Pre Season Friendly
Sixways Stadium
Wednesday 9th September 2020

Brakes came away from their maiden trip to the Sixways home of Worcester Raiders with what looked on paper like a comfortable margin of victory, but they were made to work hard for it by their West Midlands Regional League hosts, who will be aiming for promotion this season as they settle into their imposing new home as tenants of Rugby Union side Worcester Warriors.

There is currently a four division gap between the two sides, but although it showed at times over the course of the 90 minutes our hosts showed enough to suggest that they will be a force in their league in the coming campaign. We wish them well.

The opening minutes saw the two sides sizing each other up, the offside flag being raised on at least four occasions before Leamington settled first, and opened the scoring with their first chance of the evening. Steph Morley had time to float an inviting cross to the far post from the left which was met by the head of the rising Connor Taylor, who powered the ball past Matt Gwynne into the net.

The goal settled Leamington down and they began to spray the ball around with confidence on the Sixways surface, Danny Waldron only marginally offside as he latched on to a through ball inside the box. Morley then found the seats behind the goal as he miscued a first time effort from 25 yards.

A Morley free kick cannoned against the Raiders’ defensive wall before a scramble in the Leamington box momentarily looked like it might result in an equaliser. Play quickly switched to the other end and Waldron was denied a shooting chance inside the box by a fine challenge from Martin Newman.

The Raiders were certainly not afraid to drive at their higher ranked visitors when in possession, which they had plenty of in the opening half hour, using the wings well, Jake Weaver and his defenders needing to be on their toes to preserve their slender advantage.

Taylor powered a header wide from another Morley centre, while Dan Meredith hit the touchline to pull the ball back for Morley, who perhaps should have put his laces through the ball first time rather than taking a touch. Jack Lane then bent in a low effort which was always travelling away from goal.

Kyonn Evans was always involved in Worcester’s forward movements, and won the second corner of the evening as his shot was deflected behind. This came to nothing, but moments later a rasping first time drive from distance by Logan Stoddart warmed the palms of Weaver, who watched it all the way.

Five minutes before half time Leamington doubled their lead, the goal a near carbon copy of their first. Once again Morley was the provider with a pinpoint centre from the left, and this time Waldron was the beneficiary as he nodded a downward header past Gwynne and inside the far post.

A minute into the second half he was at it again, rising to meet a free kick from Morley with a twisting header past Gwynne for Leamington’s third.

A soft free kick against the summer signing from Rushall prevented him from a hat trick goal as he rose above a defender to nod in a right wing cross from Parker.

Stoddart tried his luck from long range once more for the home side but this time his aim was slightly off, the ball flying over the bar. Evans fired in another effort that went the same way, while another shot sailed into the stand behind the goal. Ash Parsons got his effort on target but it was saved by Weaver.

A fine crossfield pass from Josh Martin found Morley in space on the left and his cross was glanced just wide by substitute Kaiman Anderson, while a smart piece of footwork from captain for the night Joe Clarke saw him rob the ball from a Raiders man before sliding a super ball through for Anderson to dart between two defenders inside the box before dragging a shot just wide of the far post.

The hosts got the goal their overall performance certainly merited with seven minutes remaining, James Baldwin displaying some fine footwork before threading the ball into the six yard box for Rich Smith to tap home.

Evans then capitalised on some loose defending to crash in a shot that was deflected behind for a corner as Worcester’s spirits rose following the goal.

Martin’s low right wing cross was nudged on by Taylor for Anderson, who scooped the ball over the bar under pressure, but Brakes would have the final word when Anderson found fellow substitute Jordan Murphy in space just outside the box, his low firm first time strike nestling in the bottom corner as it fizzed under the dive of Gwynne.

Attendance: 242

Worcester Raiders: Matt Gwynne, Logan Stoddart, Martin Newman, Ellis Stubbins (Kyle Belmonte, 59), Jordan Stoddart, Dan Flowers, James Baldwin, Sam Lester (Luke Molloy, 59), Kyonn Evans, Rich Smith, Isaac Cooper.

Subs not used: Alex Marsh, Ash Parsons, Sam Carey, Sam Parmenter.

Leamington: Jake Weaver (Josh Allen 88), Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley, Josh Martin, Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Callum Gittings (16 Junior English, 60), Joe Clarke ©, Connor Taylor, Danny Waldron (12 Kaiman Anderson, 60), Joe Parker (15 Jordan Murphy, 76).

Subs not used: 14 Simeon Maye, 17 Kieran Dunbar.