Report
New Windmill Ground
Wednesday 29th July 2015
Brakes gave another good account of themselves in this scoreless contest with a Coventry City XI made up mainly of Under 21's and a handful with first team experience. With the Leamington starting line up containing former Sky Blues youngsters in Connor Gudger and Rob Ogleby, the home side made a good start to the game and Lee Moore could have fired them in front early on after latching after Jack Edwards and then Ogleby had helped the ball into his path inside the penalty area but his first time volley was expertly plucked out of the air by the diving Reice Charles-Cook, who was one of the young visiting side's standout players on the night as he confidently dealt with pretty much everything that was thrown at him.
Moore registered Brakes' next effort on goal, collecting a low driven cross into the centre from Jake Jones with some neat control before turning sharply to shoot, only for the ball to deflect harmlessly through to Charles-Cook.
Richard Taundry drove a shot well over before Paul Holleran was forced into an unscheduled change on the half hour. The sight of Jamie Tank being carried off the pitch by two of his team mates after falling awkwardly was a little concerning with just over a week until the opening game of the season. The centre back left the pitch on crutches with his ankle strapped up at half time, with Holleran joking that 'he'll be coming back on in the second half', which hopefully indicates that the injury is not too serious.
This provided Michael Williams with another opportunity to show what he could do, and the big defender will have no doubt impressed those of a Leamington persuasion in the crowd who had been vocal in their praise of the trialist in his previous outings. He certainly proved to be a threat going forward again, and after Edwards had headed wide from Taundry's free kick he set off on a driving run past two City defenders before firing a low drive towards goal that was deflected behind for a corner. Ogleby registered the final shot of the half, which did not trouble the Coventry goal but obliterated an unguarded plastic pint pot on the Harbury Lane End terracing, showering those standing nearby with its contents much to the amusement of those out of range!
There had been precious little goal threat from the visitors in the first half but the game began to open up a little more in the second 45 minutes, with chances at both ends. Speedy right back Dion Kelly-Evans cut in from the right to fire an early effort wide of the target, before Ogleby saw a header deflected behind at the other end, and Moore was just unable to put the finishing touch to a spot of head tennis inside the Coventry penalty area. The Leamington number 10 was then afforded plenty of space to drive through the middle but fired his shot straight into the arms of Reice Charles-Cook.
Coventry's trialist number 9 looked odds on to open the scoring when he was presented with a close range chance to side foot home, only to be denied by a timely challenge . Taundry then fired a free kick just over the bar for Brakes, while Jones was left hammering the turf in frustration after Charles-Cook kept out what was probably the best chance of the evening, a mazy run into the box and low shot that was turned round the post after Ogleby had worked the ball into the box.
The Sky Blues' number 9 was presented with another opportunity following a good run by Devon Kelly-Evans, but was thwarted by a good save from Tony Breeden. Charles-Cook was by far the busier keeper in this game though, and he denied Williams as he drove the ball low towards goal from a quickly taken free kick move.
Ivor Lawton was denied by Breeden following good work from Dion Kelly-Evans cutting in from the right wing again, and the Brakes keeper saved again from the same player's angled drive shortly afterwards.
Jake Jones sent a final Leamington shot at goal low and just wide, but despite firing blanks for the second consecutive pre season game there was plenty of effort and endeavour from those in the new gold and black kit to suggest that with the amount of chances being created, the goals will surely follow.
Attendance: 508
Leamington: Tony Breeden, Ben George (15 Danny Williams, 80), Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda © , Jamie Tank (12 Michael Williams, 30), James Mace, Jack Edwards, Richard Taundry, Rob Ogleby, Lee Moore (14 James Husband, 71), Jake Jones.
Subs not used: 16 Ellison Porter, 17 Reece Mitchell, 18 Matt Warner, 19 Lewis Fenney.
Coventry City: Reice Charles-Cook, Dion Kelly-Evans, Ryan Haynes, Jack Finch, Aaron Phillips, Cian Harries, Ben Stevenson, Ivor Lawton © (12 Jordan Shipley, 87), Muhamedou, Bradley Plant, Devon Kelly-Evans (16 Trialist, 90)
Subs not used: 13 Corey Addai, 14 Darragh Leahy, 15 Callum Maycock.
Referee: Mr Guy Stretton
Assistant Referees: Mr Rich Cutts & Mr Kevin Andrews
