Brakes’ play-off bid stutters as Barnfield sees red

After a scintillating first-half performance, Brakes were overpowered by league leaders Truro City, writes Paul Edwards.

However, Chesham’s 1-1 draw with Salisbury leaves their play-off destiny firmly in their own hands with just two games remaining.

A season-best crowd of 927 packed into City’s Treyew Road ground for this top-five clash, with a healthy contingent having travelled down from Leamington.

They provided raucous backing for their side during a first half which saw Brakes outplay their hosts.

The opening stages were nip and tuck, with Lee Downes driving wide for Leamington and Barry Hayles sending a close-range effort over the bar after Tony Breeden had failed to claim a corner kick.

Nick Stanley then turned well to drive a volley over the bar from Downes’ right-wing cross.

Both sides were looking dangerous on the break and, after Breeden had parried a half-volley from Truro skipper Jake Ash, Leamington launched a swift counter. James Rowe skipped past right-back Barry McConnell and drove at goal, forcing keeper Martin Rice to push the ball behind.

However, Brakes gifted Hayles possession from the corner and the former Fulham striker bore down on goal before dragging a shot wide from the edge of the box.

Leamington moved in front in the 25th minute, with Nick Stanley’s free-kick taking a deflection before being held behind the line by Rice. There was momentary hesitation before the assistant flagged to signal a goal, with Stanley subsequently awarded it.

The opener clearly rattled the home side, who began to make unforced errors, but their threat was still evident, with giant defender Arran Pugh forcing Breeden to save a header under his crossbar.

With the scent of the championship in their nostrils, Truro upped the tempo after the interval and were level within four minutes of the restart, Les Afful steering a right-wing cross inside the far post.

Brakes were being pinned back by their hosts and Hayles and Stephan Morley were booked following a clash before Scott Lycett headed a Pugh effort away from the goalline.

Ash blazed over the bar from another dangerous attack as the hosts continued to boss the game.

However, it was a red card that led to Leamington’s ultimate undoing.

A meaty Richard Batchelor challenge, for which he was later booked, provoked an angry response from Truro and, in the ensuing melee, a home player went down.

After a lengthy chat with his assistants, referee Richard Hulme brandished the red card in Neil Barnfield’s direction.

It took only seven minutes for Truro to make their advantage count, Andrew Taylor lashing a shot high into the net from Hayles’ left-wing cross.

Rowe almost forced his way past keeper Rice and a defender, but Leamington were firmly on the back foot and Afful grabbed his second of the game late on when his shot wrongfooted Breeden and crept inside the post.

Truro City: Martin Rice, Barry McConnell, Scott Walker, Arran Pugh, Steve Adams, Jake Ash, Andrew Taylor, Marcus Martin (Andrew Watkins, 80), Les Afful, Barry Hayles (16 Stewart Yetton, 90), Dan Smith (Danny Clay, 46). Subs not used: Alex Jeannin, Joe Broad.

Leamington: Tony Breeden, Scott Lycett, Michael Tuohy, Lee Downes, Liam Daly, Stephan Morley, Nick Stanley (Luke Corbett, 85), Neil Barnfield, Jacob Blyth (Alex Taylor, 75), James Rowe, Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Jamie Sheldon, Chris Knight, Tom Cross.