Emirates FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Saturday 18th September 2021

Brakes withstood the determined challenge of Stone Old Alleynians to book their place in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup after two contrasting halves of football at Your Co-op Community Stadium.

Paul Holleran was forced into one change from the eleven that started against Boston United. With Jack Lane unavailable Stephan Morley slotted back into defence after missing the previous two games, Josh Martin moving across into central defence.

The visitors arrived in Warwickshire having only lost one game, the previous weekend against Heather St Johns in the FA Vase, and full of confidence having achieved their best ever run in the FA Cup.

However, they were quickly reminded that their task was going to be that much harder within the opening minute. Despite winning a free kick on the left and delivering a dangerous ball into the box that Jake Weaver held on to under little pressure, Leamington moved swiftly upfield and opened the scoring with their first attack of the afternoon. It was captain Jack Edwards who played in Dan Turner, a former pupil of the Old Alleynians school, and the former Port Vale man was calmness personified as he coolly slid a low strike beyond the dive of goalkeeper Adam Alcock.

There was a brief flashpoint and a lengthy stoppage when a high foot from Edwards caught Luke Askey in the face with a nasty sounding crack. In Edwards’ defence Askey came in on his blind side, and both players only had eyes for winning the ball, but fortunately it sounded worse than it was, and the Stone player manager was quickly back involved.

The early goal had not dented the confidence of the visitors, as Jack Tomlinson demonstrated when he latched onto a pass and cut inside before forcing a diving parry from Weaver with a powerful low drive.

Turner looked to have presented a glorious chance for Kelsey Mooney to make it two when he danced into the box on the left, but his team mate seemed to get his connection wrong and the ball dropped harmlessly wide.

Joe Parker latched onto Mooney’s knock down with a dipping volley which didn’t quite drop in time to trouble Alcock, but the visitors were certainly not out of the contest by any means, and after forcing a string of corners they were level on 28 minutes, Jack Tomlinson thumping a header past Weaver, who looked to be off his line a little.

Stone almost grabbed the lead when a neat move down the right saw Tomlinson’s low strike force Weaver into a fine save down at his near post; the Leamington keeper having to react quickly as Sam Wilson tried to turn the loose ball in at the far post.

Stone used their long throw weapon to their advantage well, another shot flashing wide from a knock down inside the Leamington box.

Half time arrived with the score level and the visitors more than holding their own - it could easily have gone either way at that stage, but the second half turned out to be a little more straightforward.

Aside from a header flashing across a crowded Leamington penalty box from a long throw there were no further efforts on goal from the Old Alleynians. At no point did they throw in the towel however, and Brakes were made to work hard for their eventual success.

Turner went close to doubling his and Leamington’s tally for the afternoon when he turned inside two defenders on the left edge of the box before driving in low towards the near post, Alcock somehow shovelling the ball behind.

Two minutes before the hour mark Joe Parker’s cross was deflected into the path of Mooney a yard out from goal. The striker simply let the ball hit him, and Brakes were back in front. A scrappy goal, maybe, but a priceless one nonetheless.

Further chances came for Parker, who, found by Edwards on the edge of the box, cut inside and hit a well struck effort that Alcock did well to hold on to. Joe Clarke then saw a sweetly struck half volley claimed by the Stone goalkeeper.

The game was up for the visitors with five minutes remaining. Dan Meredith’s run into the box took him between two defenders, and though the contact looked minimal it was enough to check his stride, and Referee Luke Scott awarded a penalty to the disbelief of the Stone players, who protested long and hard about the decision. The wait did not deter Turner however, who rammed his third goal of the season into the roof of the net to seal the win for Leamington.

Credit must go to Stone, who as Paul Holleran said after the game, had a system that they stuck to, were robust and well organised, and were more than a match for their higher ranked hosts in the first half. Good luck to them for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, Leamington fans can look forward to a Monday with an FA Cup draw, something which they haven’t been able to do too often over the last few years.

Attendance: 352

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke, Kyle Morrison, Josh Martin, Joe Parker (15 Kaiman Anderson, 77), Simeon Maye, Kelsey Mooney, Jack Edwards © (17 Callum Gittings, 85), Dan Turner (14 Kieran Cook, 90).

Subs not used: 12 Devon Kelly-Evans, 13 Josh Allen (GK), 16 Junior English.

Stone Old Alleynians: Adam Alcock, Joe Baxter, Oliver Davies, Luke Askey, David Ablewhite, Sam Bradbury (14 Lucas Baker, 77), Sam Wilson, Sam Bowater, Matthew Thomas ©, Jack Tomlinson, Ryan Goodwin.

Subs not used: 12 Cameron Sinclair, 15 Jayden Shepherd, GK Andrew Walklate.

Referee: Mr Luke Scott

Assistant Referees: Mr James Cox & Mr Ashley Devonport

Brakes Man of the Match: Dan Turner.