Birmingham Senior Cup 2nd Round
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Wednesday 17th November 2021

Brakes overcame a gutsy young West Bromwich Albion side to progress in the Birmingham Senior Cup.

Paul Holleran used the occasion to utilise his squad, handing Junior English a first start of the season along with the captain’s armband in the absence of Jack Edwards, who was rested. Academy prospect Jack Sang, recently signed on first team forms, was on the substitutes bench.

Brakes barely touched the ball in the opening few minutes, yet when they were presented with the opportunity they crafted the opening opportunity of the evening; Devon Kelly-Evans sending in an inviting left wing centre that was met by a powerful header from Kaiman Anderson at the far post which flew wide. Anderson then crashed a volley high and wide from a free kick played up to the Albion penalty area from the left by Steph Morley.

A clearance from Jake Weaver was missed by an Albion man just inside the West Brom half, setting Kelsey Mooney away towards goal. As he checked to turn inside he was impeded, and when Kelly-Evans swung the free kick in to the far post it was met by a firm first time volley from Jack Lane to put Leamington in front; his third goal of the season.

Kelly-Evans sent a well struck effort on the turn just over the crossbar as the ball bounced favourably for him inside the penalty area.

The young visiting side had struggled to make any inroads on Weaver’s goal, but went close on 20 minutes when a Leamington attack broke down and they were left chasing back as Owen Windsor tore downfield and checked inside before curling a well struck effort that dropped inches past the far post.

Brakes continued to enjoy plenty of possession and used it well at times with some measured build up play, but were also guilty of wasting their final ball at times.

Kelsey Mooney, a late inclusion in the starting eleven, had a couple of half chances towards half time,while Morley saw a shot blocked in a late raid and Anderson crashed a low strike just past the post but as Brakes appeared relatively comfortable with the two sides almost ready to return to the dressing rooms they conceded an equaliser as the visitors scored with their first shot on target. Leamington were caught out by a long ball which was headed down for the impressive Windsor to level things up.

As they had in the first half, the young Baggies started swiftly, and Reyes Cleary probably should have driven them in front with a low strike from the edge of the box, but dragged his effort a whisker wide.

Dan Meredith, a product of the West Brom Academy system himself, powered down the right and fed Anderson, whose low strike to the near post was collected at the second attempt by keeper Mac Chisholm.

It was becoming something of an end to end contest now, with Weaver having to make a smart stop as Cleary managed to get just the wrong side of English inside the box and tried to flick a shot over the Leamington keeper.

Leamington regained the upper hand in the tie just past the hour mark. A free kick played in from the left touchline by Morley was met by the head of Callum Gittings a few yards out and the experienced midfield man snaffled up his first goal of the season.

As the game restarted Paul Holleran handed Sang his debut from the bench and the youngster almost made an immediate impression. Chisholm, just outside his area, lost possession and Sang adjusted his feet and saw his attempted shot spin off the back of a defender for a corner.

Mooney almost added a third goal when he latched on to a flick inside the box to strike the inside of the post; the ball rolling along the line before being cleared by a defender.

Both sides traded half chances before Leamington added a third goal on 73 minutes. Cook forced a save from Chisholm as he darted into the box and drove low towards goal, but Joe Parker was on to the loose ball quickly to tap into the empty net.

Lane came within inches of a second goal of the evening when he met Parker’s right wing corner with a thunderous header that was cleared off the line, but Brakes had done enough to ease through to the next round.

Attendance: 202

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley, Alex Prosser, Junior English © (15 Kyle Morrison, 74), Jack Lane, Kaiman Anderson (12 Jack Sang, 63), Callum Gittings, Joe Parker, Devon Kelly-Evans (14 Kieran Cook, 46), Kelsey Mooney.

Subs not used: 16, Dan Turner, 17 Joe Clarke.

West Bromwich Albion: Mac Chisholm, Aurio Teixeira (16 Dan Ngoma, 90), Josh Shaw, Reece Hall (14 Mark Chidi, 32), Kevin Joshua, Zac Ashworth, Fenton Heard, Matty Richards, Reyes Cleary, James Andrews, Owen Windsor.

Subs not used: 12 Layton Lowe, 13 Ronnie Hollingshead, 15 Sam Oluwatobi.

Referee: Mr Ryan Jennings

Assistant Referees: Mr James Strumidlo & Mr Dean Hellyar

Brakes Man of the Match: Callum Gittings.