Match Report: Leek Town vs. Stamford, 20th Mar 2012
With Leek one of the clubs threatening Stamford’s play off hopes, and a game in hand over in the Daniels, this was a six pointer which Stamford needed to win. Tommy Brookbanks had faced problems even getting a squad together with Joe Pheasant not fit with a hamstring which had forced him off on Saturday and Matt Baxter also missing with a knee injury the result of the crude challenge in the Saturday game against Belper. Dan Barrett was recalled to fill in at left back.
A lorry on it’s side at Kegworth, and another broken down near Uttoxeter, led to two long traffic delays on the journey to Leek. Players and supporters were delayed but by the kick-off only Bruno Holden had not made it to the ground so Scott Mooney had to be promoted from the bench to the starting line-up.
If Stamford were thinking it couldn’t get worse they were in for a rude awakening as Leek took the lead after just 35 seconds, Adam Roberts scoring with a looping shot over Ross Whalin from 25 yards.
Leek dominated the first 15 minutes with Stamford barely able to get the ball. A rare move into the Leek half led to a good run from Nathan Watson and as Leek defenders backed off him he carried the ball to the edge of the box before shooting just wide of the post. A minute later Leek keeper Ben Chapman thought he had plenty of time to collect a Jared Holmes through ball but Nick Ghislanzoni beat him to it but, forced wide, his shot from a narrow angle hit the side netting.
Stamford were now having more possession and a superb ball from Danny Brooks over the Leek defence set up Watson but he headed over from the six yard line.
Midway through the half a total mix up in the Stamford defence led to a shot from Matt Haddrell which came back off the post with Whalin stranded. Only Roberts reacted to the loose ball and he tapped it home.
Stamford dominated play for the rest of the half but it was possession which created no threat on the Leek goal.
Bruno Holden had arrived during the first half and he came on for the start of the second replacing an unlucky Harry Deane. Holden put some urgency into the Stamford play fighting for every ball. On the hour, he forced his way past two defenders to set up Stamford first chance but his poked shot lacked pace giving Chapman plenty of time to drop down onto the ball.
Stamford allowed their frustrations to show with two players booked for dissent in just a few minutes. Tommy Brookbanks made two changes bringing on Mathieu Isamene and Kieran Watson for Ghislanzoni and Holmes. Immediately Isamene received the ball on the touch line and a Leek player called for a team mate to “smash him” as he went in to tackle. The team mate obliged and after a lengthy period of treatment Isamene was stretchered off. For the second game Stamford were left angered by a referee’s decision when the offender was not even booked. Clearly upset at the decision and the tackle which occurred right in front of the Stamford bench, Brookbanks’ protests to the referee led to him being sent from the dugout.
Now down to ten men, Stamford continued to dominate possession but they lacked the guile to cause the Leek defence any problems and the game ended without Chapman having to make a genuine save throughout the 90 minutes. Leek are now just one point behind Stamford with a game in hand. This game may turn out to be the defining game in the season but, sadly, it will be remembered for that dreadful challenge on Mathieu Isamene.
Stamford: Ross Whalin, Luke Garton, Dan Barrett, Wayne Diuk, Dean Whiley, Jared Holmes (Kieran Watson 69), Nathan Watson, Dan Brooks, Scott Mooney, Nick Ghislanzoni (Mathieu Isamene 69), Harry Deane (Bruno Holden 46).
Subs not used: Victor Kemjika, Joe Pheasant.
MoM: Luke Garton
Leek: Ben Chapman, Tim Sanders, Aden Johnson (Ben Nixon 22), Jack Lane, Matt Bell, George Ray, Tim Grice (Dan Cope 73), Christian Millar, Matt Haddrell, Adam Roberts (Oliver Edwards 83), Ashley Woolliscroft.
Subs not used: Glynn Mellor, Nathan Bullock.