Team: Gettings; Dhesi, McFarlane, Ball, Burgess; Thompson, Hanrahan (Ellis), Mort, Adams; Agar (Draper), Nicholls Trying to write a match report when your only memories of the last five minutes of the game are ones of fear and bewilderment, is rather difficult, but I'll do my best.
Leamington went into this local derby needing to avoid defeat at all costs to hold on to top spot.
The Rugby team appeared quite different from the one we faced three times previously, and have had a rough patch, results wise, but there was no fear of them not being up for a match against Leamington. They had much of the early pressure, but Brakes, backed by their large vocal following in the terrace along the far touchline, were first to really threaten, Steve Thompson sending in a good cross that was headed clear. Good play down the right from Ben Adams saw him clip a ball in for Paul Nicholls between two defenders, and he hit a shot just wide of the post.
Diminutive striker Wayne Pulford attempted to play off the back of the Brakes defence from Rugby's goal kicks, looking for flick-ons, but without a great deal of success. A Town corner was claimed confidently by James Gettings, who was again involved as he came to the right edge of his area to close down Town striker Martin Thompson, who evaded his challenge and poked the ball towards goal, but Nick McFarlane was alert to clear the danger.
Again Thompson won the ball, in much the same area, coming through McFarlane's challenge to get a ball across, but the player had too much time to decide where he wanted to place his shot, and a combination of Gettings and Jamie Ball blocked it. Pulford sent a header over the bar from a flick-on after a throw in.
I remember Brian Agar playing Thompson in for a shot that hit the side netting. Leamington probably had more of the possession in the first half, and used it well, but Rugby ensured that Gettings was by far the busier keeper, and he made some outstanding stops to keep us in the game. Rugby were dangerous on the attack, trying to play balls over the top to be flicked on, and Leamington also looked dangerous going forward, with Paul Nicholls working hard.
Leamington opened the scoring on 41 minutes, Brian Agar recieved the ball in the 18 yard box, twisted and turned, and sent a low shot towards the corner of the goal, another Brakes player moved out of the balls path just in time for Ian Brookes in the Rugby goal to be unsighted, and the ball nestled in the corner.
At half time we were pleased with what we had seen in the first half, and hoped we could build on it. Unfortunately that was not to happen. Rugby were more lively in the opening period, and snatched a goal after 9 minutes of the half, when their number three outpaced Harj Dhesi to a long pass on the right, and sent a ball into the box that was bundled over the line for the equaliser. We were also treated to the first of two Town players swearing at us, for no apparent reason, as they were not at any time subjected to personal abuse, at least not until after they had sworn at the crowd.
Leamington did not allow their heads to drop, and were not totally outplayed in the second half, but did not really get back into the game properly. Brooks made a good one handed save onto the bar from a shot by Nicholls after Nick Mort had flicked a throw on, but the Referee blew for offside, in any case. Nicholls also went in with the keeper for a header after substitute Andy Ellis' corner from the left had come back out to him. Rugby's number three was an obvious threat on the break, and he recieved the ball again, got into much the same position he had done to set up the goal, and Gettings saved the first effort, the defence failed to clear, and Martin Thompson was well wide with the follow up.
I'm afraid the final twenty minutes or so are a blur for me, as we noticed movement over by the turnstiles, saw stewards running over, and then saw people up on the balcony in the clubhouse. Being aware of what happened to Lee's flag last year, I took mine down, but I was followed by two 'people' as I moved out of the stand, and the flag was ripped out of my hands and dragged towards the clubhouse, where it was dropped, I think, and rescued by somebody. I didn't stick around to try and get it back, I got the hell out of Rugby as quickly as possible.
I don't go to watch Leamington to incite trouble and fight people. I go to watch my team play football, and I don't like going to places where I feel intimidated. This has been the case here twice, now, and I for one will not be going to watch Leamington play at Webb Ellis Road again. Match report by Paul
NBB Man-of-the-Match: Gettings
