New Windmill Ground
Wednesday 22nd July 2015

Brakes unfortunately came out on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline against Birmingham City's Development Squad at the New Windmill Ground, but put in another hard working performance against the Blues' young professionals.

With Rob Ogleby and Jake Jones missing from Saturday's starting line up Ross Oulton returned and fellow summer recruit Ben George stepped in for his first appearance of pre season.

The game did not get off to the best of starts for Leamington as they found themselves behind with only a couple of minutes on the clock, defensive hesitancy allowing the pacy Viv Solomon-Otabor to nip in and slot past Tony Breeden.

The same player almost broke clear on goal again only for Joe Magunda and James Mace to smuggle the ball back to Breeden as Brakes struggled to impose themselves early on, but in a fragmented first half littered with free kicks they started to get to grips with the forward movement of their opponents and began to put some promising build up play of their own without really troubling Birmingham keeper Jake Weaver.

Denny Johnstone thought he had doubled his side's advantage when he latched on to the ball after Breeden had parried a long range drive from Charlie Cooper, only to be flagged offside. Jack Edwards sent a powerful effort just over from distance and Ben Mackey, who enjoyed a tremendous battle with the Blues centre half Noe Baba all evening, sent a similar effort into the arms of Weaver.

Trialist Michael Williams impressed many of the watching New Windmill Ground crowd, and was in the right place to block an early drive from Solomon-Otabor but it was Leamington who generally displayed more of a goal threat in the second period. Connal Trueman was one of seven different goalkeepers to appear for Brakes last season in what turned out to be a real problem position, and he was beaten by a thundering drive from Richard Taundry, the ball crashing back off the crossbar. Edwards drove in another effort which was saved by the young keeper, who pulled off a fine save when Mackey escaped the attentions of two defenders inside the box with a smart piece of control before slamming in a fierce drive that Trueman leapt to his right to claw behind for a corner.

Ben George fired over the bar when well placed from Edwards' pass on the edge of the box, while Solomon-Otabor will have been kicking himself not to have added to his goal tally when he was presented with what looked an easy chance to head home at the far post which in the event was well claimed by Tony Breeden.

Mackey was adamant he had a decent shout for a penalty when he appeared to be pulled down in the box by Brad Lewis but Brakes were level soon afterwards, when substitute Danny Williams fed Edwards on the left. The hard working midfielder has made an impressive start to pre season with some all action displays and was rewarded for another one with his second goal in as many games when he drove the ball low across Trueman into the far corner with a little over 20 minutes remaining.

Noe Baba was proving to be a constant thorn in the side of Ben Mackey as the striker did his utmost to mark his return to the NWG in a Leamington shirt with a goal, doing well to stay with the striker as he charged into the box and then to block his attempted shot.

Birmingham substitute Alfie Crooks went close with a free kick that found the roof of the net and a first time drive that looped just over the bar, but it was fellow sub Wes McDonald who won the game with 7 minutes remaining, driving low into the corner from the edge of the box.

It was a disappointing end to an enterprising second half for Brakes, Michael Williams coming closest to a late leveller with a powerful dart into the box from the right and a deflected shot into the side netting, but scorelines mean little in these games and Liam O'Neill, in charge for the evening in the absence of Paul Holleran, was heartened by what he described as 'some really pleasing individual performances from the lads against a technically gifted Birmingham City side.'

Leamington: Tony Breeden, Michael Williams, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda © , Jamie Tank, James Mace, Jack Edwards, Ross Oulton (14 Danny Williams, 57), Ben Mackey, Ben George (12 Ellison Porter, 70), Richard Taundry.

Subs not used: 15 Matt Warner, 16 James Husband, 17 Martyn Naylor, GK Lewis Fenney, GK Matt Hill.

Birmingham City: Jake Weaver, Perry Cotton, Brad Lewis, Noe Baba, Wes Harding © , Alex Penney, George O'Neill, Charlie Cooper, Denny Johnstone, Koby Arthur, Viv Solomon-Otabor.

Substitutes: 12 Kyle McFarlane, 14 Wes McDonald, 15 Liam Truslove, 16 Alfie Crooks, 17 Lee Ndlovu, GK Connal Trueman.

Referee: Mr Ravel Cheosiaua

Assistant Referees: Mr Fabio Greenwood & Mr Ryan Williams

Attendance: ???