Southern League Premier Division Central
Quattro Tech Westwood Road
Saturday 26th August 2023

A second half goal from Cally Stewart earned Leamington their first away win of the season at St Ives Town.

Both sides had laboured during a largely uneventful first half, but Brakes always looked the more likely side to snatch a goal, and so it proved as they stepped up the pace after the restart to run out deserved winners.

With Tyrone Barnett, Dan Meredith and Jack Edwards all unavailable Paul Holleran was down to the bare bones, with only four players available on the substitutes bench. Jiah Medrano stepped up for his first start, with Ben Usher-Shipway and Theo Streete returning to the starting eleven.

The only real flashpoints of a scrappy first half were a handball shout by both players and supporters when Adam Walker’s attempted shot looked to be blocked by an arm; two efforts by Jack Lane being charged down by the home defence, and another by Devon Kelly-Evans after a neat exchange with Stewart inside the box.

Ives’ keeper Eddie Brearey dropped the ball at the feet of Usher-Shipway after coming off his line to collect a left wing corner, but the Leamington man’s shot was not powerful enough to reach goal. Usher-Shipway then saw a long throw headed to the near post by a defender right on half time, but it was collected by Brearey.

The vocal travelling support from Warwickshire, which included two of our German friends from SV Eichede, hoped for better fare in the second half, and as threatening dark clouds enveloped the sunshine over the Quattro Tech Westwood Road stadium, they got their wish.

However, the hosts were to threaten first, Brandon Njoku firing high and wide, while a free kick was directed straight at Callum Smith.

Henry Landers was played into the box on the right, and turned to thump in a shot that was beaten behind by Brearey for a corner, from which chaos ensued in the six yard box two shots were blocked, and the hosts hit the frame of their own goal in their desperate attempts to clear, before the ball sat up perfectly for Stewart to head in his second of the season from close range.

Landers threatened again from the right with a dipping strike that was deflected behind, while a superb low ball drilled in from the right by Usher-Shipway was missed by inches by Jack Lane.

Another long throw from the winger was half cleared out to Landers, who connected with a rocker of a strike that was bravely blocked by a defender.

Medrano was close to adding a second with a ball in from the left that dropped inches past the far post.

The closest St Ives came to an equaliser was from a free kick that flew just wide, and a shot from Kellan Hickinson that was never close to hitting the target.

As the heavens opened with a vengeance in the closing stages, leaving fans running for cover, Stewart played in Usher-Shipway on the right for a shot that was held by Brearey at his near post, but the single goal was enough for Leamington to take all three points .

Attendance: 233

St Ives Town: Eddie Brearey, Paddy Casey, Johnny Herd, Fernando Bell-Toxtle ©, Jordan Williams, Charlie Johnson, Tyrone Baker (16 Dan Barton, 61), Ed Hottor, Brandon Njoku, Kellan Hickinson (14 Michael Richens, 85), Enoch Andoh (17 Tiago Nassunculo, 75).

Subs not used: 12 Murphy Culkin, 15 Luke Harris,

Leamington: Callum Smith, Junior English, Josh Quaynor, Devon Kelly-Evans (14 Dan Baldwin, 86), Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Ben Usher-Shipway, Adam Walker ©, Henry Landers, Callum Stewart, Jiah Medrano (12 Connor Taylor, 81)

Subs not used: 15 Joe Clarke, 16 Toby Nicoll.

Referee: Mr Simon Kavanagh

Assistant Referees: Mr Simon Curtis & Mr Ceredig Cattanach-Chell

Brakes Man of the Match: Josh Quaynor.