(After 90 minutes - Sutton Coldfield Town win 5-3 on penalties)
Birmingham Senior Cup Second Round
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Tuesday 22nd November 2022

By Paul Edwards 

On a day when Saudi Arabia stunned World football by defeating Argentina, Sutton Coldfield Town produced a more local shock as they ensured there would be new ribbons on the Birmingham Senior Cup this season, but in all honesty by the end of this tie the result probably didn’t come as much of a shock to the 77 people that bothered to turn up to watch.

The lowest crowd ever to watch a first team game at the stadium since it opened in 2000 witnessed a tale of spot kick woe and missed chances, but that would be harsh on the visitors, who may not have created a great deal going forward over the 90 minutes but defended like trojans throughout, led by their goalkeeper Jono Brown, who produced a string of outstanding saves to leave those Brakes fans present getting that sinking feeling that it just wasn’t going to be their night even before the tie went to spot kicks.

There were three changes to the starting eleven; James Mace, Junior English and Connor Taylor stepping in for Theo Streete, Jack Edwards and Adam Walker. Jack Sang returned to the squad having last featured in the closing minutes of the final against Stourbridge last season.

Despite registering several efforts on goal in the first half Brakes found themselves behind at half time.

Former Racing Club Warwick front man Trea Bertie blazed an early effort high and wide for the visitors, while Devon Kelly-Evans came much closer with a low first time strike that fizzed just wide of the left hand post.

Sutton took the lead on 13 minutes as they moved upfield swiftly after pouncing on a misplaced pass from Taylor, Yahiya Todd squaring to give Rhys Hilton a simple tap in from close range.

Leamington inevitably enjoyed a large share of the ball during the half, but were unable to make it count where it mattered. Dan Meredith sent a shot into the top of the hedge behind the North Bank goal before Brakes were awarded a penalty just past the twenty minute mark. Rackeem Reid was clumsily brought down in the six yard box as he attempted to smuggle the ball into the net. Dan Turner stepped up to the spot but was denied by a smart save from Brown, who wasn’t even troubled by the loose ball, which landed back at the feet of Turner, who got his feet all wrong and poked it horribly wide.

Jack Lane sent a powerful header just over the crossbar from a right wing free kick to the far post, while Turner’s low ball in from the left was held up by Taylor for English to strike, only for a defender to somehow deflect it behind for a corner.

Reid sent a first time shot straight at Brown before half time, while good work from Louis Hall saw him drive to the near post, Taylor scooping the ball wide of the target.

Paul Holleran sent his players back out early for the second half, but the pattern of the game remained the same, with Leamington desperately trying to find a way through a determined Royals rearguard.

Reid tore onto a high ball forward early in the second half which was only half cleared to Turner, but with Brown way off his line the striker was unable to lift his shot high enough to beat him.

An inviting ball in from the right by Meredith was headed straight at Brown by Reid, who was still displaying all his usual energy and endeavour. Sutton then gave away a corner on the right from which Brown held onto the ball right under his crossbar from Lane’s header.

A rare foray upfield from the visitors saw a shot into the side netting from the left, but they were indebted to keeper Brown when he reacted superbly to Kelly-Evans’ deflected effort, flinging out an arm to produce a fantastic save. Mace headed over from the resulting corner.

There was a controversial moment when Sutton defender Fortune Maphosa’s sliding and slightly reckless challenge on Reid right on the edge of the box went unpunished, but Leamington continued to press. Substitute Adam Walker’s run down the left channel took him past a couple of defenders, and he lashed the ball low towards the near post but Brown was there again with another fine save. However, the Sutton keeper was left kicking the frame of the goal in frustration as from the resulting corner English managed to nudge the ball home from almost on the goal line.

A last ditch intervention prevented Jack Edwards from potentially sweeping Leamington ahead with his first touch after coming on with 20 minutes to go, as Walker’s right wing cross threatened to pay dividends, while at the other end a shot from the visitors was so far off target it went out for a throw in.

Reid showed great strength in the penalty area to hold off his man before seeing his shot blocked, while Turner forced another great save from Brown as he followed up with a powerful strike.

Maphosa was on his final warning as he received a booking for bringing down Simeon Maye in full flight on the left. Kelly-Evans curled the resulting free kick inches the wrong side of the upright.

Turner and Kelly-Evans saw further efforts blocked as Sutton put their bodies on the line for the cause late on, but they were a man light for the closing stages when Maphosa received a second booking, this time for clipping Reid as he threatened to break through on the right.

Mace had the ball in the net from the resulting free kick, but any celebrations were immediately halted by an offside flag.

Edwards saw a late effort charged down inside the box before the Referee’s whistle for full time signalled a penalty shoot out.

The visitors confidently put away all five of their spot kicks, leaving Callum Hawkins helpless. Kelly-Evans and Turner put away Leamington’s first two before Brown saved down to his right from Lane. The keeper thought he had won it when he saved Brakes’ fourth kick from Meredith, but was adjudged to have left his line too early, and the right back slammed his second chance straight down the middle.

It all became irrelevant however as Sutton netted their fifth penalty to earn victory, while Brakes were left to ponder a disappointing evening which saw them relinquish their grip on a trophy they have won 3 times in the last five years.

Attendance: 77

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall, Simeon Maye, James Mace, Jack Lane, Rackeem Reid, Connor Taylor (15 Adam Walker, 60), Dan Turner, Junior English (14 Jack Edwards, 70), Devon Kelly-Evans.

Subs not used: 12 Theo Streete, 13 Luke Slater, 16 Jack Sang.

Sutton Coldfield Town: Jonathan Brown, Will Mansfield (12 Harry Sawyer, 67), Patrick Zito, Fortune Maphosa, James Beresford ©, Abdul Adegbola (15 Sam Ellis, 60), Ceesay Dampha, Cameron Collins, Trea Bertie (16 Ethan Hulley, 73), Rhys Hilton (18 Reinaldo Forbes, 77), Yahiya Todd.

Subs not used: 14 John Mills.

Referee: Mr Luke Corbett

Assistant Referees: Mr Andrew Fox & Mr Niall Nestor

Brakes Man of the Match: Rackeem Reid.