Brakes’ play-off bid blown further off course

THE recent spell of mild weather gave way to chilly, blustery conditions at the New Windmill on Saturday.

However, Brakes boss Paul Holleran was still feeling the heat after overseeing his tenth league game without a win.

Evesham kicked off with the wind at their backs and thought they had taken the lead in the 13th minute when Marcus Palmer deflected the ball home following keeper Daniel Platt’s free-kick. The celebrations were cut short, though, by the assistant referee’s raised flag.

David Kolodynski shot wide after a weaving run, but it was the visitors who were having the better of play and they twice spurned gilt-edged opportunities to open the scoring.

First, former Brake Craig Wilding headed over after being afforded acres of space at the far post and then Jared Wilson repeated the trick after the home defence had gone similarly AWOL.

An already tetchy encounter reached boiling point in the 26th minute when the assistant referee flagged for a foul on Alex Taylor close to the byeline. Taylor was allowed to continue and was eventually bundled over in the box, prompting referee Craig Taylor to point to the spot. Incensed Evesham boss Matt Clarke then raced down the touchline to remonstrate with the officials, who after consultation brought play back for the original free-kick, with the ball having gone out of play before Taylor worked his way into the box.

Clarke received a red card for his protestations and Brakes felt that justice had been served when Platt failed to gather Stephan Morley’s free-kick, allowing Liam Daly to stab the ball home from three yards.

Taylor came close to doubling the lead when his corner deceived Platt, but Lewis Tasker was on hand to head the ball off the line.

Five minutes before half-time, Evesham got the goal their first-half endeavours deserved.

It was hard on former Robins keeper Nathan Vaughan, who did superbly well to tip Tasker’s long-range volley on to the crossbar. However, Henry Eze was the first to react to the rebound, slotting the ball home from a tight angle.

With the advantage of the wind, Brakes had the bulk of the territory after the break, but struggled to work Platt in the Evesham goal.

Morley sent two efforts off-target, while Lee Chilton hit a blistering shot over the angle of post and bar.

Luke Corbett, who had come on to replace the clearly disgruntled Kolodynski, also saw two shots clear the bar and should have at least worked the keeper with a free header at the far post.

Daly produced an excellent challenge to deflect Craig Connor’s shot wide in a rare Evesham foray, but sparked by the introduction of Jimmy Husband, it was Leamington who were looking the most likely winners.

Jacob Blyth just failed to beat Platt to a high ball outside the area when only the slightest of touches would have taken the ball into an empty net and Richard Batchelor put the follow up straight at the out-of-position keeper.

Husband scuffed the ball on to the crossbar from close range when it looked easier to score and, after the ball was put behind by Eze, Wilson was in the right place to head away the corner from under his own bar.

As time ran out, two crosses flashed across the face of the Evesham goal with no one on hand to convert them and Husband’s well-struck volley was comfortably pouched by Platt to give the visitors their first point against Brakes since 2007.

Brakes: Nathan Vaughan, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Lee Downes, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Alex Taylor (Craig Owen, 80), Lee Chilton (James Husband, 73), Jacob Blyth, David Kolodynski (Luke Corbett, 65), Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Michael Tuohy, Lee Williams.

Evesham: Daniel Platt, Jared Wilson, Lewis Tasker, Wayne Daniel, Henry Eze, Callum Henry, Neil MacKenzie, Craig Wilding, James McPike, Marcus Palmer, Craig Connor. Subs not used: Ryan Keen, Josh Quaynor, Jack Winter, Luke Male.