Game v Leamington

[Big Mac]

1 nill up, playing well, ashly malcom

[boxxon]

thier twitter site says they went 1-0 up on 26 mins.

[boxxon]

Leamington site changed, now shows we are 1-0 up per BIGMAC POST.nOT MANY TEAMS have done that at Leamington.

[Big Mac]

HT 1-0 to Cinderford, playing well and having the best chances.
Team

GK Harris
LB M Smith
CB G Lewis
CB W Archer
RB K Thomas

LM Malcolm
CM Camm
CM D Evans
RM M Barnes

CF L Smith
CF O Sullivan

[Big Mac]

1-1 now all Leamington

[Big Mac]

2-1 down pen

[Big Mac]

Lost 3-1

[boxxon]

Thanks BigMac.Against league leaders of Premier Div good effort by our lads.Any more info on game.

[Big Mac]

Played well to be fair, new lad Kerian Thomas played well, Lewis Sommers played well when he came on.
First half they started well but after about 10 mins we were then the better team.
2nd half took us a while to get going, we just lack something up front.
Not sure why Matt Smith was taken off, didnt look injured and thought he played well.
Andy Lewis was fit but left on the bench, just hope alls well in the dressing room, got a feeling its not, could be wrong.

[joker]

can anyone shed any light on the rumour about dressing room unrest the supporters would like to be kept informed

[Forest Fred]

We had several chances to level the score in the second half although they did apply the pressure down the slope in the second half. They only got their third in the 4th min of injury time when we pushed up to try and level the score.

Strange set-up... in the middle of nowhere and another new-looking ground built on a sloping pitch. Stands behind the goal make a lot of difference. Shows how good a stadium Meadow Park really was, and really annoying it was left and forgotten.

Man of the Match - the Collie dog that watched the game intently through the barrier from start to finish... probably a Leamington supporter but who really knows... dogs are colour blind I think? He didn't complain about the cold, bite at the Ref, or howl when they scored. A mans best friend without any doubt.

[Big Mac]

The players cane off with there heads down, no need to have, played well against a good team.

[daver]

No Dave Bird was he on the bench

[stuart]

Daver,Birdy is on hloiday for two weeks some family wedding , below is leamington report on the match

Red Insure Cup Round 4
New Windmill Ground
Wednesday 6th February 2013

Brakes recovered from a sluggish first half display to reach the Semi Finals of the Southern League Cup but they were pushed all the way by a spirited and determined Cinderford Town, who held a deserved lead after 45 minutes.



With recent form having propelled his team to the Premier Division summit Paul Holleran could perhaps have been forgiven for having one eye on Saturday’s clash with Barwell and for long spells during the opening 45 minutes it appeared that his team were doing likewise, but the half time team talk led to a second half performance that was much more like what the Harbury Lane regulars have enjoyed so far this season.

A clutch of early free kicks came to nothing for Leamington, Kieran Thomas stabbing one off the goal line after keeper Alex Harris had picked up a back pass inside the penalty area. A neat exchange between Stefan Moore and Ricky Johnson saw the former Banbury United man drive a low shot straight at Harris, before Cinderford skipper Warren Archer saw his shot blocked from a corner for the visitors.

It did not come as much of a surprise when Steve Peters’ side took the lead from a right wing free kick with 26 minutes played, Ashley Malcolm heading neatly into the far corner past the returning Niall Cooper, who could do little about it.

Johnson sent another shot wide but Leamington were afforded very little time on the ball by a Cinderford side who closed them down very quickly and battled for everything. Dale Evans came close to adding a second goal when he flashed a shot across the area following a good move.

Something had to give if Brakes were going to make the last 4 of the competition for the first time since they last won it in 1984, and a positive start to the second half was exactly what was delivered. Richard Batchelor curled a first time effort just wide early on, and while Matt Barnes lashed a shot just over the bar in reply for Cinderford there was clearly a change in the tempo of the game. Stefan Moore was desperately unlucky not to equalise when he cleverly dropped his shoulder on the edge of the penalty area to beat his marker, and saw his curling shot strike the far post.

Cinderford could only clear the ball as far half way, and it was returned towards the penalty area quickly. Ricky Johnson played Moore in again, and this time he made no mistake, slotting low past Harris into the net.


Leamington’s tails were up now, and the visiting goalkeeper was in top form to deny a stinging first time drive from Batchelor as he picked up Lee Chilton’s pass on the edge of the box. Johnson and Moore then combined again, the goalscorer picking up his strike partner’s flick on inside the area and letting it drop over his shoulder before slamming it first time towards goal, only for Harris to deny him with a splendid block.

Cinderford were finally broken on the hour mark when Greg Lewis was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the six yard box, and though Harris got a hand to Richard Batchelor’s firmly struck penalty he was unable to prevent Brakes from moving in front for the first time in the tie.

Tom James was starting his first game for the club since 2007, and he provided a pass into the box that Lee Moore was inches from connecting with. Getting a much needed 90 minutes under his belt after a recent ankle knock, the striker was then played into space inside the area on the left by a lovely piece of skill from Chilton but could only find the side netting as he shot towards the near post.

It was left to Richard Batchelor to ensure the perfect symmetry of recent results, and he applied the third goal quite spectacularly. Jamie Hood made a timely block to prevent a shot on goal at one end, but seconds later Batchelor was in a straight sprint for a forward pass towards the Cinderford goal and he outmuscled the chasing defender before curling a precise shot high past Harris into the top left hand corner to complete a hat trick of 3-1 victories and also of goals scored in the final minutes of each of those games. With the winning habit maintained, focus will now shift onto another tough encounter against Barwell on Saturday.


Leamington: Niall Cooper, Martyn Naylor, Tom James, Craig Owen, Jamie Hood ©, Liam Daly, Lee Moore, Lee Chilton, Stefan Moore (12 James Mace, 86), Ricky Johnson (14 James Husband, 65), Richard Batchelor (16 Josh Tiff, 90).

Subs not used: 15 Stephan Morley, 17 Dan Ward.

Cinderford Town: Alex Harris, Kieran Thomas, Matt Smith (15 Danny Haines, 73), Warren Archer ©, Greg Lewis, Jack Camm (12 Josh Emery, 65), Matt Barnes, Dale Evans, Sam O’Sullivan, Lee Smith, Ashley Malcolm.

Subs not used: 14 Lewis Sommers, 17 Andy Lewis.

Attendance: 202

Referee: Mr David Avent

[boxxon]

Sounds as if the lads put up a great performance. Well done all.