Pre Season Friendly
The Grove
Saturday 23rd July 2022

by Max Passantino

With only a fortnight until Leamington’s season opener in the Vanarama National League North, Paul Holleran will have been happy with his side’s performance at his former stomping ground in The Grove as the Brakes recorded their second win of pre-season, defeating Halesowen Town. 

A crowd and atmosphere was in place at The Grove fit for a National League North game, and Holleran switched things up from his lineup to face Aston Villa XI last week. Trialist A kept his place in goal but there was a shift at the back, Jack Lane filling in for Steph Morley at left back whilst Junior English sat at centre back alongside Theo Streete with Dan Meredith on the right side of defence. 

Adam Walker and Jack Edwards dropped to the bench with Joe Clarke and Alex Prosser controlling the centre of midfield along with Simeon Maye whilst Ben Usher-Shipway played his first game for the Brakes on the wing. 

After a slow first five minutes, Leamington started to settle into the game and create good chances. Dan Turner had the first real chance of the game but his header was saved by Daniel Whitehouse in the Yeltz net, the first save of many in a busy afternoon for the Halesowen custodian.

The next chance came summer signing Ben Usher-Shipway’s way as he managed to wriggle away from Josh Quaynor before unleashing a snap shot that rose over the bar to the delight of the home faithful in ‘The Shed’. The ball, however, was in the net minutes later. Theo Streete rose highest from an Usher-Shipway corner before heading into the top corner but Telford based referee Matthew Scholes saw a foul in the box, ruling out the goal.

Halesowen continued to weather the relentless attacking from the Brakes front line with more chances falling at Leamington players’ feet. First Dan Turner was allowed the time to turn in the Halesowen box after being fed in by Kieran Cook and Turner saw his shot well saved by Whitehouse. Not a minute passed and Usher-Shipway had another sighting of goal, as he sent his curling effort wide. 

From the resulting goal kick, the Yeltz had their first effort of the day as Simeon Cobourne was set free and he slotted an effort just wide of Trialist A’s post. That counter from Halesowen seemed to put a stop to the persistent attacking from Leamington and Cobourne had the next effort as Theo Streete managed to get his way in between ball and goal, a block Kyle Morrison - who was in the stands to watch two of his former clubs - would have been proud of.

Heading into half time there were no real big chances apart from one that fell to Halesowen’s danger man Cobourne who found himself one-on-one with Trialist A in the Brakes goal but only managed to put his shot straight at the Trialist, one would imagine the net would have been rustling if Cobourne took his time and picked a side with him clean through as the sides went in at the break level.

As they did in the first half, Leamington started the second half quickest and were rewarded. Dan Turner was sent through with only Daniel Whitehouse in between Turner and the goal and it looked as if Whitehouse would reach the ball first if it wasn’t for the Leamington number nine to unleash his pace and beat the Yeltz custodian to the ball, lifting it over Whitehouse to give Leamington a deserved lead. 

Lots of the second period was played in the midfield, with both teams fighting for possession. Leamington’s Trialist B looked as if he had worked his way into the box to have an effort but his final touch into the box took him wide and forced him to look back to Dan Meredith who saw his left footed cross cleared. 

Town’s main threat Cobourne was still attempting to get his goal but Trialist A saved well again. An uneventful second half was brought back into life with five to go as a series of Halesowen attacks saw them win a corner which was cleared away but the second phase of the corner saw Trialist A forced into another save, this time from close range.

Leamington professionally saw out the game to record their second pre-season win, adding to their two goal victory over Boldmere St Michaels.

Attendance: 507

Leamington: Trialist A, Dan Meredith, Jack Lane, Joe Clarke (14 Jack Edwards 66’), Junior English, Theo Streete (19 Connor Taylor 61’), Ben Usher-Shipway (16 Trialist B 55’), Simeon Maye, Dan Turner (17 Trialist C 70’), Alex Prosser (12 Adam Walker 66’), Kieran Cook (15 Bailey Fuller 58’)

Subs not used: 13 Ethan Pheasey, 18 Steph Morley

Halesowen: Daniel Whitehouse, Joshua Ezewele, Joshua Quaynor, Ahmed Ali, Kieran Morris, Robert Evans, Max Morris, Nathan Hayward, Jamie Insall, Richard Smith, Simeon Cobourne

Subs: 12 Nathaniel Kelly, 14 Dexter Dudley-Toole, 15 Trialist A, 16 Papy Brandon Mossini, 17 Matt Funge

Referee: Mr Matthew Scholes

Assistant Referees: Mr Mike Wright & Mr Liam Teraud