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Monday 2nd May 2022

Brakes signed off at Harbury Lane for the season with a tremendous victory over play off bound Kidderminster Harriers thanks to goals in each half that were both stunning in their own way.

With the Birmingham Senior Cup Final on the horizon Paul Holleran made nine changes to Saturday’s squad that won at Curzon Ashton. Under 18’s and 23’s starlet Manny Olaloko made his first team debut, along with Kurtis Wood, who came on late on, while Jack Sang made his first start. Ben McLean, who was involved with the first team in pre season, also made his first appearance. Kieran Cook returned to make his 18th appearance of the season.

The Under 23’s/Reserve side paraded their league title trophy prior to kick off - receiving a warm ovation for a very successful campaign.

Brakes, wearing their change strip ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Stourbridge, lined up against a Harriers side assured of their place, and also having made nine changes to their squad after a comfortable win against Guiseley.

The scorer of the first goal was well received by both sets of supporters. Callum Gittings made over 200 appearances for Harriers in the top division of the Non League pyramid, and scored many goals of similar ilk to the one that put Brakes ahead here, as he connected with a clearance over 30 yards out with a first time strike that absolutely thundered past a helpless Luke Simpson into the top corner. The travelling hoards released a red smoke flare in appreciation of its beauty.

The keeper was able to get to Leamington’s next effort, a good effort from Cook which was pushed behind for a corner which came to nothing.

With nothing riding on the fixture for either side there was something of a party atmosphere, with the substantial travelling support on the North Bank clearly intent on enjoying themselves regardless of the result, with many having travelled in fancy dress.

There wasn’t an awful lot of incident at either end, with both sides probably getting used to playing with different team mates, but Brakes looked remarkably composed despite this, and were able to defend their advantage with relative ease.

Cook did well to bring the ball out of defence and sent an almost perfect pass forward for Olaloko to run on to that just evaded him, the ball running through to Simpson.

The midfielder, who left the club to return to Stourbridge earlier this season but will be unable to face his former team mates on Wednesday due to having played for Brakes in an earlier round of the Senior Cup, was as busy as ever, and almost connected with a good ball in from the right by Charlie Williams in the final action of the first half.

The visitors, whilst working just as hard as their opponents, were unable to create anything of note in the first half. Corey Panter fired a free kick high over the crossbar, but they did register their first shot on target early in the second half, Ethan Freemantle seeing his low drive held comfortably by Callum Hawkins.

Olaloko was a handful for the Harriers defence throughout, and was distraught not to have earned his side a penalty when he got the better of his marker inside the penalty area only to be hauled to the ground, but incredibly Referee David McNamara disagreed.

The young striker was not to be denied for much longer however, and seven minutes into the second half he muscled his way through again before slipping the ball through the legs of Simpson and tearing off in uncontained delight, followed by virtually all of his team mates. It really was a special moment.

The game never really had any rhythm as such; the patchwork nature of both sides contributing to a scrappy spectacle, but nevertheless the work rate and application displayed by every single one of the Leamington players left the Brakes support glowing.

Hawkins collected a fifth clean sheet in ten appearances, Connor Taylor was superb in an unfamiliar right back position, as was Melis Bushaj on the left. Junior English was imperious in central defence alongside James Mace, while the midfield five of Gittings, Williams, McLean, Sang and Cook were tireless, hard working and determined. Olaloko’s performance had the fans enthralled and his coaches glowing with pride. He will certainly have given the manager some food for thought.

‘It’s been a great weekend for us,’ said Paul Holleran afterwards. ‘Especially with trying to manage the four games in a week and a big game on Wednesday. We backed up a really good performance on Saturday.

‘Kiddy have made changes as well, so that’s probably helped the situation. But when you look at the likes of Ben McLean, who got released from Blues (Birmingham City) as young boy - he’s been with us and then gone out and played 40 games at Step 4; learning his game. We all know what Cookie’s capable of. Jack Sang has been training with the first team most of the season, and has been about. Manny up top - young Charlie Williams - you’ve got Melis Bushaj in there too - and then you’ve got the golden oldies, Junior, Mace, Gitto. It was as good a home performance as any this season really.

‘I think that with the time of year; having so many young players in the side with legs and energy, it really did well for us today. There’s massive credit got to go to people within the club because you look at young Manny, and Jack Sang who have spent a lot of time with the Under 18’s and the 23’s; and the work that Chris and Scott and Mark Fogarty have done - we’ve got some decent young kids around the place now, and I wouldn’t have been able to do this up until this season really. It is big steps for them but it’s a great experience for them as well. They’ve played in the National League, and they’ve all acquitted themselves really well today. It was wonderful for the young boy to get a goal. I’ve coached some good players over the years - some of them never played in the National League, so some of these boys have played in it today, and scored so it’s great.

‘He probably should have had a penalty too, shortly before the goal, but he was a threat. The fans have taken to him because he doesn’t go missing. He was up against some good centre halves there but he kept running, he used his body, he got knocked around a bit but he carried on. Straight away there was a connection. It was great for him, Sangy and Kurtis Wood who got on at the end, but players who have been with us before like Kieran and Ben - for them to come in and play, and play really well - Kieran was excellent today, and Ben was tremendous in there. It was nice that we’ve got that relationship with those players, and they will come back and help us out. I’m half flabbergasted to be honest! Some of the old boys sitting in the stand must be quaking in their boots!

‘After a long hard season with all the niggles and injuries we’ve had - we put a real good shift in on Saturday so it was important to be able to take some players out today, and give them a breather, to give us the best possible chance to be competitive on Wednesday. That was the idea of today really, and it worked brilliantly for us. We haven’t picked up any injuries, we’ve been able to rest players and we’ve beaten a very good side, so it’s what you call a Carlsberg day I think!’

Attendance: 1,176

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Connor Taylor, Melis Bushaj, Callum Gittings ©, Junior English (12 Jack Lane, 78), James Mace, Charlie Williams, Ben McLean, Manny Olaloko, Jack Sang (16 Jack Edwards, 77), Kieran Cook (15 Kurtis Wood, 89).

Subs not used: 14 Devon Kelly-Evans, 17 Adam Walker.

Kidderminster Harriers: 1 Luke Simpson, 2 Alex Penny, 5 Keith Lowe, 6 Lewis Montrose ©, 12 Joe Foulkes (25 Luke Bastable, 68), 16 Geraldo Bajrami (22 Jack Tolley, 56), 17 Ethan Freemantle, 18 Kai Lissimore, 19 Jaiden White, 23 Corey Panter, 26 Devonte Redmond.

Subs not used: 7 Sam Austin, 10 Ashley Hemmings, 15 Keziah Martin.

Referee: Mr David McNamara

Assistant Referees: Mr Callum Gough & Mr Callum Parke

Brakes Man of the Match: Manny Olaloko

Photos © Keith Clayton