Birmingham Senior Cup Quarter Final
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Tuesday 18th January 2022

A late cameo appearance from skipper Jack Edwards ensured that Brakes would celebrate the occasion of James Mace breaking the clubs’ modern day appearance record with their first victory in ten games, and progress into the Semi Final of the Birmingham Senior Cup.

In what was something of a Jekyll and Hyde performance from both sides Tamworth almost turned the game on its head in the second half, and Leamington were nervously awaiting the final whistle when some quick thinking from Edwards earned them an injury time penalty which was emphatically despatched by fellow substitute Dan Turner to put a little gloss on the scoreline.

In an era when longevity in football is a rare commodity Leamington are something of an anomaly having had only two managers in 21 years, while during that time a string of players have made several hundred appearances between them in the Gold and Black. Mace now stands at the top of that list after surpassing the record of 406 games set by the original modern day Brakes legend Josh Blake back in 2009/10.

It really is an achievement that deserves to be recognised at any level of football. To spend 11 years at one club is unheard of in the modern game, and it speaks volumes of the culture created at the club under Paul Holleran’s stewardship that so many players have stayed for the length of time they have, and have contributed and shared in the clubs’ achievements.

Another player hitting the milestone of his 200th appearance for the club was Callum Gittings, who along with Mace, Joe Parker and Keiran Cook was one of four changes made by the manager as he looked to get game time into members of his squad returning from injury.

The visitors included former Brakes favourite Ahmed Obeng in their starting eleven after he recently returned to The Lamb from Stratford Town, while former loanee Dexter Walters was on their substitutes bench.

This Birmingham Senior Cup Quarter Final gave both sides a chance to take a break from indifferent league form, and Brakes certainly started the better of the two sides. A good lay off from Kelsey Mooney set up Cook for a volley which produced the first save of the evening from young Tamworth keeper Keelan Fellows, who pushed the ball over his crossbar.

Dylan Barkers came close with a looping header that was cleared off the line by Lambs captain Ryan Beswick, and as Sam Wilding sent the ball back towards goal he was on hand to save his side once more.

Joe Parker then saw a shot deflected behind before sending a free kick from the right into the centre for Mooney to head over the bar.

Back in his more familiar right back role, Dan Meredith set off on one of his trademark mazy runs towards goal, finishing with a shot that lost its pace as it was deflected through to Fellows in the Tamworth goal. Mooney then cursed his luck as he directed another header wide from a great position as a deep cross was flighted into the penalty area again from the right.

The opening goal of the evening arrived on 17 minutes however, and it was a fine maiden strike for the club from Sunderland loanee Wilding, who thundered the ball into the top left hand corner with a fine first time strike from the edge of the box that left Fellows clutching at thin air.

Buoyed by this, Steph Morley decided to try his luck against one of his former clubs from a free kick some 35 yards out, a deflection helping the ball towards goal only for Fellows to pull off another fine save and tip it behind for a corner.

The game had almost reached the half hour mark before the visitors registered a shot of any kind, which deflected slowly through to Jake Weaver some yards from his goal.

Kyle Morrison came close with a glancing header from another dead ball into the Tamworth penalty area, Fellows saving again as he touched the ball round the post. The young stopper’s decision making almost cost his team in the next attack as he failed to claim the ball having advanced almost to the edge of his penalty area. Fortunately for him his defence was on hand to block Wilding’s shot.

Barkers then squared for Cook to strike from the edge of the box. While the shot lacked power the goalkeeper still required two attempts to claim the ball.

With five minutes remaining of the first half Brakes incredibly found themselves pegged back, thanks in part to the award of a free kick to the visitors that even left their manager Gary Smith bemused. Referee Scott Chalkley deemed that Barkers was the offender despite Lambs debutant James Hurst almost hitching a ride on his back as he attempted to win the ball. Tamworth took full advantage however as the free kick was played up by Hurst to Cameron Cockerill Mollett, who found Kidderminster Harriers loan man Nyal Bell, who turned and planted a low first time drive beyond the dive of Weaver into the bottom corner.

It was a real blow given the way the first half had panned out, but mercifully Leamington quickly found themselves back in front. Morley was presented with another free kick a similar distance out to his previous one, and as he sent an accurate strike towards goal the flight of the ball completely deceived the unfortunate Fellows as he dived in a futile attempt to claim as it bounced up and over him into the net.

Brakes skipper Morrison had his head in his hands early in the second half as he misdirected his header some six yards out from a left wing free kick into the box.

There was a distinct shift in the pattern of play after the interval however as the visitors really came out of their shell and began to pose plenty of problems for the Brakes backline. A free kick struck the defensive wall before a well struck half volley from Beswick forced Weaver into his first save of the evening, pushing the ball behind.

The game became a little scrappy in the closing stages with numerous substitutions, neither side really being able to take control of possession but Brakes were seemingly unable to take the pressure off themselves by keeping hold of the ball. Tamworth were left to rue a glorious late chance when a half clearance was seized upon, the resulting shot going well wide, and it would take the intervention of Edwards from the bench to help settle the contest, as he tricked his way into the box on the right, drawing a handball from a retreating Tamworth defender to give Turner the chance to make the game safe.

Speaking afterwards Paul Holleran was keen to take the positives from the evening. ‘It was a good open game - sort of what you’d hope for really,’ he said. ‘It was played in a good spirit; we were better in the first half, they were better in the second half. Both sides have managed to get minutes into players, we’ve managed to get some players back on the pitch. It was great to see Jack (Edwards) have fifteen minutes at the end. It was a really good worthwhile exercise, and with the run we’ve been on recently it's good to get the win and get a bit of confidence.

‘It got difficult in the second half with the conditions; the pitch was difficult for both teams, but it’s something we can put on the back burner now, concentrate on the league and have a semi final to look forward to in March. It was a good night’s work for us.

‘Sam Wilding’s goal was a great strike. To be fair the first twenty minutes we really came out of the blocks quickly, and a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping probably kept it at 1-0, though they recovered well and were good in the second half, Tamworth.

On record appearance holder James Mace, he said: ‘Mace is just Mace really. He just comes in and does what he’s meant to do. No nonsense, he’s very competitive; does what you want a defender to do on the half way line. I’m delighted for James. There’s a few more games in him! We’ve had a lot of players who’ve played 2, 3, 4 hundred games here in my time, and there’s a reason for that. They’re good people. I think at this level getting some good disciplined structured people around you with a bit of loyalty - they get you a long way, and I think the fans appreciate it too.’

Attendance: 202

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley (14 Devon Kelly-Evans, 54), Sam Wilding, Kyle Morrison ©, James Mace, Joe Parker (16 Jack Edwards, 79), Callum Gittings, Kelsey Mooney, Dylan Barkers (15 Junior English, 68), Kieran Cook (12 Dan Turner, 79).

Subs not used: 17 Joe Clarke.

Tamworth: Keelan Fellows, Jack Thomas, Henri Wilder, Ryan Beswick © (15 Charlie Shaw), Orrin Pendley, James Hurst, Ahmed Obeng (17 Nicholas Kinina), Kai Lissamore, Nyal Bell (16 Dexter Walters), Dan Creaney, Callum Cockerill-Mollett (14 Taylor Morrison).

Subs not used: 12 Jordan Clement.

Referee: Mr Scott Chalkley

Assistant Referees: Mr Lewis Mountain & Mr Aaron Forde

Brakes Man of the Match: Sam Wilding.