Leamington 1 Worcester City 2
Pre Season Friendly
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Saturday 30th July 2016

Brakes went down to defeat in their final workout of pre season against National League North Worcester City.

With several players missing along with manager Paul Holleran due to holidays and prior commitments Leamington lined up with former Coventry City youngster Ryan Quinn and an unnamed trialist in the starting line up, while Leamington based midfielder Tomek Jaworowski and youth team players Charlie Fitzmaurice and George Robbins were on the bench.

The opening minutes saw the home side looking lively as they tried to gain an early advantage. Rob Thompson-Brown dispossessed Sam Oji (who had featured in pre season friendlies for Leamington a couple of years previously) on the right edge of the penalty area and swung in a cross which City keeper Nick Draper could only push behind him, the ball being put behind for a corner.

Tom James then looped the ball in from the left wing with Draper forced to backpedal, and it looked suspiciously close to being over the line as he hung on to it.

The visitors first shot failed to trouble Tony Breeden but the opener just past the 20 minute mark came as the result of a promising looking Leamington attack breaking down on the edge of the box, nobody seeming to want to deliver the final shot. The visitors moved the ball quickly up the right wing and it was played into the centre, trialist Nathan Olukanmi reacting first to finish it off.

Breeden got down quickly to save a close range effort as the ball was played in again from the right, before Olukanmi scored a peach of a second almost on the half time whistle, taking a touch around 20 yards from goal just right of centre and firing a scorching effort across goal into the top corner.

Leamington’s trialist midfielder took advantage of some loose ball control by the Worcester keeper in the early minutes of the second half, but could only fire across goal from a very tight angle. Brakes had a goal back however when Courtney Baker-Richardson ended a neat move up the right by threading across for Ryan Rowe to slot home his first goal of pre season just before the hour mark.

Ahmed Obeng almost got in on the left but saw his shot blocked by Tom Sharpe, and came very close to an equaliser when he turned his marker inside the box and lashed a rising drive just over the bar.

There was a bit of late unpleasantness when Ross Oulton and Ebby Nelson-Addy were both replaced after Oulton’s late challenge on the Worcester striker sparked a bout of handbags between several players from either side, which wasn’t helped by an earlier challenge which had gone unpunished. The game finished without further incident however, and both clubs can now focus on beginning their league campaign next Saturday.

Leamington: Tony Breeden, Ben George, Tom James, Ryan Quinn (14 Ross Oulton, 76 (17 George Robbins, 88), Rob Elvins, James Mace, Trialist (12 Courtney Baker-Richardson, 52), Jack Edwards, Ryan Rowe (15 Tomek Jaworowski, 64), Rob Thompson-Brown, Ahmed Obeng.

Sub not used: 16 Charlie Fitzmaurice.

Worcester City: Nick Draper, Tyler Weir (12 Graeme Hutchison,46), Kieron Keane, Sam Oji ( Andy Gallinagh, 46), Tom Sharpe, Joe Fitzpatrick (14 Danny Jackman), Nathan Olukanmi, Junior English, Colby Bishop (16 Lee Hughes), Ebby Nelson-Addy (Joe Bates, 88), Checkaine Steele (Elijah Chilekwa).

Substitutes: 15 Kyle Perry, 17 Steve Craig, Ethan Ross.

Attendance: 244

Referee: Ms Sarah Garratt

Assistant Referees: Mr Scott Chalkley & Mr Mike Bingham