Football: Away-day misery for Leek

Friday, November 14, 2008, 09:00

PROMOTION, play-off and relegation places are far from decided in mid-November.

But if it wasn't for the horrendous form of Lincolnshire outfit Brigg Town, the current UniBond First Division South table would make even less pleasant viewing for Blues fans.

Winless Brigg have claimed just three draws so far this campaign and are eight points adrift at the foot of the table.

But Leek have endured a desperate run of their own – picking up just one point from a possible 21 in their last seven matches.

With only one team dropping out of the division, Leek enjoy a healthy 11-point cushion over Brigg.

But at the other end of the table, Wayne Johnson's men are now nine points off the final play-off position, and 15 behind league leaders Carlton Town.

Against Stamford, Leek started well enough and pinned the home defence back before taking an early lead. But then Johnson's men missed a penalty. And the spot-kick miss proved costly when the home side turned in a much improved performance after the break.

The Daniels got back on level terms in the second half with a close-range rebound finish after hitting the post. And Stamford made sure of all three points with a late, late strike.

After the game, Johnson said: "I am very disappointed with the result, but pleased that we played a lot better than in our last few games.

"We ought to have won it in the first half, but when they got on top after the break we lacked experience – we needed someone capable of putting a foot on it to slow the game down."

Johnson made changes following the midweek reversal at Belper. Ben Mills and Martin Heath were recalled to the starting line-up, while Matt Johnson moved to left-back.

Liam McMann and Wayne Corden had to be content with seats on the bench where they were joined by midfielder Richard Bailey, who has now recovered from a knee injury.

Leek pressed Stamford from the whistle and took the lead in the fifth minute when Mills rose to power home a header from Ashley Miller's pin-point free-kick.

Stamford hit back with a shot in the eighth minute which Richard Froggatt fumbled, and only a last-ditch tackle by Wayne Johnson kept the lead intact.

Leek were well on top and won a penalty in the 16th minute when Bobby White brought down Mills from behind.

Blues' leading scorer Ashley Miller, pictured, stepped forward and opted for a short run up. But he only succeeded in curling the ball on to the crossbar and the home defence was able to clear.

Stamford had little to offer at this stage. And they almost fell further behind in the 29th minute when Olly Edwards ran at the defence before lashing a 30-yard shot inches wide of the upright.

In time added on at the end of the half, Josh Thompson out-jumped the home defence. But his glancing header flew narrowly wide of the back post.

Blues came under mounting pressure after the break as Stamford upped their game and looked dangerous down the flanks – hoisting plenty of balls into the box.

However, a good run by Thompson in the 48th minute saw the Crewe youngster chase down a defender. He cleared only as far as Steve Brannan, whose shot flew across the face of goal.

Stamford gradually clawed their way back into the game. Phil Stebbing shot straight at Froggatt in the 53rd minute. And the home side were back on level terms six minutes later when Jamie Cook's header came back off the upright and fell kindly for Dean Cotton to net from close range.

In the 75th minute, Leek survived a goalmouth scramble before the ball was eventually cleared up field to Thompson, who was unlucky with an angled shot from 35 yards which flew wide of the target.

Leek came close to retaking the lead in the 81st minute when Leon Ashman rose highest to a Miller free-kick, only to glance his header narrowly wide.

Blues looked to have done enough to win a point as the game entered the last five minutes. But a poor ball out of defence by the Blues boss Wayne Johnson saw the ball worked out wide to Tyrone Kirk, who crossed to Jamie Clarke at the far post and Clarke found the net with a neat header.

LEEK: Froggatt, P Johnson, M Johnson, A Taylor, W Johnson, Heath, Brannan, Miller, Thompson, Mills, Edwards. Subs: Corden, Ashman, McMann, Bailey.

Attendance: 216.