Vanarama National League North
Aggborough Stadium
Tuesday 1st February 2022

Brakes fell to defeat at Kidderminster Harriers in a fixture rearranged due to the home side’s FA Cup commitments, and Russell Penn’s side warmed up for their clash with Premier League West Ham United on Saturday with what turned out to be a comfortable win which kept them in touch with the top of the National League North table.

Paul Holleran restored Jack Edwards and Dylan Barkers to his starting line up in place of Junior English and Sam Wilding as Brakes looked to build on their long overdue win in their previous game against Blyth Spartans.

Brakes came close early on when the ball sat up nicely on the left for Devon Kelly-Evans to crack a first time volley towards goal which was superbly blocked by Alex Penny.

Kidderminster threatened on the break from a Leamington corner, Jaiden White playing Omari Sterling in on goal, but he dragged his effort wide of the left hand upright. The same player then snatched at a first time strike just outside the box with the same outcome.

Leamington were standing up well to the task at hand and for the most part were preventing their hosts from executing their slick passing game that has carved many sides apart already this season. Dan Meredith got a good cross into the penalty area from the right which Joe Parker headed straight at Luke Simpson in the Harriers goal.

Despite this all the hard work was undone six minutes before half time by a controversial opening goal. In the eyes of all the Brakes players and the travelling support, who had the perfect view from behind the goal, Sterling made the most of a challenge on him to launch himself to the turf right on the edge of the penalty area. Unfortunately the man in charge Kristian Silcock decided that he had been impeded, and despite the long and vociferous protests, awarded a free kick which Sterling inevitably stepped up and bent superbly into the top corner.

It was a bitter pill to swallow as there hadn’t been a great deal between the two sides until that point, although Kidderminster had began to put together some neat passing moves towards the Leamington goal, and they did so again before half time, almost doubling their lead when White got on the end of a dangerous right wing centre only to be denied by a fine save from Weaver. The danger was not over however as the ball spun into the air and down towards the goal line where it was hooked away by Parker, with White screaming that it had crossed the line. Fortunately on this occasion the Referee disagreed.

Brakes began the second half on the front foot but Weaver was called into action again as Harriers broke for the first time, denying White again from close range with a superb save. Unfortunately from the resulting corner he found himself stranded as Nathan Cameron rose to head inside the far post to double Kiddy’s lead.

It was the worst possible start to the second half for Leamington, and from then on they were really up against it as the home side, with their supporters now in full voice, began to spray the ball around confidently.

Weaver was called upon once more to make another good save, this time from Amari Morgan-Smith’s low drive. Kelly-Evans volleyed well over from a free kick played into the box, but Brakes missed their one real chance of the half to get back into the game when Dan Turner pounced upon a risky pass back across the penalty area by a Kidderminster defender and quickly stabbed a shot towards goal, but while the ball beat Simpson it rolled past the far post.

Kelly-Evans sent another shot over the bar before the home side added gloss to the final score with a third in the final minute of the 90. Leamington were sloppy in possession facing their own goal and were made to pay as Ashley Hemmings found Sterling, who crossed to the far post where White was lurking and he stooped to head home.

Jack Lane headed an injury time free kick onto the roof of the net but there was to be no consolation goal for Brakes, who must now pick themselves up for Saturday’s trip to Kettering.

Attendance: 1,688 (55 Brakes)

Kidderminster Harriers: 1 Luke Simpson, 2 Alex Penny, 3 Caleb Richards, 4 Nathan Cameron (5 Keith Lowe, 88), 6 Lewis Montrose, 7 Sam Austin ©, 9 Amari Morgan-Smith (10 Ashley Hemmings, 81), 11 Omari Sterling, 19 Jaiden White, 26 Devonte Redmond (16 Geraldo Bajrami, 73), 28 Matt Preston.

Subs not used: 8 Mark Carrington, 18 Kai Lissamore.

Leamington: Jake Weaver, Dan Meredith, Stephan Morley, Dylan Barkers (15 Callum Gittings, 80), Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Joe Parker (12 Kelsey Mooney, 61 ), Adam Walker, Dan Turner, Jack Edwards © (14 Sam Wilding, 84), Devon Kelly-Evans.

Subs not used: 16 Junior English, 17 James Mace.

Referee: Mr Kristian Silcock

Assistant Referees: Mr Jamie Conde & Mr Daniel Stokes

Brakes Man of the Match: Jake Weaver.

Photos  ©  Alun Roberts