FOOTBALL: BRAKES overturned a two goal deficit in the final five minutes to earn an unlikely point against former Football League side York City.
Not for the first time this season, tactical changes shifted the course of the game.
Substitutes Kurtis Revan, Liam Canavan and Ahmed Obeng all had an impact on the game, while Holleran’s decision to push Junior English up front paid dividends as he got the goal that dragged his side back into the game before Canavan’s equaliser.
Brakes suffered a blow in the build up to Saturday’s home game as skipper Tony Breeden was ruled out with a back injury.
Holleran called upon the experienced José Veiga to fill the void inbetween the posts.
York City signalled their intent early on when Alex Whittle’s cross found Simon Heslop on the turn, but his effort was comfortably saved.
Veiga had to be alert once more when darting off his line to claim a loose ball that Amari Morgan Smith Junior English chased.
The visitors took the lead on nine minutes when Adriano Moke sent an inviting cross towards David Ferguson, whose first time hit nestled into the back of the net.
Jack Edwards hooked a volley over the crossbar for Leamington’s first sight of goal on 20 minutes.
Goalscoring threat Jon Parkin flicked a header over the bar from Sean Newton’s throw.
York almost doubled their lead moments later when Newton struck high over Veiga’s bar following a rebound off the crossbar.
The York captain had another great opportunity just before half time when Morgan Smith cut the ball back from the byline for him, but the result was the same.
Though efforts from Rob Thompson-Brown and Kieran Dunbar went close at the start of the second half, Brakes’ task got twice as hard when Veiga failed to hold onto the ball following a clearance from the other side of the pitch.
The error allowed Parkin to stab home York’s second goal.
Despite being two goals down, Brakes failed to give in.
York were unable to get the ball clear from a free kick with five minutes remaining – and after both Obeng and Revan saw their shots blocked, English forced the ball home from a couple of yards out.
The belief instantly flooded back into those in Gold and Black, and with the fans ramping up the volume in the Harbury Lane End they were rewarded once more.
A long throw from Revan found Canavan in the box who curled a shot into the far corner.
York had the chance to win the game back on the final whistle, but a reaction save from Veiga kept Brakes in the game and earned Holleran’s men a hard-fought point.
Picture: Sally Ellis.
