Lowestoft 1 Leamington 1: Brakes have something to bring back from their long bank holiday trip to the coast

Brakes emerged from two tough bank holiday fixtures with a creditable four-point haul after their long trip to the east coast to face unbeaten Lowestoft ended in a draw, writes Paul Edwards.
Below: Matt Dodd is felled in the box for Brakes first-half penalty. Picture: Sally EllisBelow: Matt Dodd is felled in the box for Brakes first-half penalty. Picture: Sally Ellis
Below: Matt Dodd is felled in the box for Brakes first-half penalty. Picture: Sally Ellis

Paul Holleran’s men missed the chance to take a first-half lead when Matt Dodd’s penalty was saved by Trawlerboys keeper Ashlee Jones but they did eventually open the scoring early in the second half courtesy of Stefan Moore’s third of the season, only to be pegged back 13 minutes later when Shaun Bammant equalised.

This was always likely to be a difficult fixture as the newly promoted hosts had started life in the Conference North well, conceding only two goals in their opening four fixtures.

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The hosts applied early pressure but Brakes set the tone for the afternoon with some stout defensive play, protecting Neil Collett well.

The visiting keeper made the first save of the afternoon when Curtis Haynes-Brown accepted a pass in space on the left and fired in a low drive that was parried away, James Mace blocking the follow-up shot.

Chris Henderson earned himself a booking for bundling the ball into the net with his arm as the home fans thought their side had taken the lead, while Stephan Morley tested Jones with a powerful effort that dipped just in front of the keeper.

Much-travelled striker Jefferson Louis was well marshalled for the majority of the afternoon and sent a shot wide from the edge of the box before Leamington were awarded a penalty when Haynes-Brown was penalised for bringing down Matt Dodd just inside the area on the right.

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The award looked a little soft and perhaps justice was done when the Brakes wingman, normally so deadly from 12 yards, was denied as Jones guessed correctly, diving to his left to make a good save.

Louis had two more shots deflected through to Collett as half-time approached, the visitors continuing to frustrate their hosts.

Leamington came more into the game after the interval, Danny Newton playing strike partner Moore in, only for a timely interception from Jack Ainsley to block the shot.

Richard Batchelor followed up and Mace was a hair’s breadth from diverting his low shot past Jones as he lunged towards the ball at the far post.

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With the already gloomy weather deteriorating, Leamington stunned the large Crown Meadow crowd by taking the lead seven minutes in. Jack Edwards claimed the assist on his full debut, threading a pass through the middle for Stefan Moore who burst between two defenders to drive low and true past Ashlee Jones and into the bottom corner.

Collett was called into serious action again when Bammant beat Morley on the right, smashing in a shot that was parried by the keeper, who reacted superbly to push Rossi Jarvis’ header from the loose ball over the bar.

Moore received a puzzling booking for appearing to get the better of his marker in a chase for the ball down the left wing, while Jarvis brought the best out of Collett again with a low drive that was pushed around the post.

The Brakes custodian saved another header on the goalline from Louis following a Lowestoft corner in the 66th minute but was powerless to prevent Bammant from prodding in the rebound.

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An offside decision stopped home celebrations in their tracks when Louis thought he had put Lowestoft in front late on but Brakes held out for a well-earned point.

The club also made new friends during the afternoon, with the raucous travelling support barely pausing for breath during the 90 minutes.

Lowestoft Town: Ashlee Jones, Jack Ainsley, Curtis Haynes-Brown, Andrew Fisk, Ricki Hayles, Sam Gaughran, Chris Henderson, Rossi Jarvis, Shaun Bammant, Jefferson Louis, Robert Eagle. Subs not used: Adam Smith, Erkan Okay, Harvey Hodd, Michael Clunan, Jake Jessup.

BRAKES: Neil Collett, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Jack Edwards, Stuart Pierpoint, Jamie Tank, Matt Dodd (Lee Moore, 87), Jordan Goddard (Joe Magunda, 80), Stefan Moore, Danny Newton, Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Aron Wint, Luke Connolly, Liam Maher