Blissett pounces to knock out Brakes

Brakes slipped out of the FA Trophy at old rivals Romulus on a frustrating afternoon for all concerned with the club, writes Paul Edwards.

After a promising first-half performance on the synthetic surface at Coles Lane, they failed to muster a single effort on their opponents’ goal in the second, with Nathan Blissett’s strike booking the Roms’ passage to the next round.

The talk before kick-off was about how Leamington would adapt to the 3G pitch and, after a shaky opening five minutes in which Tony Breeden was forced to save at full stretch from Marcus Brown, the visitors created the better openings in a goalless first half.

Lee Downes fired a free-kick wide and Alex Taylor forced a corner from the first serious attack, from which Jamie Hood scuffed a shot past the post.

Richard Batchelor poked an effort towards goal that was deflected behind and, from another corner, Jacob Blyth headed just over.

There were a couple of bookings for either side in what was never a dirty game, but Romulus could not have any complaints with their first, Nathan Walker sending Michael Tuohy sprawling just outside the area with a late challenge. This provided an opportunity for Stephan Morley to test keeper Chris Jay, who pushed his effort around the post.

Breeden gathered a long-range effort from Walker at the second attempt, but Leamington were beginning to assert themselves and there was a controversial moment when Phil Male blatantly handled the ball as it was played into the area. With the low sun obscuring the view it was difficult to see whether the offence had taken place inside or outside the area, but to the relief of the hosts, referee Martin Dexter decided it was outside. Daly blasted the resulting free-kick over the bar.

Leamington’s patient approach looked like it might eventually pay dividends but Romulus were always dangerous on the break and Hood had his name taken rather harshly when he was left exposed on the left and had to make a challenge.

Craig Owen’s stinging volley from the edge of the box was pushed away from goal by Jay before Downes also saw his name taken for a late challenge.

Brakes went close to opening the scoring just before the break after Taylor was impeded, but the free-dropped just wide.

That was the visitors’ last clear sight of goal as they turned in a flat second-half performance.

The home side quickly imposed themselves after the restart and almost scored a memorable goal. Marvin Johnson picked up the ball just outside his own area and set off on a darting run down the right wing, muscling past both Owen and Downes before firing in a shot that Breeden had to push behind.

Brown then shot straight at the Brakes keeper from a good position.

Paul Holleran replaced David Kolodynski with Tom Berwick, but before the substitute had chance to make an impact, Leamington were behind. Blissett was afforded time and space to charge into the area and his shot appeared to take a slight deflection, wrong-footing Breeden.

The introduction of both Berwick and James Husband looked briefly as though it might give Brakes the spark that was needed to drag them back into the tie, but they were unable to create any openings.

Blyth headed wide from a Berwick cross and it looked for all the world that Romulus were going to score a second when Blissett found himself clean through on goal again, but Breeden stayed on his feet and got a strong hand to the shot to keep it out. He came to the rescue again moments later, keeping out another effort that looked odds-on to be heading into the net.

Downes had a half-chance from Blyth’s knock-down but could not keep his header down.

There was one final hairy moment for Roms with time almost up, with a driven ball into the box looking certain to hand Leamington a last-gasp equaliser. However, Robert Evans and his keeper managed to prevent the ball from going across the line, although both were left in a painful heap for doing so.

Romulus: Chris Jay, Robert Evans, Richard Evans, Phillip Male, Richard Robinson, Gavin Day, Marvin Johnson, Nathan Walker, Nathan Blissett, Marcus Brown, Chris Morris. Subs not used: Jemiah Richards, Jack Pearce, Dave Barnett, Ashley Jackson, Lewis Exall.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, Michael Tuohy, Stephan Morley, Lee Downes, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Alex Taylor, Craig Owen, Jacob Blyth, David Kolodynski (Tom Berwick, 67), Richard Batchelor (James Husband, 73). Subs not used: Sam Adkins, Dior Angus, Mark Gayle.