Athletic lead but collapse in the closing stages

LEAMINGTON HIBERNIANS 6, MALVERN ATHLETIC 3

Manager Phil Llewellyn had an incomplete squad with the non-availability of last year's captain Marc Lines and the injury to midfielder Cyril Dowling and the fact that the club had signed no regular keeper on meant that defender George Cornes had to fill in between the posts. The final headache arrived for the team with the late arrival of Simon Brookes and Richard Brookes ten minutes before the kick off. The only plus before the kick off was the signing of ex-Evesham United and Malvern Town defender Nigel Russell.

Both sides looked dangerous on the break and both could have scored in the first 15 minutes if not for some good defending from both sides. The home side broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Russell was robbed of the ball o the edge of the centre circle and being the last man it allowed Delroy Brown to race clear and slot the ball home past the advancing Cornes. Athletic then hit back and were rewarded after good work from Rob Perrins and Chris Allen with Hayden Jordan knocking the ball in from the edge of the six yard box for the equaliser in the 19th minute.

The home side re-took the lead in the 123rd minute form a close range effort from Richard Betteridge after the Athletic defence had failed to clear a corner from the left. The game was still an end to end affair and Rob Perrins could have levelled the scores again but his effort was blocked by the keeper. However the same player was on the score sheet after he played a good link up move with his strike partner, Simon Brookes and the slotted the ball just inside the upright in the 35th minute.

Leamington came out in the second half with a much more determined attitude, but it was the visitors who took the lead for the first time in the match when in the 57th minute defender Lee Watts intercepted a through ball and released Rob Perrins who ran though to notch his second. Athletic created more chances but it was always on the books that if Athletic could not score another and see the game off the home side would get back into the game and in the 62nd minute this happened although a little bizarrely when Adam Branagan crossed a ball from the left it elude everyone and also George Crones in goal and nestled in the roof of the net. Malvern Athletic had not lost their shape and it came as no surprise when Brown netted his second of the game in the 67th minute to give his side the lead. Athletic did have a good chance to draw level after some good work from substitute Craig Penney but Chris Allen missed the ball at the back post with the keeper well and truly stranded. Hibernians' substitute put the game beyond doubt when he volleyed home from close range in the 79th minute and the rout was finished off in the 85th minute when Stuart Herlihy broke thorough a non-existent midfield and defence to slot home his side's sixth and collected the three points. Both Neil Boocock and Danny Thomas were booked late in the game for Athletic for late tackles in what was a very clean and entertaining n match

After the match manager Phil Llewellyn said that although he was not happy with the result and the way they had conceded goals there were some bright spots to come out of the match.

He said: "We still need a keeper badly and someone in midfield who can make us keep our shape a little better".

Team:- Cornes, Hall, Russell, Watts, Jordan, Thomas, Boocock, Allen, Richard Brookes, Perrins, Simon Brookes, Subs: Penney (Jordan 63), Mann, Llewellyn not used.

On Tuesday night Athletic suffered another setback when they were defeated 4-0 away to League newcomers Droitwich Spa.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Malvern Athletics' away match at Rugby town has been postponed and the Bank Holiday away clash against Claines has been cancelled as they have dropped out of the League.

The next League match for Athletic will be on Saturday, September 2 when they will travel to take on Barnt Green Spartak with a 2.45pm kick off.