Pre Season Friendly
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 27th July 2019

Second half substitute Ravi Shamsi marked his arrival at Leamington in spectacular fashion with two goals in little more than 60 seconds to secure a win in the final fixture of pre season.

The attacking midfielder spent the majority of last season on loan at Banbury United, scoring 16 goals, and his introduction helped spark Brakes into life after a quiet first half display as he stepped up to net a penalty won by Kaiman Anderson before finding the top corner with a fantastic strike less than a minute later.

As is often the case with matches against professional clubs’ academy sides this was a good workout for Paul Holleran’s men, the young Baggies moving the ball around very well without always having the cutting edge required in the final third.

The manager was without several first choice players, with Tony Breeden unavailable and Jack Edwards present but nursing an injury picked up in training during the week. Junior English, James Mace, Jamie Hood and Joe Clarke were also unavailable, which saw Connor Taylor and Reece King line up at right back and in central defence respectively, both players doing well in their unfamiliar roles.

Taylor curled an early free kick from the right into the arms of Albion keeper Brad House in a quiet opening period, but it was Eoin Ashton who came closest to opening the scoring when his powerful low strike thudded off the base of the post.

More good approach play from the young visiting side saw Dan Meredith fire over the bar. Brakes were fielding a trialist in goal and he was particularly vocal, constantly barking encouragement to his team mates without ever having a great deal to do.

A low shot across goal for West Brom was countered as Leamington moved briskly up the other end, Josh March playing Cieron Keane through only for his shot to be well blocked by the advancing House.

The visitors took a deserved lead right on half time, and former Brakes loan man Sam Wilding was involved on the right, helping to set up a low pull back for Jamie Soule to slam home from just outside the six yard box.

The second half began in much the same vein with West Brom enjoying large spells of possession, but Leamington’s makeshift defence was standing up well, Taylor doing superbly to block a shot as the visitors threatened to get in on the left inside the penalty area.

Shamsi was introduced just past the hour mark, and it did not take long for him to make an impression as he forced a brilliant one-handed save from House with practically his first touch of the ball. He then attempted an audacious effort from distance which House watched sail just past the post, so intently that he ended up over the pitchside barrier in the Harbury Lane End. Fortunately he was unhurt and able to continue.

He was soon picking the ball out of his net as on 67 minutes however. A superb diagonal ball from March set Anderson free, and he tore into the box before being sent tumbling by House as he attempted to take the ball past the goalkeeper, who was none too pleased at the award of the penalty, insisting he had won the ball. Shamsi stepped up and hit the spot kick with some power, House getting a strong hand to the ball without being able to keep it out.

Incredibly within sixty seconds Leamington were ahead, Shamsi turning well some 20 yards from goal before curling an outrageous left footed strike out of reach of House into the top corner.

Brakes had livened up considerably since levelling things up, and Anderson forced his way into the box before almost finding a team mate.

Kieran Dunbar received warm applause from the home support as he made his long awaited return from injury with around 10 minutes remaining, and he had a great chance to add a third goal when Shamsi’s pace took him clear down the right, from where he found his fellow substitute on the edge of the box. Dunbar was left frustrated as he wasn’t able to shift himself into position quickly enough to get a shot off before being closed down, but this will return in time as he gets more minutes under his belt. It was heartening to see him back out on the pitch.

The visitors saw a shot blocked as they poured forward in search of a late equaliser, and Gift Mussa, who signed for the club along with Shamsi on Saturday morning, made a solid no nonsense challenge to get the ball clear on the edge of the box as West Brom stroked it around trying to create another opening.

Shamsi almost capped an astonishing half hour cameo with a hat trick as he attempted to sweep the ball over the head of House from out on the left, but the goalkeeper denied him as he plucked the ball out of the air.

Paul Holleran revealed after the game that super sub Shamsi had not been previously involved during pre season as he had only begun training a week prior to the game due to having treatment for a groin problem. ‘He’s been having treatment with us and we got him back training last Thursday. He’s done two sessions this week with a view to us thinking can we get him half an hour or so today; so you can see what he can do.’

On the game, the manager said ‘The last week we’ve had a few niggles and a few players unavailable, so we’ve had to put a few spare pegs in round holes really, which I don’t mind because I think it’s important that we have players in a small squad that can do different jobs. It’s been highlighted today, the importance of players that are versatile - Reece King was excellent at centre half, Connor Taylor has done a great job at full back. It’s like a lot of games against these Under 23 sides - they come out of the blocks, their passing and work rate is great and you have to work hard because they move the ball so well, but it does take on a familiar pattern, the game does slow down or open up a bit. It was disappointing to concede on 45 minutes, it was good play from them and disappointing for us, but I understand we were a little bit disjointed at that point.

‘I thought in the second half we were excellent though, we got five yards further up the pitch and asked a few more questions and it was great really. We scored two and created some good chances. It was really pleasing that we were able to get 90 minutes into Kaiman (Anderson). We got Ravi on the pitch and Kieran Dunbar on the pitch so there’s been lots of plusses, it’s been a really good workout for us. We’ve got no injuries and four or five players back joining the group on Tuesday training, ready to prepare for Saturday.’

Pressed on whether there would be any further additions to the squad before the opening day trip to Kidderminster, Holleran said ‘Maybe one, I’m not sure. My concern is whether Ravi Shamsi, Kieran Dunbar and one or two others, whether they’re ready for National League North football yet. It’s something I’ve got to chew over during the weekend.’

Attendance: 165

Leamington: Trialist (Ben Newey, 90), Connor Taylor, Connor Gudger ©, Gift Mussa, Reece King, Jack Lane, Kaiman Anderson, Callum Gittings, Trialist (12 Ravi Shamsi, 62), Josh March, Cieron Keane (14 Kieran Dunbar, 80).

Subs not used: 15 Shay Nicholson, 16 Tom James.

West Bromwich Albion: Brad House, Dan Meredith, Zak Delaney, Tom Solanke, Kevin Healey, Max Melbourne, Eoin Ashton, Sam Wilding ©, Jamie Soule, Jack Jack Chambers, Nick Clayton-Phillips.

Substitutes: 12 Aksum White, 13 Josh Griffiths, 14 Zak Brown, 15 Pete Taylor, 16 Harry Williams, 17 Owen Windsor, 18 Fin Azaz, 19 Lewis Smith, 20 George Harmon.

Referee: Mr Richard Gardner

Assistant Referees: Mr Ken Cox & Mr Joe Larkin