Birmingham Senior Cup Semi Final 
Townsend Meadow 
Tuesday 25th March 2024

Two towns with barely a gap between them. A first competitive meeting since April 2007, and a place in a Cup Final at stake. The stage was set for a rip roaring encounter in front of a sell out crowd at Townsend Meadow. Unfortunately Leamington’s near neighbours Racing Club Warwick failed to read the script, and left their Southern League opponents stunned to reach the Birmingham Senior Cup Final.  

Paul Holleran made three changes to the eleven which started Saturday’s victory at Redditch, while Racing Club were forced into seven from their win over Daventry Town. Manager Scott Easterlow, who spent a brief spell with Brakes back in 2003/04, took charge of his 250th game in his second spell in charge of Leamington’s closest neighbours. 

A dry afternoon was replaced by rain some 90 minutes or so before kick off which did not abate for the rest of the evening, perhaps contributing to the atmosphere inside a packed stadium being disappointingly subdued throughout. The cries of the many touchline managers were clearly audible in the night air. 

Tyrone Barnett had the first effort on goal of the evening, a tame effort that Racing keeper Paul Hathaway fielded comfortably. His next effort, following two corners on the left, was hit with far more purpose, a chest down and a half volley whistling just wide. 

Cally Stewart really should have put Leamington in front 9 minutes in. Devon Kelly-Evans won back possession in the centre circle, and Barnett picked up the ball, driving towards goal before laying it left for Stewart, who poked his shot disappointingly wide of the target. 

Barnett’s sublime touch sent Stewart scampering down the left, his weaving run ending with a deflected cross which went behind for what turned out to be a fruitless corner. 

Warwick’s first two crosses into the box from the right were cleared, the second leading to a Brakes counter attack, spearheaded by Landers, who fed Dan Meredith for a cross which was half cleared out to Kelly-Evans, whose shot was straight at Hathaway. Adam Walker then dragged another effort wide. 

Warwick have been having a fine season, and look set fair for a good crack at a second promotion in five years, but Leamington were knocking the ball around at pace, their decision making and movement probably quicker than what the Racing Club players have been used to in the United Counties League. Scott Easterlow’s side were dogged in their defending however, and frustrated their visitors. 

Jiah Medrano sent a decent effort just over the crossbar, before a drop ball awarded on the edge of the Warwick penalty area after a Leamington attack had been halted to allow Ollie Mulders to receive treatment saw Landers drag a shot across goal and wide. 

With minutes to go before half time the hosts began to threaten. Callum Hawkins was forced to punch off his goal line as Warwick packed the penalty area, and Leamington struggled to clear their lines. A crashing strike from the second corner was then deflected over the bar. 

The hosts had certainly disrupted Leamington’s rhythm, but Callum Scott became the second Racing Club player to go into the Referee’s notebook for a rather late challenge on Brakes skipper Adam Walker. 

Meredith crossed for Stewart to head another chance over the bar, but the half time whistle sounded with the home support the happier of the two sets of fans. 

The hosts were quicker out of the blocks on the resumption; Medrano blocking well as Louie Monaghan attempted to turn and shoot inside the penalty area. Another shot was blocked, but the ball stuck inside the box, and Charlie Jones stabbed it into the far corner to put Warwick ahead. 

This changed the complexion of the game completely. Leamington were playing as though they were still in the dressing room, second to almost every ball, while the home side, confidence boosted by the goal, continued to push forward. The Brakes defence almost stood off Archie Hamp as he drove through the centre of the Leamington half, exchanged passes with Monaghan and saw his shot deflected behind for a corner, which was headed back into the six yard box by Jones and over the bar by Racers skipper Kyle Barnett. 

Brakes finally managed to string some passes together, and after Medrano’s cross was blocked, the ball was spread out to Meredith, who advanced and drove wide. 

Warwick were very close to a second goal when a shot was blocked inside the box and deflected away, while Monaghan was flagged offside as he attempted to lift the ball past Hawkins on the right edge of his penalty area. 

Jones hooked a shot at Hawkins from a grounded position inside the box as Warwick threatened again. 

Leamington finally began to wake up to the reality that they were behind in this contest, and began to improve. Landers’ shot was deflected behind for a corner, from which Jack Edwards headed well over the bar. 

Stewart’s suicidal backpass then saw Monaghan tear down on goal, Josh Quaynor’s slip clearing the way for him even more, but the Warwick man snatched at his shot and the ball flew into the crowd behind the goal. 

Stewart almost atoned for his error when winning a free kick right on the edge of the Warwick area. Medrano’s strike was straight at Hathaway, who parried. 

Stewart then wriggled free of his man inside the box on the left and drove the ball low across goal; substitute Wil Shorrock missing it by a hair's breadth at the far post as he slid in. 

Warwick grabbed a stunning second in slightly controversial circumstances, when play continued after Medrano looked to have been fouled attempting to halt a Warwick attack. The home side continued, Callum Carsley floating in a delightful cross for substitute Connor Mort to thump home a header. 

Medrano was helped off the pitch injured, only increasing Holleran’s frustration with the Referee. 

Brakes substitute Connor Taylor really should have headed an immediate reply past Hathaway, but Hawkins was required to dive full length to keep out another header from Mort that looked to be heading for the bottom corner. Cameron Ebutt then attempted to catch out the Leamington keeper with an audacious effort from half-way, but Hawkins was alert enough to reposition himself to claim the ball. 

Meredith, the only dangerous looking player for Brakes all evening, fed Stewart after another lung bursting run down the right, but his shot on the turn was just wide. 

Towards the end of eight additional minutes, Meredith thumped in a shot that was well saved by Hathaway, but it was too little too late for Leamington, and Racing Club celebrated a well deserved victory to move into the final, where they will face Coventry City or Aston Villa. We wish them all the best. 

Attendance: 1,300

Racing Club Warwick: Paul Hathaway, Archie Hamp, Callum Carsley, Callum Scott (14 Dale Edwards, ), Kyle Barnett ©, Ollie Mulders, Charlie Jones, James Hancocks, Louie Monaghan, Rico Taylor (17 Callum Mort 72), Cameron Ebutt. 

Subs not used: 12 Jay DiLonga, 15 Zac Parsons, 16 Joseph Cairns.

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Jiah Medrano (Dan Baldwin, 84), Ewan Williams (12 Joe Clarke, 46), Jack Edwards, Josh Quaynor, Henry Landers (14 Will Shorrock, 72), Adam Walker ©, Cally Stewart, Tyrone Barnett (15 Connor Taylor, 81), Devon Kelly-Evans (17 Zach Taylor, 90). 

Referee: Mr Rob Massey-Ellis

Assistant Referees: Mr Luke Bowles & Mr Mitch Cartwright

Fourth Official: Mr Callum Fisk

Brakes Man of the Match: Dan Meredith.

Photos by Cameron Murray ©