Pre Season Friendly
The Victoria Ground
Saturday 5th September 2020

Brakes short journey up the motorway to Bromsgrove saw them enjoy a hard working battle against Brendan Kelly’s side.

The game was a well contested even affair against a Bromsgrove team who had risen another level in the pyramid since our last friendly meeting in 2018, and had been in and around the top six in the Southern League Premier Division before the premature end to the season back in March.

Kieren Westwood, who spent a brief spell with Leamington early in the 2015/16 campaign, was forced off after only a couple of minutes after appearing to fall awkwardly when making a clearance.

The Rouslers threatened first when trialist Aram Soleman narrowly got the better of Junior English for pace down the right but saw his low shot saved by Jake Weaver. At the opposite end Kieran Dunbar and Kaiman Anderson both saw attempted efforts blocked inside the box.

Leamington probably edged possession in the opening quarter of an hour but were constantly reminded of Bromsgrove’s speed on the break, Soleman in particular a well used outlet.

Simeon Maye forced a block from Sporting keeper Dan Platt, while a decent spell of play from the home side saw Nathan Hayward and Will Shorrock both attempt strikes at goal, the latters’ being deflected behind for a corner.

The hosts were beginning to get on top now and won a free kick right on the left edge of the Leamington penalty area. Taken by Soleman, it was easily blocked and cleared by Maye to set Waldron sprinting clear down the right. He checked inside a defender on the right edge of the area before laying the ball off to Dunbar, who struck his shot well but was denied by a flying save from Platt, who pushed it over his crossbar.

Kyle Morrison was looking comfortable in the centre of the Brakes defence again, calmly mopping up any loose balls that came his way. He then did superbly under pressure to clear a back post header from Leon Broadhurst off the line from substitute Josh Quaynor’s right wing corner. Jake Weaver was then a little fortunate as he was able to save a header from another former Leamington man in Gift Mussa, having strayed from his line moments earlier. This turned out to be the last significant action of the first half.

Maye was presented with the first chance of the second half as Dunbar’s low centre found him advancing towards the six yard box, but on the stretch, his jabbed shot trickled harmlessly wide. The next opportunity was set up by the same player, who threaded a smart pass through for Connor Taylor, who darted into the box and took the ball round a defender, but was unable to get enough purchase on his shot to trouble Platt in the Bromsgrove goal.

Dunbar took a touch from an unconventional cross from the left by Waldron, but his half volley again lacked the power to unduly trouble the goalkeeper.

In the final ten minutes a Bromsgrove trialist who had been introduced at half time drove a shot over the bar from a tight angle. A powerful low strike from Will Shorrock then fizzed wide of the target from just outside the box. The trialist then forced Weaver into a save low down at his near post with a smart turn just inside the penalty area.

The final whistle sounded with neither side having been able to break the deadlock however, but the game was certainly a worthwhile workout for both.

Attendance: 320

Bromsgrove Sporting: Dan Platt, Danny Mullarky, Kieren Westwood (17 Josh Quaynor, 2), Nathan Hayward, Harry Higginson, Leon Broadhurst, Trialist, Gift Mussa (Liam Spink, 67), Liam Spink (Trialist C, 46), Charlie Dowd, Will Shorrock

Substitutes: Unknown. 

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Josh Martin, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke © (14 Jack Lane, 67), Junior English, Kyle Morrison, Kieran Dunbar (18 Jordan Murphy, 75), Simeon Maye (15 Dan Meredith, 59), Connor Taylor (16 Joe Parker, 59), Danny Waldron, Kaiman Anderson (17 Pedro Fernandes, 80).

Substitutes: 12 Callum Gittings, GK Josh Allen.

Referee: Mr Andy Ellis

Assistant Referees: Mr Jonathan Price & Mr Josh Boyd.