Bedford display is put to bed by Blyth’s late strike

After the abject despair of the Bedford reverse in their last league match, Brakes fans enjoyed altogether differing emotions at The Webbs Wood Stadium on Saturday as a dramatic injury-time strike from Jacob Blyth gave Paul Holleran’s side their first away win of the season, writes Paul Edwards.

Leamington’s performance was a far cry from recent displays on their travels, and while it was by no means the finished article, it certainly gave the sizeable travelling support in the 207 crowd cause for optimism.

Blyth was involved in most of of his side’s best moments, and he bludgeoned his way into the penalty area in the opening minutes, lashing a volley inches over the bar.

He was later set up after a driving run from strike partner David Kolodynski, but Supermarine keeper Kent Kauppinen was quickly off his line to snuff out the danger, James Husband lashing the loose ball over.

Blyth then flung himself at a Richard Batchelor cross, but sent his header wide of the far post.

The home side had to wait until the 34th minute for their first serious opportunity on goal. A quick break saw Bradley Gray outpace Jamie Hood on the right but Tony Breeden was equal to his near-post shot.

The majority of the crowd then believed the home side had taken the lead as the ball appeared to land in the net from a looping header, but it had in fact dropped behind the goal.

Tom Cole also had a good opportunity for Swindon from a corner, but headed wide.

Kolodynski put a header into the side netting as Leamington began the second half as they had the first, but the hosts were more than holding their own and continued to create opportunities.

Brakes were putting together some slick moves of their own and Blyth fed Husband, whose dangerous cross into the six-yard box was parried by Kauppinen into the path of Blyth, who diverted the ball wide.

Breeden flung himself across his goal to keep out a smart shot on the turn from Gray, but Brakes were to go even closer to breaking the deadlock moments later.

Craig Owen played a neat exchange of passes with Kolodynski before crashing in a first-time volley which was matched by an acrobatic save from Kauppinen.

Kolodynski smacked another effort inches wide of the far post before being replaced by Tom Berwick, who was quickly involved, sending in a superb cross which looked to be perfect for Blyth before the intervention of an inspired Kauppinen.

Rob Dean shot across the face of goal with the Brakes defence at sixes and sevens and Hood was well placed to hook another effort off the line, with the home fans behind the goal ready to celebrate.

Leamington were handed a numerical advantage for the final ten minutes when Nick Stanley, who had only recently returned to Supermarine after making the switch from Brakes to Oxford City in the summer, received a second booking.

The sending-off did not prevent his teammates from continuing to try and win the game and another effort on goal clipped the crossbar, while Breeden held on to a shot from Max Etheridge.

With the clock ticking down, a spell of Brakes pressure got its reward.

Berwick’s persistence saw the ball ricochet perfectly for Blyth, who twisted past a challenge and crashed a shot beyond Kauppinen to spark wild celebrations behind the goal.

Swindon Supermarine: Kent Kauppinen, Alex Allard, Danny Allen, Rob Dean, Gary Horgan, Tom Cole, Ben Wells (Sam Morris, 85), Dave Bampton (Harry Etheridge, 67), Bradley Gray, Max Etheridge, Nick Stanley. Subs not used: T.J Bohane, Jamie Prictor, Matt Robinson.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, James Mace, Michael Tuohy, Lee Downes, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Craig Owen, James Husband (Alex Taylor, 65), Jacob Blyth, David Kolodynski (Tom Berwick, 67), Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Sam Adkins, Stephan Morley, Scott Lycett.