Report
Southern League Premier Division Central
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Tuesday 12th September 2023
It took a while for them to click into gear, but Brakes put newly promoted Berkhamsted to the sword in the second half after the visitors had frustrated them in the opening 45 minutes following a bright start to the game.
The victory was tinged with frustration however, as both Callum Stewart and Tyrone Barnett were forced off injured to potentially leave Paul Holleran short handed ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Boston United.
Stewart headed over in the opening minutes after Jack Lane had helped Henry Landers’ corner onto him inside the box, and minutes later the young striker looked to be in with a chance after taking the ball past the keeper and clipping it over him towards goal, only for Anthony Ball to get back well and head clear. From the resulting corner the ball was cleared as far as Josh Quaynor just inside the opposition half, and he pumped it back towards the penalty area, where Barnett picked up the loose ball and drove it a whisker wide after winning the initial header.
The visitors were beginning to settle into this game however, and Kyal Williams sent a long range free kick dipping towards goal that required Callum Smith to push the ball to safety.
There was concern just past the half hour as Stewart was forced off injured, much to his frustration, to be replaced by Devon Kelly-Evans.
Adam Martin was presented with another opportunity for the visitors, but this time fired high, wide and handsome.
The Comrades were finishing the half strongly, and Theo Streete was required to hurl himself at the ball to divert it behind after Eduard Toiny-Pendred had taken the ball past Smith, who had rushed off his line to attempt to clear, only to make a hash of things, allowing the Berkhamsted man in on goal.
An improved second half was needed from Leamington if they were going to earn all three points from this contest, and ultimately it was Kelly-Evans who provided the spark, thundering a shot in off the underside of the crossbar four minutes in to open the scoring after Dan Meredith’s powerful run down the right saw him feed Landers, who found his on-rushing team mate perfectly.
Five minutes later Kelly-Evans turned provider, as he hoisted a corner kick into the penalty area that was met by a thumping header from Landers to double the lead, and from there Brakes didn’t look back.
Barnett sent a volley flashing over the bar, while Lane was at full stretch to head just wide from a corner, before Ewan Williams led a swift counter attack which led to Meredith seeing a shot deflected behind.
Williams went close from distance, but there was more injury woe for Brakes when Barnett was replaced by Connor Taylor after picking up an injury.
Taylor has already made more appearances this season than he did in the whole of the last, and took full advantage of his opportunity in the strikers position to add a third for Leamington when his initial effort was blocked out to Kelly-Evans, who moved the ball back to his team mate to finish past Jamie Head.
Holleran threw on Jiah Medrano with five minutes remaining, and he matched fellow substitute Taylor by scoring, tearing into the box to meet Kelly-Evans’ ball to the far post with an emphatic header to the delight of the Harbury Lane End.
A third straight victory without conceding a goal will give Brakes great heart ahead of their trip to Boston, but they will be keeping everything crossed that both Stewart and Barnett will be fit enough to participate.
Attendance: 302
Leamington: Callum Smith, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Jack Edwards, Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Ewan Williams, Adam Walker ©, Henry Landers (14 Jiah Medrano, 85), Tyrone Barnett (15 Connor Taylor, 71), Callum Stewart (12 Devon Kelly-Evans, 31).
Subs not used: 16 Joe Clarke, 17 Junior English.
Berkhamsted: Jamie Head, Anthony Ball, Charlie Smith, Dan Newton, Sam McClelland, Adam Martin, Kyal Williams, Jordan Frederick, Eduard Toiny-Pendred, Mark Riddick, James Towell.
Subs not used: 12 Aaron Austin, 14 Jeremiah Luwero, 15 Max Bustamante MacAbre, 16 Headley Ogbebor, 17 Lewis Johnson.
Referee: Mr Oliver Morris-Sanders
Assistant Referees: Mr Ryan Jennings & Mr Joshua East
Brakes Man of the Match: Devon Kelly-Evans.
Click here and here to view photographs from the match from Glenn Alcock and Sally Ellis.
