FOOTBALL: LEAMINGTON’s long stint as leaders of the Southern League Premier Division came crashing to a halt on Saturday after they were thumped 6-0 at home to Slough Town at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium, reports Paul Edwards.
Red cards for Ryan Rowe and Jack Edwards merely heightened the misery for Paul Holleran, who acknowledged that his side got what they deserved as their so far impressive goals against tally took a massive hit.
The game sparked into life on 14 minutes after an uneventful opening. Chris Flood curled a great effort into the top corner past Tony Breeden, who was rooted to the spot.
There was barely time for Leamington to get back into the game before they found themselves two goals behind, but they hardly helped themselves, wasting numerous opportunities to get the ball clear and allowing Gavin James the chance to dig the ball out of the crowd and into the bottom corner.
Jack Edwards saw a header cleared away from goal before Joe Magunda then conceded a free kick from which Flood curled in a low shot that was saved by Breeden.
Matters became considerably worse for Leamington when a challenge from Jack Edwards sparked an unsightly melee, resulting in a red card for Ryan Rowe, who had apparently shoved an opponent during the fracas. Edwards also picked up a booking which he would come to regret later on.
The game was practically over as a contest before half-time with Flood bagging his second of the game with a thunderous header at the far post from Simon Dunn’s precise free kick.
Leamington were rarely getting into positions where they even looked like causing a threat to their visitors, and almost conceded a comical fourth goal when Breeden’s clearance from the left wing went straight to the feet of Slough skipper Sean Fraser, who lifted it back towards goal. Flood’s header was going in until Connor Gudger hooked the ball off the line.
Paul Holleran threw on his last two substitutes as Richard Gregory and Jordan Goddard and the former forced Scott into his only real save of the game when the keeper came off his line well to block as the former Stratford Town man attempted to nick the ball past him.
The game really was up when Flood grabbed his hat-trick with just over 20 minutes to play, crashing the ball in at the near post from Webb’s ball in from the touchline.
Edwards was shown a second yellow card in the aftermath for an offence committed in the build up to the goal.
Six minutes later Dunn set up a simple tap in for debutant substitute Ashan Holgate to score with almost his first touch of the ball.
Webb forced Breeden into a save and Courtney Baker-Richardson fired well wide at the other end, but there was further pain to come for Brakes, which incensed the home support.
Richard Taundry had been off the pitch receiving treatment, but despite several pleas to the officials to be allowed to re-enter the pitch as Slough attacked once more he was ignored, and Rebels substitute Charlie Moone was played in to set up Dunn to apply another close range finish.
Attendance: 665
Leamington: T.Breeden ©, R.Taundry, C.Gudger, C.Gittings (J.Goddard 60), J.Magunda, J.Mace, C.Baker-Richardson, J.Edwards, R.Rowe, R.Thompson-Brown (D.Pond 39), A.Obeng (R.Gregory 60).
Subs not used – B.George, J.Hood.
