Emirates FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Saturday 17th September 2022

By Paul Edwards

Leamington welcomed Southern League Premier Division leaders and Warwickshire neighbours Nuneaton Borough to Harbury Lane for the first time in an FA Cup tie.

There was always going to be an interesting subplot to this fixture regardless of the two sides' form leading up to the game, with Tony Breeden and Joe Magunda returning for the first time. The two made a combined total 610 appearances for Leamington, and were central to many successes during Paul Holleran’s reign, so they were never going to receive anything other than a warm welcome back. Another former Brakes favourite in striker Matt Stenson was also in the Boro’ line up.

Dan Meredith tested Breeden’s concentration with a low effort from 20 yards inside the opening couple of minutes which the Boro’ keeper held comfortably.

Breeden was well known for the accuracy of his drop kicks out the wing while at Leamington, but his first effort in this game didn’t quite go to plan, landing at the feet of Meredith, who played it back towards the penalty area.

Meanwhile Callum Hawkins fielded a left wing cross from Jaden Charles in what was a very low key opening to the game.

Devon Kelly-Evans was alert as Stenson and Tyrell Waite threatened to break from midfield; getting in ahead of the ball to clear the danger.

The first corner of the afternoon was punched to the edge of the box by Breeden to the feet of Simeon Maye, who snatched at his shot a little and sent the ball spinning well wide.

Theo Streete had the first real opening of the afternoon as he rose to thump a powerful header towards the bottom corner from a left wing free kick only to see the flag raised for offside, though in any case Breeden made a fine stop to deny him.

A brief spell of Nuneaton pressure was sparked by the award of a contentious free kick out on the visitors’ left; Streete playing the ball before catching his man. Maye conceded a corner from the resulting delivery, from which a brief scramble ensued in the six yard box before another corner was awarded.

Leamington had been unable to put any pressure on the Nuneaton goal from a string of corners but came close when Jack Lane clattered the crossbar with a header from a left wing flag kick.

The game started to become more stretched before half time. With Streete having snuffed out the threat of Stenson in one attack, the ball came back from Boro’ and Waite cut into the box on the right before arrowing a low drive in to the near post where Hawkins saved with little trouble.

Dan Turner’s driving run into the box and resulting shot just over the crossbar was one of very few Leamington efforts at goal in the second half, as both sides continued to cancel each other out. Another corner saw the ball spin up in front of goal but nobody in Gold and Black was able to capitalise.

Hawkins saved at the feet of Stenson as the striker threatened to break through, while Lane headed wide from a right wing free kick at the other end.

Just when it looked like thoughts might have to start turning to a replay, the one moment of real incisiveness in the game ultimately separated the two sides. Brakes lost possession and were left flat footed as Kane Richards played Waite in on goal, the former Tamworth man finishing calmly with a fine strike beyond Hawkins.

A minute later Nuneaton were handed the chance to put the seal on things when a penalty was awarded. On first viewing the decision looked very harsh, as of the two players going for the ball, the Leamington man went down first. Stenson stepped up to take the spot kick but was denied superbly by Hawkins, diving to his right to keep the ball out.

Despite five minutes of added time Leamington were unable to muster anything in response, and tumbled out of the FA Cup in the early stages once more.

‘There was no quality in the game from either side, and then it’s us being sloppy; giving the ball away high up and not reacting,’ said Paul Holleran afterwards. ‘That let the boy in and it was a good finish - it’s got to be a good finish to beat Callum. It was a disappointing day for us. We’ll have to work hard with a busy week ahead of us against Southport and Hereford, so we’ll regroup.

See more of this interview when the match highlights are released on https://www.youtube.com/c/LeamingtonFootballClubTV

Attendance: 698

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall, Simeon Maye, Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Ben Usher-Shipway (14 Kieran Cook, 85), Adam Walker, Dan Turner, Jack Edwards ©, Devon Kelly-Evans (12 Alex Prosser, 85).

Subs not used: 13 Tom Day, 15 James Mace, 16 Stephan Morley, 17 Connor Taylor, 18 Joe Clarke.

Nuneaton Borough: 1 Tony Breeden, 2 Cameron McWilliams, 3 Jaden Charles, 4 Ryan Beswick, 5 Joe Magunda (16 Chris Cox, 79), 6 Scott McManus ©, 9 Matt Stenson, 10 Tyrell Waite (7 Luke Benbow, 90+3), 11 Kane Richards (17 Cain Noble, 89), 18 Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, 20 Isiah Osbourne.

Subs not used: 13 Liam Castle, 14 Aaron Forde, 15 Charlie Dowd, 19 Revarnelle James.

Referee: Mr Will Davis

Assistant Referees: Mr Rob Rees & Mr Karl Parker

Brakes Man of the Match: Callum Hawkins.

Front page photo by Dave Lockie ©