, everyone is beating everyone and there is a lot of football to be played.

“We’ve got ourselves into a good position and we have to be careful we don’t throw that away.

“We need to be clinical and cut out the errors. If we’re right we’ll pick up some points in the next few weeks.”

Brakes have an excellent opportunity to get back to winning ways tomorrow when they entertain Tiverton.

The Devon side, who are only being kept off the bottom of the table thanks to Weymouth’s ten-point deduction, have taken just five points from a possible 33 on their travels.

Brakes then have a chance to quickly avenge their league defeat to Hednesford when they entertain them in the third round of the Red Insure Cup on Tuesday night.