Football outside the championship continued on Monday, as the 6th matchday of the National League North began only 2 days after the 5th matchday. King’s Lynn was looking to consolidate its place at the top of the league in favour of Peterborough Sports as the Linnets continued their battle for a return to the 1st tier of out-of-league football.
Boston United were looking for their first home win of the season against Kettering Town, while I was watching Banbury United again as they looked to continue their unbeaten start to their first campaign in the Northern National League at Leamington.
Leamington 1-0 Banbury United
Leamington vs Banbury United, New Windmill Grounds – by Harry Ware
Banbury United lost their first away game of the season to Leamington in the Northern National League, ending their 18-game streak without defeat in competitive matches since January.
The Puritans were unchanged from the team that defeated Hereford 3-1 just 2 days ago, with Giorgio Rasulo captain of the team, who was supported by many fans who could be heard during the match.
Leamington lined up between the sticks with Burton Albion’s on-loan goalkeeper Callum Hawkins, with former Coventry City midfielder Devon Kelly-Evans also in their starting line-up, which would cause Banbury many problems during the match.
Although Banbury may have been the favourite, it was Leamington who dominated much of the first half, scoring many corner kicks that Banbury found difficult to defend. Leamington’s experienced defender Theo Streete provided a useful option in the air at stops.
Banbury had a hard time breaking a compact defense of Leamington, which prevented them from playing in the center with a deep line, with Banbury having most of his successes in the center this season.
The Puritans have had difficulty completing many penalty shootouts, with a lack of air threat in strike, perhaps not-found the presence of former striker Chris Wreh, who played a crucial role in Banbury’s success last season. The need for Banbury to play outside eventually meant more centres in the surface, which was hugely lacking in the final product as Banbury had to adapt to a style of play they have rarely used since last season.
Banbury had difficulty coping with Devon Kelly-Evans, whose pace and passing vision was sometimes too great for Banbury’s backline and midfielders, which inevitably made the difference just before half-time, when Kelly-Evans made a diagonal run through the midfield on the right side of the field and she returned to Louis Hall, who put a head in the lower right corner and left Banbury’s goalkeeper Jack Harding flat.
The half-time whistle was given shortly after, and since not everything went according to plan for Banbury, a change was required in the second half.
As expected, Banbury gathered pressure in the second half, was more aggressive in the challenges for the ball, while trying to keep possession more than they had. Although they were more dominant in the second half, United were still frustrated in strike and perhaps missed a plan B in the final third.
Theo Streete played a crucial role in a strong defensive demonstration by Leamington. They had the advantage in the air, none of the Banbury centers in the air posed a threat. Going wide was one of Banbury’s only options throughout the match, as Leamington executed his game plan well, crowding the central parts of the field to push Banbury outside.
In an attempt to return to the game, Banbury loaned Harry Parsons and winger Jack Stevens in strike and offered more pace and fresh legs in the Banbury strike, but still a lack of aerial presence. Centre-back Kelvin Langmead returned from injury for the Puritans, a crucial part of Banbury’s stoppages last season and won most of the headlines he was action for. Langmead was the scorer when Banbury last played Leamington at the New Windmill Ground, but failed to make it off the bench, possibly not in form yet.
Morgan Roberts showed his quality, choosing Harry Parsons after a nutmeg from Roberts, who caught up with Leamington’s defense behind him for a rare opportunity in the game, only to be turned down by Burton Albion’s on-loan goalkeeper Callum Hawkins and hold a rather tame 1-on-1 effort.
Banbury increased the pressure at the end of the match, winning free kicks in peril zones. Harry Parsons saw a powerful shot blocked by his own player and summed up the game for Banbury, as they failed to force the goalkeeper of Leamington Hawkins to many stops.
Leamington made subs at the end of the game to shorten the time, and they finally saw the victory, in what could be considered a deserved victory, a brilliant defensive demonstration to prevent Banbury from getting back into the game.
Banbury will stay in 2nd place and then face Southport at home, where they want to bounce back quickly, while Leamington has risen to 9th place before the playoffs only on the goals scored and next time will face Bradford Park Avenue at the new Windmill field.
King’s Lynn won again to continue their promotion to the National League, beating Peterborough Sports 1-2 away and remaining at the top of the unbeaten league. Josh Barrett scored a last-minute winning goal for the Linnets, who are three points ahead of Banbury United in second place.
Spennymoor Town also remained unbeaten in the league, defeating Bradford Park Avenue 1-0 away and climbing to 5th in the league. Jude Obiyo scored just before half-time to ensure that Spennymoor remained unbeaten, leaving only King’s Lynn Town and Spennymoor Town as the only two teams not to have lost a game this season.
Boston is still looking for its first win of the season, after another 1-1 draw in the Northern National League, at home to Kettering Town. Only Boston and Bradford Park Avenue, who remain in the relegation zone, have not yet won a game in this campaign.
Gloucester City came from behind to beat Hereford away 1-3, to register its third win of the season. Goals from Matt McClure and a double from Tré Mitford prevented Aaron Amadi-Holloway’s first-half goal from bringing Gloucester into the first half.
