Vauxhall Motors 2 Brakes 1: Breeden and Mace fail to apply brakes and Motormen take advantage to tame Leamington

On-loan Southport striker Steven Tames had fired the Motormen in front mid-way through the first half and was a threat all afternoon, but he will probably have never scored an easier goal than the one handed to him on a plate in the 70th minute.

Tony Breeden and James Mace collided after rushing to deal with a through ball on the edge of the box, leaving Tames with the simple task of latching on to the loose ball and rolling it into an empty net.

It was a crushing blow to Leamington’s hopes of taking something from the contest, particularly as they had looked far brighter in the second half and had begun to take the game to their hosts.

That feeling was only compounded when substitute Will Green scored a superb goal five minutes from time, but their search for a late leveller proved fruitless.

Tames had scored on his debut for the Motormen at Stalybridge in midweek and could have bagged himself two more early on in this game, the first chance coming when Mace misjudged a header back towards Breeden and the second when he outpaced the same player, but on both occasions he shot wide when it looked easier to score.

The home side moved the ball around quickly on a pitch that was subjected to several heavy showers throughout the afternoon, but Brakes were capable of the same and zipped the ball around well in spells.

Ricky Johnson pounced on a backpass on the edge of the area but was forced wide by Danny Fearnehough.

The ball was proving hard to control on the slick surface which was highlighted when Johnson was played into a great position on the edge of the area only to allow the ball to squirm through to keeper Zac Jones.

The Motormen broke the deadlock when Tames was played in on goal and confidently slotted a low drive past Breeden.

Stephan Morley tried his luck from 30 yards but his powerful low drive was watched all the way by Jones.

Vauxhall Motors continued to forge more clear-cut opportunities, however, and a glancing header from a right-wing cross was diverted behind, Ashley Stott heading wide from the resulting corner.

Leamington were on the back foot but began to force their way back into the game before half-time and emerged from the dressing room with renewed vigour.

Morley drove a shot over the bar but the home side broke again, Luke Connolly halting the charge with a well-timed challenge just inside the area, debutant Luke Bottomer following up with another block.

Breeden was then forced into action, first pushing out a ball pulled back from the left touchline that was deflected by Joe Magunda and then reacting quickly to smother the ball as Chris Noone headed it back towards goal.

The goalkeeper and centre-half Mace were left looking at each other in despair 20 minutes from time however, as what looked like a breakdown in communication led to the collision which allowed Tames to walk in Vauxhall’s second goal.

Breeden saved again from the two-goal striker as Leamington composed themselves before the fresh legs of Will Green dragged Paul Holleran’s side back into the game inside the last ten minutes.

The young striker has made an increasing impact on his appearances from the bench in recent weeks and stepped up his claims for a start with a quite stunning goal, latching on to Johnson’s flick-on to fire a first-time volley from the edge of the box that looped over Jones and into the net.

Urged on by the travelling support, Lee Chilton’s cross from the left was deflected into the arms of Jones by his skipper Tom Hannigan.

Connolly was in the right place to make another good challenge at the other end to deny Motors’ substitute Jordan Rugg.

Breeden pushed up for an injury-time corner and came very close to snatching the equaliser, but the ball went the wrong side of the post.