Biggleswade make Leamington pay for their red mist

The contest had started on a far brighter note for Leamington with Jones, eager to make an impression on his full debut for the club, sending over an early cross for Ross Oulton, also making his first start, to drive just over the bar.

Brakes opened the scoring with the first real chance of the game for either side. Following a free-kick 25 yards out, Richard Taundry headed the ball back towards the penalty area, where it was helped on by Ogleby to Ben Mackey. With the home side expecting an offside flag, they were left flat-footed as the striker controlled and hooked a shot past young keeper Gary Malone.

The terrier-like Jones drew regular applause from the travelling support as he chased lost causes and it was from one such instance that he set up another opportunity, with his persistence in keeping the ball in play, allowing Connor Gudger to cross for Ogleby, who saw his shot blocked.

The hosts began to grow into the game, however, and a powerful drive from Craig Daniel stung the palms of Tony Breeden.

Sam Merson then had a couple of chances, blazing the first one high and wide before bursting clear down the right channel, but the angle was against him and Breeden was able to gather his low angled effort.

Daniel drew another save from Breeden early in the second half while the width of a post prevented Brakes from extending their lead, with Taundry’s curling cross from the left glanced on to the woodwork by the head of Lee Moore.

Breeden was dealing with most of what was being played into his area but he was powerless to prevent the equalising goal 11 minutes in, Tony Burnett slotting in a right-wing cross.

Virtually all of the Waders attacks were coming down their right and they really should have gone in front soon afterwards from the same source after a good advantage from referee Tim Donnellan. But, with two green-shirted players unmarked in the centre, Merson somehow put his shot wide of goal.

Things then started to unravel for Leamington as Ogleby, who had been cautioned in the first half, was shown a second yellow card for a foul.

It looked like it would be a backs-to-the-wall job to protect what they already had but Brakes stunned their hosts by retaking the lead soon after being reduced to ten men, Jones helping the ball through a retreating defence for Mackey to expertly slot past Malone.

Biggleswade continued to push forward with their man advantage and Burnett shot over after a good turn inside the box before Andrew Iwediuno bought parity to the scoreline once again with a neat close-range header, inevitably from a right-wing cross.

Will Green replaced Mackey as the game entered its closing stages and immediately set about making a nuisance of himself, winning a corner on the left. It was from more play down that side of the pitch that saw Connor Roberts trip Jones inside the box to give Leamington a chance to go ahead for the third time in the match, but Malone stood up well to block Taundry’s penalty.

With the home side exuberant at this let-off emotions were running high and tempers began to flare again, resulting in Jones being shown a straight red card.

And, with time almost up, Biggleswade produced a strike worthy of winning any game, defender Shaun Hill crashing in a low drive from the right edge of the penalty area.

Biggleswade: Gary Malone, Connor Roberts, Mark Coulson, Shane Hill, Ryan Frater, Andrew Iwediuno, Craig Daniel, Callum Lewis, Tony Burnett, Ian Rees (Michael King, 80), Sam Merson. Subs not used: Kyal McNulty, Charlie Hunter, Jay Davies, Ryan Blackman, Macsen Fraser

Brakes: Tony Breeden , Ben George, Connor Gudger, Ross Oulton, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore, Richard Taundry, Rob Ogleby, Ben Mackey (Will Green, 80), Jake Jones. Subs not used: Kieren Westwood, Reece Mitchell, Ellison Porter, Matt Hill