Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central 
Your Co-op Community Stadium 
Saturday 27th January 2024

This was a frustrating afternoon all round as Brakes were made to pay for not taking their first half chances and were held to their sixth home draw of the season by a young, talented Alvechurch side managed by former Leamington player James Fry. 

His assistant Richard Batchelor was denied a reunion with the home supporters by whom he is so revered for his efforts during two spells under Paul Holleran, due to illness. Get well soon, Batch. 

The opening stages promised much. Henry Landers saw a shot blocked on the edge of the box inside the opening minute, before firing in a free kick won by Will Shorrock that was straight at Alvechurch keeper Ronnie Hollingshead. 

Shorrock then saw a shot held by the young stopper as Leamington continued to do all the early probing. Cally Stewart showed superb control as he brought the ball down superbly inside the penalty area before seeing a shot blocked by two defenders. 

On 9 minutes the deadlock was broken courtesy of Will Shorrock’s second goal in successive league games. Alvechurch cleared their lines from another Landers free kick after Stewart had seen shots blocked, but skipper Adam Walker picked up possession, and slipped in Shorrock, who latched onto it at pace before lifting a precise effort past Hollingshead into the net. 

Jannai Gordon slotted under the advancing Callum Hawkins nine minutes later, but the celebrations were cut short by an offside flag. 

Stewart pounced on a slip by Ammar Dyer to strike another effort towards goal which was held at the second attempt by young West Bromwich Albion loanee Hollingshead. 

Just before the half hour Jack Edwards met another dead ball delivery from Landers with a glancing header that was parried by Hollingshead. 

Brakes were looking threatening every time the ball was in and around the penalty area, and there were further chances before half time as Alvechurch gave away another free kick. Ewan Williams and Edwards had shots saved; the latter being adjudged to be offside as he attempted to shovel the ball back towards goal before it ran out of play. 

Dylan Allen-Handley got right underneath an early second half attempt for the visitors that looked like it might provide an obstacle to the Harbury Lane traffic as it sailed high over the clubhouse roof, but his time would come. 

Williams screwed an effort well wide at the other end, much to the annoyance of team mate Landers, who felt he was better placed. Shorrock then received a fine pass inside the box, bringing it under control superbly, but once more his shot was blocked by two defenders. 

It was one of a string of opportunities that Leamington would be left to rue, as Alvechurch restored parity on the hour mark. Brakes failed to cut out a dangerous ball across their six yard box, and it was recycled from the right to Allen-Handley, who was afforded a little too much time to control and hook a shot past Hawkins into the net. 

The response to being pegged back was positive, however. A determined run up the right from inside his own half by Dan Meredith saw him play the ball inside for Landers just outside the box, and he unleashed a thunderbolt of a strike that was met by a fantastic save from Hollingshead. 

Theo Streete was in the thick of things at both ends; diving full length to cut out a dangerous cross from ‘Church skipper Josh Dugmore, before heading just wide from a left wing corner. 

Another free kick whipped in towards goal by Landers was scrambled away from the goal line, before Williams powered a header just over the bar from Meredith’s cross. 

Gordon screwed his shot horribly wide for the visitors, who had Hollingshead to thank for not going behind again as the young goalkeeper pushed another dead ball from Landers out from under his crossbar, after substitute Jiah Medrano had won a corner with his first touch after being introduced late on.

Leamington were a little fortunate as two Alvechurch players lost their footing on the edge of the box after a swift counter attack, allowing them to get the ball clear. More pressure from the visitors then saw Dugmore curl a shot over the bar. 

Brakes then roused themselves for a final push, but the Referee blew for full time just as they were preparing for another assault on the Alvechurch goal, which confused most of the crowd, as no board had been shown to indicate the amount of additional time to be played. However, it turned out that four minutes had been played, and Leamington were left to rue two more dropped points in their pursuit of top spot.  

Attendance: 611

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Joe Clarke, (16 Tyrone Barnett, ), Theo Streete, Jack Edwards, Henry Landers, Adam Walker ©, Cally Stewart, Ewan Williams, Will Shorrock (12 Jiah Medrano, ). 

Subs not used: 14 Zach Taylor, 15 Dom Brown Hill, 17 Connor Taylor.

Alvechurch: Ronnie Hollingshead, Josh Dugmore ©, Ammar Dyer, Dylan Mitchell, Yaw Nantwi-Ofosu, Ethan Patterson, Dylan Allen-Hadley, Jack Hallahan, Jannai Gordon, Kartell Dawkins, Ben Cassidy. 

Subs not used: 12 Ethan McLeod, 14 Nick Clayton Phillips, 15 Jack Concannon, 16 D.J Campton Sturridge, 17 Archie Crowther. 

Referee: Mr Edgar Brown

Assistant Referees: Mr Daniel Haywood & Mr William Norriss

Brakes Man of the Match: Henry Landers.