Brakes crash out of cup in frustrating fashion

A day which began full of FA Cup hope and expectation ended in frustration and despair, as the apparent stage fright which seems to blight Brakes on their travels this season struck again, writes Paul Edwards.

Leamington appeared dead by half-time as two errors in what had been an even game led to goals for the home side.

Daventry would surely have been expecting a much sterner test and, although they were forced to withstand some late pressure, and were maybe fortunate with one or two ricochets, they deserved their victory.

The talking points leading up to the game were always going to centre around the two players lining up against their former clubs.

Tom Berwick started the game on the bench for Leamington and there were many puzzled faces among the crowd when Mark Bellingham’s name was announced in the Daventry starting line-up.

However, he did not take to the pitch with his teammates, making his way to the dugout some time after the game had kicked off.

Asked why he was not starting, he replied “I’m too old” and, although he came on for the last 25 minute, he had little impact.

The only chance of note for either side in the opening exchanges was Jacob Blyth’s stunning volley from Richard Batchelor’s right-wing cross that stung the palms of David Bevan.

Daventry were moving the ball quickly, but had not created anything clear-cut before they took the lead in the 25th minute.

A long throw into the Leamington area appeared to be misjudged by Tony Breeden and James Travis nipped in to force the ball home despite the best efforts of James Mace on the line.

It was a disappointing goal to give away and try as they might Leamington simply could not make any impression on the Daventry defence in reply.

Michael Tuohy saw a shot deflected for a corner, but despite glimpses of promising approach play, the final ball was lacking.

The first-half misery was compounded five minutes before half-time when Lee Downes lost the ball in midfield, and it was switched swiftly up to Daventry number nine Scott Cross, who stepped inside a challenge and found the far corner with a low drive.

The same player grazed the top of the bar with a header moments later without a gold and black shirt in sight.

Liam Daly was close to halving the deficit with a thumping header but there was a defender in the way to block.

Paul Holleran introduced Alex Taylor and Tom Berwick for the second half, but the game continued to follow a similar pattern, with Leamington attacks breaking down before they reached the penalty area and Daventry occasionally looking to finish the game off at the other end.

Batchelor intercepted a pass 25 yards from goal, but had to get his shot away quickly, and it lacked the purchase to trouble Bevan. He also screwed a volley over the bar as frustrations grew on and off the pitch with time ticking away.

There were muted shouts for a penalty as Blyth’s header from a corner struck an arm, while Breeden had to be alert to cut out a drive to his near post which would have ended the game as a contest.

Dior Angus was thrown on for the final ten minutes and a pull on him led to a penalty for the visitors which Blyth confidently smashed home,

However, it was too little, too late, with the final whistle sounding immediately afterwards, leaving Brakes fans to endure the gloating remarks of Town’s tannoy man, which served only to rub further salt into an already painful wound.

Daventry Town: David Bevan, Lewis Bishop, Jason Lee, Peter Sanders, Callum Burgess, Arron Parkinson, Craig Milligan, Adam Confue, Scott Cross (Mark Bellingham, 65), James Travis (Howard Forinton, 79), Nathan Hicks. Subs not used: Claudiu Hoban, Chris Hannah, Casimir Pagne, Joe Mellings.

Leamington: Tony Breeden, Michael Tuohy, Stephan Morley, Lee Downes, James Mace, Liam Daly, Craig Owen (Dior Angus, 82), James Husband (Alex Taylor, 46), Jacob Blyth, David Kolodynski (Tom Berwick, 46), Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Sam Adkins, 16 Scott Lycett, Aaron Gayle, 19 Lee Williams.