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Saturday 24th July 2021

Leamington marked the opening of The Mick Brady Stand with a determined, disciplined display against a strong Forest Green Rovers side.

Mick became Chairman of the club during the dark days of the late 1980’s, and presided over the beginning of our remarkable rise back up the Non League Pyramid when we returned to the playing fields back in 2000. His leadership, drive and determination provided the springboard for a small, determined group of Brakes fans to keep the club alive.

A large contingent of the Brady family and friends were present to witness what is a fitting tribute to the legacy Mick played a huge part in providing us with. As Chairman Jim Scott said himself - without Mick there would likely be no club today.

Former Brakes striker Josh March was unfortunately missing from the visitors squad , but as part of the agreement made for March’s transfer back in January 2020, the Gloucestershire club bought a strong first team squad to Harbury Lane.

The Sky Bet League Two side opened brightly, but were restricted by the Brakes defence in the opening ten minutes, Josh Martin doing superbly to block Jack Aitchison as he threatened to break clear on goal down the centre.

Leamington were having to defend in depth, but their trialist striker did get in a shot to the near post from out on the right which was held by Forest Green keeper Lewis Thomas.

As the first half wore on Brakes began to get to grips with the game and grew in confidence, their forays into the Rovers’ half becoming more frequent; Kieran Cook driving in a well struck low effort that was saved by Thomas. The visitors continued to look the more likely to open the scoring however, forcing several corners, one conceded by a flying save from Jake Weaver as Jordan Moore-Taylor flung himself into a powerful header inside the Leamington penalty area.

Jake Young came closer than anyone to breaking the deadlock when his vicious free kick from out on the left wing clipped the top of the crossbar, but the half time whistle arrived with both goals still unbreached.

As the second half kicked off Rovers introduced former Brakes loanee Taylor Allen and Jamile Matt, who may or may not remember his last visit to Harbury Lane as part of a Sutton Coldfield Town side that won 3-0 back in February 2009.

Opi Edwards sent a first time drive whistling past the far post after a neat one touch move, while Dan Turner had a glimmer of a chance when keeper Thomas failed to clear the ball from almost on the touchline, a team mate bailing him out as Turner attempted to turn the ball back towards goal.

A host of changes for the visitors coincided with a rare corner for Leamington which substitute keeper Luke McGhee claimed well, but the visitors wasted a chance to go ahead when the ball flashed across the face of goal with nobody in a blue shirt anticipating it enough to attempt a connection.

Young’s swerving effort from distance was pawed away by Weaver, who was almost immediately called upon again to hold a header directed straight at him by Matt.

Turner had the ball in the with a little under 20 minutes to go, but Referee Elliot Swallow had already blown his whistle for an earlier infringement.

Sadou Diallo sent a shot high over the Leamington bar in the closing stages after some sustained pressure from the visitors, while substitute Kane Wilson came an awful lot closer with a stinging strike that Weaver punched away, and while the closing minutes belonged almost exclusively to Forest Green, Leamington hung on doggedly, and marked this poignant day for the club with a well earned draw.

Attendance: TBA

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke (14 Callum Gittings, 46), Kyle Morrison © (19 Dan Waldron, 75), Josh Martin (17 James Mace, 63), Dan Turner (18 Josh Beeson, 77), Simeon Maye, Trialist A, Joe Parker (15 Kaiman Anderson, 63), Kieran Cook (12 Junior English, 67).

Subs not used: 16 Lance Smith, GK Josh Allen.

Forest Green Rovers: 24 Lewis Thomas (1 Luke McGhee, 63), 3 Dom Bernard, 15 Jordan Moore-Taylor (6 Bailey Cargill, 63), 22 Udoka Godwin Malife (7 Ben Stevenson, 63), 17 Opi Edwards (21 Regan Hendry, 63), 23 Sadou Diallo, 11 Nicky Cadden (12 Taylor Allen, 46), 10 Jack Aitchison (14 Jamille Matt, 46), 8 Ebou Adams (4 Daniel Sweeney, 63), 18 Jake Young, 16 Jack Evans (2 Kane Wilson, 63).

Referee: Mr Eliott Swallow

Assistant Referees: Mr Joe Larkin & Mr Ben Wilkinson