Pre Season Friendly
Bodymoor Heath Training Ground
Saturday 22nd August 2020

Brakes slipped to a single goal defeat in their second outing of pre season as they took on a young Aston Villa side.

With Villa adhering to Premier League guidelines on Covid19 at their Bodymoor Heath training facility this gave us more of an insight into what a ‘normal’ matchday might be like in the coming season.

Paul Holleran used the afternoon to take a good luck at all of his available players, using rolling substitutes over the course of the 90 minutes which inevitably led to a somewhat disjointed performance, particularly in the second half as the rolling subs were used, but as ever, pre season is more about gaining fitness and understanding than the results.

Brakes had the first sight of goal with a couple of minutes gone, Josh Martin launching a good diagonal ball up towards the edge of the Villa penalty area from his right back position, where it was nudged into the path of Joe Parker, who had time to advance and drive a low strike wide of goal. Ben Guy blazed Villa’s first effort high over the fence behind Jake Weaver’s goal.

Both teams tested the blustery conditions as the sun shone brightly following a pre match rain shower, but the Villa side spent much of the first ten minutes playing the ball back to keeper Akos Anody as Leamington probed and pushed for an opening.

Holleran’s newest signing Danny Waldron drove a shot wide from the edge of the box, and Parker almost got another sight of goal only for his attempt to be well blocked by Jack Birch inside the box.

Villa had a great chance to open the scoring when Michael Tait was played in on the left of the penalty area, but Weaver made himself big and blocked the shot well, claiming the loose ball.

The same player then had time to chest down before volleying over the bar following a driving run and cross from the right by a team mate.

A great ball out of defence by Birch saw Tyreke Wright run in on goal, but Weaver saved his tame effort at his near post.

The young full time professionals were starting to find their passing range as half time approached, but the game continued to move from end to end. Jack Edwards appeared to have received a blow to the face as he challenged for the ball on the edge of the Villa penalty area shortly before half time, and pointed repeatedly at one of his opponents as he spoke with the Referee while receiving treatment.

The half time break was only five minutes long and Leamington were quickly on the offensive once more, Parker firing in a first time effort that was deflected just past the post, but it was Villa who took the lead on 52 minutes, Wright, setting off on a dangerous run into the box which saw him dance past the challenge of Weaver and find the empty net for well taken goal.

The Brakes defence were left trailing as a ball out of defence saw Charlie Far streak into the Leamington half and advance unchallenged down the right before looping a cross-shot past the far post.

Wright thought he had bagged a second as the ball was won back inside the box and poked across goal, hitting the post before the Villa man stabbed it in from on the goalline, but the offside flag was already raised.

Lance Smith wasn’t far off target with a well placed header over the bar as he rose to meet Steph Morley’s free kick from midway inside the Villa half.

Wright tore off down the right once more as Leamington were caught flat footed in defence, and his dangerous ball across goal was met by a substitute, only for Weaver to take advantage of his hesitancy with another fine save, Jack Lane completing the clearance.

One of our trialist substitutes had a great chance to level the scores as the ball sat up perfectly for him in space on the edge of the box, but unfortunately his first time effort struck the fence high behind the goal.

Our second trialist forced Anody into a save with a low drive to his near post after a mazy run to the right edge of the box.

It was a good run out for the squad in only their second warm up game, and gave the management the chance to have a good look at the squad.

Aston Villa: Akos Anody, Charlie Far, Jake Walker, Brad Burton, Jack Birch, Harrison Sona, Tyreke Wright, Ben Guy, DJ Sturridge, Lewis Brunt, Michael Tait.

Substitutes unknown.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Josh Martin (16 Dan Meredith, 46), Stephan Morley (Josh Martin, 62), Joe Clarke (15 Simeon Maye, 62), Kyle Morrison (Trialist, 46, Kaiman Anderson, 78), Jack Lane (Kyle Morrison, 62), Kieran Dunbar (Joe Parker, 46, Kieran Dunbar, 76), Callum Gittings (18 Trialist, 32, Callum Gittings, 76), Joe Parker (12 Lance Smith, 32), Jack Edwards (17 Junior English, 45), Danny Waldron (14 Kaiman Anderson, 32, Danny Waldron, 73).