Ten-man Brakes fall further off the pace

On the face of it, a three-goal defeat at the league leaders does not look like the best way to return to action after a weather-enforced break, but the scoreline does not tell the whole story of a bizarre afternoon for Leamington in Northamptonshire, writes Paul Edwards.

After losing Asa Charlton to a straight red card with only 12 minutes played, Brakes reorganised and stood up to whatever the league leaders threw at them before a slightly fortunate first goal on the hour.

A dubious penalty and a well-taken third flattered Brackley somewhat, given that they had a man advantage for over three-quarters of the game.

The opening exchanges suggested an entertaining afternoon was in prospect. Glenn Walker drove a low effort straight at Nathan Vaughan, while Steve Diggin turned well but also placed the ball too close to the Brakes keeper.

A good exchange between David Kolodynski and Jacob Blyth saw the ball played into the Brackley penalty area and James Mace fed Richard Batchelor, who shot over the bar.

Things began to unravel shortly after Lee Downes had been cautioned for a late challenge.

Charlton slid in on Diggin and appeared to win the ball, putting it out of play. The Brackley player was not injured by the challenge and referee Chris O’Donnell looked to be allowing play to continue until he spotted his assistant flagging. He consulted him and almost immediately brandished the red card.

In response, Paul Holleran withdrew Kolodynski and replaced him with Jamie Hood, making his first appearance since early December.

Walker saw another shot saved by Vaughan before the hosts thought they had opened the scoring, the ball being prodded home after the Leamington keeper had parried a shot, but it had already gone out of play.

Carl Palmer was booked for a challenge on Downes before Brackley had the ball in the net again from a near-post header only to be denied for a second time by a raised flag.

Blyth then went into the book for lunging in to try and block a clearance as the contentious decisions continued to stack up.

However, Brakes reached half-time deservedly level, having restricted their hosts to half-chances.

Opportunities for the visitors were always going to be scarce in the circumstances but Stephan Morley almost created one early in the second half, robbing the ball off a defender on the edge of the area before lofting in a cross that Craig Owen almost caught full on the volley.

The home side went in front on the hour-mark, recent acquisition Marvin Robinson slotting home after Diggin had struck the post.

The second goal, 12 minutes later was a real comedy sequence. Owen Story went to ground on the edge of the area after a Liam Daly challenge, but despite the protests, O’Donnell was adamant in his award of a penalty.

Diggin stepped up and tucked the spot-kick past Vaughan, only to be asked to take it again. This time the Brakes keeper guessed right and saved well only for another infringement to force a second retake. Diggin made no mistake with his third attempt to double the hosts’ advantage.

Substitute Luke Corbett lifted a shot over the bar from a corner, but with Brakes pushing forward to try and get back into the game they left themselves exposed at the back and Diggin grabbed his second to put the game out of reach.

Brackley Town: Billy Turley, James Clifton, Ellis Myles (Marvin Robinson, 55), Carl Palmer (Joe Magunda, 82), Tom Marshall, Tom Kemp, Owen Story, Eddie Nisevic, Elliot Sandy, Steve Diggin, Glenn Walker. Subs not used: Josh Green, Lee Steele, Gary Mulligan.

Brakes: Nathan Vaughan, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Lee Downes, Liam Daly, Asa Charlton, Craig Owen (Alex Taylor, 68), Lee Chilton, Jacob Blyth (Luke Corbett, 63), David Kolodynski (Jamie Hood, 13), Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Michael Tuohy, James Husband.