FOOTBALL: IT didn’t take long for Brakes supporters to be singing the praise of returning midfield Jack Edwards after the 27-year-old helped Leamington bag a point at Curzon Ashton.
Following a dismal start to the season, Brakes boss Paul Holleran was encouraged by more positive signs that his team are heading in the right direction as his side came from behind to snatch a draw on Monday night.
Both teams made an aggressive start to Monday’s game as Callum Gittings and Ben Wharton saw efforts saved in the opening minutes.
Brakes were unable to capitalise on a number of Curzon Ashton errors while at the other end Tony Breeden was forced into a number of saves following strikes from Max Leonard and Joe Guest.
Though Leamington settled into the game, they found themselves behind after 29 minutes when a blocked cross from Leonard fell to the feet of Wharton, whose strike went between Breeden and his near post.
A flag for offside saved Brakes from going two goals down when Wharton put the ball in the back of the net minutes later.
Despite an increase in tempo from the hosts, Brakes held firm to see out the half.
Curzon Ashton saw a series of long range efforts fly wide in the early moments of the second half while Holleran opted to place Ahmed Obeng and Colby Bishop onto the pitch as Brakes grew into the game.
Breeden was required to make a good save from Steve Howson’s downward header from a free kick as the home side attempted to restore their advantage, but Brakes began to look more dangerous again.
And their persistence paid off with 20 minutes remaining as Edwards connected with Bishop’s knock down from a cross to slam the ball into the net off the inside post.
Though Edwards created a couple of other chances, Brakes settled for a draw – their second in just 48 hours.
Paul Holleran said: “We’ve taken two good points away from home, and in the last 10-15 minutes of both games if we’d taken our chances we could have had a few more.
“We’re beginning to look like a Conference North side but we’ve still got a bit of work to do.”
