Team: Gettings; Dhesi, Gregory, McFarlane, Burgess (Parisi); Thompson, Timms, Mort (Shearsby), Adams; Agar, Blake Leamington's disappointing end of season form continued, as they snatched a late equaliser, yet had enough pressure to have won this game. Three draws in the last four games mean that even a place in the top three is not certain now, which would be disappointing after being there for most of the season.
With Paul Nicholls absent due to work commitments, Josh Blake got a rare start up front. The travelling army was noticeably lower too, for the final, and longest away trip of the season, to what is probably one of the better grounds in the division.
A home player was booked early on for reacting to a challenge by Darren Timms. Brian Agar was first to threaten, having his shot saved by the keeper, as Leamington began the game looking lively. Steve Thompson flashed a cross into the box that was put behind, and Blake hit a good effort over the bar. Leamington were playing the ball around well, and this resulted in what looked like a back pass to the Meir keeper, which he picked up, but the referee, who was to be the focus of anger many times during the game, let play continue. Jonny Burgess shot wide, after cutting in from his right sided position. The home side forced James Gettings into a brilliant, but uneccessary save from point blank range, but the flag was up for offside.
The main threat to Leamington was coming from the wing, and another cross was hit just wide from close in. It was this source that saw Meir in front on forty minutes, a cross from the left this time, and a meat and drink finish for the striker from six yards, with Gettings helpless. Brakes pressed again, and Blake won a free kick 25 yards from goal, which Harj Dhesi hit wide, with the aid of a deflection, for a corner.
The second half began, and Burgess again moved forward from defence, firstly hitting a shot that the keeper saved easily, and then exchanging passes with Agar on the edge of the box to hit a cracking shot that forced the keeper to tip over the bar. At the other end a Meir cross hit the roof of the net. Blake then shot wide from a knock down by Agar off a free kick. He was off balance, to be fair to him. The game became a bit frenetic, as the crowd were fuming at the match officials missing what appeared to be three hand balls. This seemed to come through to the players, who stepped up their efforts. They were still leaving themselves open to the counter attack though, and more than once, a Meir attacker attempted to break clear. Jonny Burgess got in the way of a shot from a cross from the right. Ben Adams slotted the ball home from a good cross-field ball by Agar, but was flagged offside, one of number of very close decsions that went against Leamington during the game. Adams was wide with a good effort, then tried pulling the ball back for Darren Timms to have a pop, but he fired over.
Meir's number nine, who bore a striking resemblance to Shaggy from Scooby Doo, shot over, with McFarlane and Gregory trailing behind him, and was treated to a chorus of the Scooby Doo theme tune!
Leamington forced many corners in the last quarter of the game, from one of which, a certain goal was inadvertantly blocked on the line by substitute Ryan Parisi, a header by Nick McFarlane. From another flag kick, a defensive header out was met by a snap shot from Agar, on the volley, just over the bar. On eighty-five minutes, Leamington got the equaliser their pressure had been threatening. Thompson won a free kick on the left of the area. Substitute Barry Shearsby crossed it in, the defensive header out fell to Adams, who smashed it back in from just outside the box for his second goal in successive games.
Leamington now went on all out attack, and Timms missed a gilt edged chance right in front of goal, missing his kick at the vital moment. From another corner, the same player headed wide at the far post. Thompson then sent a powerful curling shot in from the right edge of the box, which the keeper tipped over. Unfortunately, Brakes could not make their pressure tell, and had to settle for a third draw in a row on the road. As in the previous few matches, Brakes just couldn't seem to get it right in the final third of the pitch. Match report by Paul
NBB Man-of-the-Match: Burgess
