Leamington preview


Leamington FC BadgeIt's back to Vanarama Conference North action on Saturday with a visit to one of those sides whose current aim is to close ground on the Hatters.

OPPOSITION FORM

A draw last Saturday meant that, unlike County, our hosts Leamington had to play in mid-week. They faced Worcester City in a replay and went behind early on, then in the second half diminutive ex-County man Danny Jackman finished their cup hopes for 2014-15 with a headed goal! In the league the Midlands side have been in to the top half since the start of September scoring in all their last 6 games and hitting four in two recent home matches.

LAST FIVE RESULTS:

DateOpponentResult
27 SepH v Wroxham (FAC 2q)Won 4-1
4 OctH v HydeWon 4-0
7 Oct A v North Ferriby UnitedLost 1-3
11 Oct H v Worcester City (FAC 3q)Drew 1-1
14 OctA v Worcester City (FAC 3q)Lost 0-2


OPPOSITION PLAYERS

The Leamington team who went out of the cup on Tuesday, including positions and known previous clubs, was:

Neil Collett G Coventry C, Nuneaton T, Mansfield T, Nuneaton T(L), Nuneaton T, Barwell
James Fry D Birmingham C, Leamington(L)
Stephan Morley D Kettering T, Corby T(L), Rugby T, Banbury U, Rugby T, Halesowen T, Hinckley U, Brackley T(DR)
Joe Magunda D/M Leicester C, Woking(L), Kings Lynn, Brackley T
Jamie Tank D Walsall, Wolverhampton W
James Mace D Atherstone T, Hinckley U
Matty Dodd M Sutton Coldfield T, Worcester C, Halesowen T, Sutton Coldfield T
Jack Edwards M Coventry Sphinx, Barwell
Richard Batchelor M Romulus, Solihull Bor, Bedworth U, Highgate U, RC Warwick, Alvechurch, Studley, Romulus, Solihull Bor, Romulus, Chasetown, DR to Brackley T(DR)
Stefan Moore F Romulus, Aston Villa, Chesterfield(L), Millwall(L), Leicester C(L), Queens Park R, Port Vale(L), Walsall, Kidderminster H, Halesowen T, St Neots T, Brackley T(DR)
Danny Newton F Hinckley U, Nuneaton T, Hinckley U(L), Barwell(L), Barwell, Brackley T, Leamington(L)
Lee Chilton W Alvechurch, AFC Telford U, Hinckley U, Willenhall, Tividale, Stafford R, Halesowen T
Aron Wint F Coventry C, Scunthorpe U, Belper T(L), FC Halifax T(L), Hinckley U, Solihull Moors


Their side has been fairly settled since the start of September with defender James Fry coming in on loan as the only recent addition. As with last weekend County are up against a new goalkeeper as Neil Collett has never faced our first team previously.

 
Neil Collett

 Neil is yet to miss a game this season and has conceded just 8 goals at the Brakes' New Windmill Ground.

Stefan Moore's 8 goals heads the Leamington scorers list but Danny Newton will also need watching carefully having scored four goals in the five games listed above.


Stefan Moore.
The 21-year-old top scorer has only had one chance previously to score against County, coming off the bench in our goalless draw at his then club Brackley Town back in April. Newton was on the bench - alongside Stephen O'Hallorahan - when County beat Nuneaton in Feb 2013. After kicking his heels again when Brackley visited last season he finally got his chance at the third attempt. As can be seen below he was the main factor in last season's result at Leamington.

THE COUNTY SIDE

Alan Lord got chance to give some of the weekend's substitutes a decent run out on Wednesday as the reserves beat Ashton Athletic 3-0. With Ian Ormson having to leave the field due to sickness at half time it was a particularly good test defensively as Glenn Belezika and his team mates had to protect an outfield player in goals.


Glenn Belezika.
Hopefully Ian will have recovered sufficiently to take his place in the squad. Unfortunately there was no sign of Scott Duxbury re-appearing yet.

PREVIOUS MATCHES

One game, one defeat is the complete record for County at Leamington. It's the man who has kicked into goalscoring form in recent weeks who sent County to defeat last season as Danny Newton struck twice in response to Iain Howard's opener. This was one of a handful of games last season where County didn’t use a substitute.

Saturday 1 March 2014

Skrill Conference North (att: 1,038)

Leamington (0) 2 Newton 73, 83
Stockport County (0) 1 Howard 66

Leamington: Tony Breeden, Ryan Higgins, Stephan Morley, Craig Owen, Liam Daly, James Mace, Matty Dodd (Aron Wint), Josh Hawker (Rickie Johnson), Danny Newton, Lee Chilton (Joe Magunda), Peter Till.

County: Ian Ormson, Nicky Platt, Scott Duxbury, Tunji Moses, Adam Cowen, Mark Lees, Mark Battersby, Chris Churchman, Rhys Oates, Phil Jevons, Iain Howard.

Read the match report on All things County

MATCH PROSPECTS

Looks like one of those games where priority is avoiding defeat Whilst a draw would not improve County's position relative to the play-off places it may well be enough to keep them in sixth. However, County seem to be at their best when they go on the attack so hopefully we can press Leamington back early on and go for the early goal that can relax the whole side. With the teams records this season it certainly seem unlikely that the game will end goalless.

Planning to travel, check All Things County's Ground Guide - including details of Park and Ride scheme for those travelling by car.

OTHER MATCHES

The other Vanarama Conference North games this weekend are shown below along with the portion of the table that directly affects County's position when the final results come in.

AFC Fylde v Gainsborough Trinity, Barrow v Gloucester City, Boston United v Hyde, Brackley Town v Tamworth, Hednesford Town v Bradford Park Avenue, Leamington v Stockport County, Lowestoft Town v Oxford City, North Ferriby United v Guiseley, Solihull Moors v Chorley, Stalybridge Celtic v Colwyn Bay, Worcester City v Harrogate Town.

Pos Team Pl W D L F A GD Pt
4 Barrow 11 7 2 2 25 14 11 23
5 Guiseley 12 6 4 2 21 12 9 22
6 COUNTY 12 6 2 4 23 18 5 20
7 North Ferriby U 12 5 3 4 15 12 3 18
8 Hednesford T 13 5 3 5 16 16 0 18
9 Boston U 12 5 3 4 18 20 -2 18
10 Solihull Moors 11 5 2 4 26 16 10 17
11 Worcester C 13 4 5 4 12 15 -3 17

Comments

Top Posts

Simply Disgraceful !

Wrexham 1 Stockport County 2 ( Vanarama National League) 31 August 2019

Notts County 2 Stockport County 1 ( Vanarama National League) Saturday 23 October 2021