Dales Lane, Rushall
Saturday 18th July 2015

The build up to the season opener on August 8th continued at Dales Lane where Brakes put in a decent display after a slow start and were only denied a win by a second half penalty.

With Jamie Hood joining absentees Lee Moore, Ross Oulton and Ben George there was an opportunity for Paul Holleran and Liam O'Neill to take a look at trialist Michael Williams on the right side of defence. Namesake Danny also made an appearance from the bench in the second half, while youngsters Matt Warner, Reece Mitchell and Ellison Porter also got more game time.

The game kicked off in glorious sunshine and it was the hosts who made most of what was a quiet start, taking the lead 21 minutes in when Chad Degville-Cross fired in a low drive that deceived Tony Breeden, who was left stranded on the opposite side of his goal as the ball found the bottom corner.

Leamington began to come into the contest more after this, with Rob Ogleby, who put in an impressive amount of work again, flicking in a shot with his back towards goal that was easy for the keeper. He had time to be far more clinical with the next opportunity that came his way however, latching on to a ball in from the left by the industrious Jake Jones to fire in a shot that struck a defender but fell kindly for him to calmly side foot a second effort into the corner to level things up.

With 5 minutes to half time Brakes were awarded a free kick just inside the Rushall half after Jack Edwards was pulled back as he surged through midfield. Richard Taundry floated the dead ball into the penalty area and there was Edwards to direct a cushioned header into the net to put his side ahead.

Ben Mackey had a largely frustrating afternoon as he was hampered by several questionable offside decisions from the match officials, but an intelligent advantage played by the Referee allowed Taundry to cut the ball back for Jones, whose well struck low drive was parried by Rushall's substitute keeper. Taundry then played Mackey in on the left but he was also denied by the keeper, who pushed a powerful effort behind for a corner.

The hosts made a raft of changes in the second half which reduced their threat, but they took a chance to level things up when Michael Williams handled in the area on 71 minutes, allowing Alex Reid to fire the spot kick just out of Breeden's reach. Jack Edwards felt he had a similar shout for a penalty when he appeared to be constructively removed from reaching the ball by a defender, but no decision was forthcoming.

This was a good test for Leamington against a side who have consistently done well in the Northern Premier League over the past few seasons and will be looking to do so again this year.

Rushall: Mimai, Christophorou, Martin, Tolley, Wilkinson, Caines © , Fitzpatrick, Taylor, Delaney, Farquarson, Degville-Cross.

Substitutes: 12 Townsend, 13 Brown (GK), 14 Duggan, 15 Brown, 16 Reid, 17 Williams, 19 McGrath.

Leamington: Tony Breeden, James Mace, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Tank, Michael Williams, Jack Edwards, Richard Taundry (14 Matt Warner, 86), Rob Ogleby, Ben Mackey (12 Ellison Porter, 79), Jake Jones (15 Reece Mitchell, 82).

Sub not used: 16 Martyn Naylor.