Richie Bennett’s double earns Boro a comeback victory at Leamington
Richie Bennett doubled his goals tally for the season with two clinical finishes as Boro came from behind to win 2-1 at bottom side Leamington, to climb back into the play-off places.
Alex Purver returned after his three-game ban, Harry Green, Lewis Maloney and Jake Hull were all back from injury, but Luca Colville (suspended) and Alex Wiles (injured) were missing, while Leamington gave a debut to striker Ty Lewthwaite, newly signed from Bromsgrove Sporting.
The win could have been more emphatic, as Jono Greening’s side hit the woodwork twice, and had two strong penalty shouts rejected.
On a warm afternoon in the Midlands Boro made a blistering start, dominating the opening 10 minutes.
Dom Tear had a fierce shot palmed over by keeper Eddie Brearey, and from Rio Allan’s corner, Will Thornton’s header was kicked off the line by Dan Meredith, then another Tear shot was blocked by imposing centre-back Theo Streete.
Twice Ste Walker burst into the area, and appeared to be brought down, but both penalty appeals were ignored.
Leamington then broke away and opened the scoring, when Adam Walker passed to an unmarked Frank Tattum, who slammed his shot past Ryan Whitley.
Both sides created a succession of chances in the opening half, Walker side-footed wide, the superb Jack Waldron teed up Walker, who fired narrowly over, and Tear was tackled by Ben Blythe as he was about to shoot.
A Purver free-kick was headed on by Thornton to Kieran Weledji, whose shot on the turn was blocked by Streete.
For the hosts, Birmingham City loanee Tattum surged into the box, but was tackled by Alex Brown, Tattum fired into the chest of keeper Whitley, Lewthwaite drilled a shot wide, and Meredith blazed over. Weledji then blocked a Lewthwaite shot, with Max Brogan firing the rebound wide, and a Meredith cross was headed over by Lewthwaite.
A toe injury forced Tear to be replaced by Bennett in the interval, and after an evenly-contested first half, Boro were on top for much of the second, playing some terrific passing football, with wingers Harry Green on the left and Allan on the right both impressing.
They were unlucky when a Purver corner to the back post was headed against the bar by skipper Thornton, then a neat move involving Waldron, Allan and Green ended with Bennett shooting narrowly over, before the equaliser arrived when Brown charged down the left, and passed inside to Waldron, who laid off for Bennett to direct his shot into the bottom right corner.
It was all Boro, a Bennett header from a Waldron cross was deflected wide by Will Glennon, an Allan corner was headed against the bar by Weledji, Waldron shot into the chest of the keeper, and Bennett teed up Green, who flashed his shot inches past the post. Walker had a shot parried by Brearey and Maloney fired wide.
Leamington enjoyed a good spell late in the game, Owen Farmer dragged a shot wide, Hull blocked a Lewthwaite strike, and Miro Pais fired straight at Whitley, then Whitley pulled off a terrific diving save to push away a thumping 20-yarder from Brogan. Boro’s winner came two minutes from time when Waldron fed Walker whose ball across the goalmouth was neatly fired home by Bennett.
In stoppage-time Aidon Shehu lashed clear as Brogan tried to tee up a volley.
LEAMINGTON - Brearey, Meredith, Glennon, Streete, Walker (c), Farmer, Clarke (Pais 60), Brogan, Tattum (Edwards 72), Lewthwaite, Blythe, unused subs - Quaynor, Berridge, Humphries, Yahaya, Alonzi
BORO - Whitley, Duckworth (Hull 62), Brown, Weledji, Thornton (c), Purver, Allan (Maloney 68), Tear (Bennett 46), Walker, Waldron, Green (Shehu 84).
REFEREE - Abid Hussain.
GOALS - Frank Tattum (Leamington) 10, Richie Bennett (Boro) 54, 88.
GOAL ATTEMPTS - LEAMINGTON 12 (4 on target) BORO 18 (8 on target).
CORNERS - LEAMINGTON 4 BORO 4.
OFFSIDES - LEAMINGTON 1 BORO 3.
YELLOW CARDS - Adam Walker, Ben Blythe, Max Brogan (Leamington).
BORO MAN OF MATCH - Jack Waldron.
ATTENDANCE - 698 (120 away).