Histon 1 Brakes 1: Leamington edge closer to safety despite letting two points slip from their grasp

Brakes spurned another chance to add further security to their mid-table position as they conceded late on to a battling young Histon side at the Glassworld Stadium on Saturday, writes Paul Edwards.
Dan Newton has Ashley White and Will De Havilland for company at Histon on Saturday. Picture: Sally EllisDan Newton has Ashley White and Will De Havilland for company at Histon on Saturday. Picture: Sally Ellis
Dan Newton has Ashley White and Will De Havilland for company at Histon on Saturday. Picture: Sally Ellis

Home debutant Ben Clappison’s unfortunate own goal from Matty Dodd’s cross looked to have handed Paul Holleran’s side the points after the game finally came to life following a turgid first hour.

However, Eugene Libertucci was given time and space to haul his side level with four minutes remaining.

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And, despite Leamington having had several chances to put the game beyond their hosts prior to the equaliser it was difficult to begrudge them a point under the circumstances.

Reece Flanagan went straight into the Brakes starting XI after joining on loan from Walsall, while fellow new addition Nathan Hicks had to be content with a place on the bench.

The first half was a complete non event, however, with bookings for Charlie Day and Libertucci the only incidents of note as both sides contrived to cancel each other out.

The second half continued in the same fashion until Tony Breeden saved a shot from Nick Freeman.

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The Stutes strikers looked lively when they were allowed space and Freeman had a shot well blocked by Ryan Higgins after bursting into the area.

The first proper sight of goal for Brakes came on the hour-mark, Liam Daly heading just over the bar from a corner.

Freeman had another sight of goal at the other end as Adi Yussuf played him in, but looped his shot over the bar after his first effort was blocked.

Leamington finally began to exert some pressure on the home side after this, with Daly coming close on several occasions.

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He was first denied by a fine save from the unsighted Calum Kitscha as he powered a header towards goal from just inside the box following a corner, the keeper getting to the ball at the last minute to push it over the bar.

The big centre-back was then denied by Ashley White who was well placed on the line to block another headed effort from a corner.

However, the Histon defence contributed to their own downfall in the next attack as Hull City loanee Clappison sliced Dodd’s low, driven cross into his own net.

Kitscha sprang into action again, clawing Stephan Morley’s well-struck free-kick away from the top corner before Clappison deflected Danny Newton’s header behind, Joe Magunda heading over from the corner.

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The home fans behind the goal were screaming for a penalty as Morley challenged substitute Matty Waters but they did not have to wait long for something to cheer as Clappison played the ball out of defence for Yussuf to control and set up Libertucci, who placed his shot wide of Breeden to the delight of the home bench.

Kitscha made another save from Daly down at his near post before blotting his copybook with a failed attempt to get Newton sent off, collapsing to the ground as if he had been struck in the face by the Brakes striker.

The away fans behind the goal had a better view than the officials and let him know exactly what they thought of his behaviour.

Fortunately, referee Chris Pollard was of a similar opinion as it would have been an unnecessarily sour end to what was generally a good-spirited contest.

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HISTON: Calum Kitscha, Harry O’Malley, Ashley White, Will De Havilland, Ben Clappison, Michael Clunan, Michael Built (Matty Waters, 82), Eugene Libertucci, Adi Yussuf, Nick Freeman, Charlie Day. Subs not used: Barney McLoughlin, Peter Clark, Luis McCoy, Hayden Bream.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, Ryan Higgins, Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, Liam Daly, James Mace, Matt Dodd, Reece Flanagan, Danny Newton, Lee Moore (Ricky Johnson, 62), Lee Chilton. Subs not used: Nathan Hicks, Aron Wint, Peter Till, Lewis Fenney.

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