Pre Season Friendly
Your Co-op Community Stadium 
Saturday 13th July 2024

Brakes entertained a squad of up and coming youngsters from EFL neighbours Coventry City as they returned to their home turf for the first time since winning promotion back to the National League North in May. 

Prior to kick off the two teams and the 552 in attendance paid their respects to young Sky Blues fan Keaton Slater, who tragically lost his life in a hit and run in June. A collection was raised before and during the game to aid the fundraiser set up to aid his grieving family.

The pitch was in immaculate condition and the rain kindly stayed away as supporters got their first glimpse of the new faces in Paul Holleran’s squad that he hopes will help lead the club to a comfortable position back at Step 2. Joe Doyle-Charles started the game in central midfield, while Tim Berridge, Caine Elliott and George Ward were all introduced in the second half. 

Coventry’s first half eleven also contained some new faces, and they started a pace which almost caught Leamington out in the opening minute; Theo Streete having to block a close range goalbound strike. 

Mackenzie Stretton dragged a low effort wide of the target, and Jack James drove a loose ball from a cross into the box high over Callum Hawkins’ crossbar. 

It took a while for Brakes to make inroads on the Coventry goal; Ewan Williams driving wide after being set up by Rob Evans. 

Stretton came closest to opening the visitors’ account for the afternoon when his shot hit the post, but as the ball bounced back across goal his team mates were unable to capitalise, and Hawkins pounced on it. 

Leamington then moved upfield themselves from this attack, and broke the deadlock. Doyle-Charles won back possession just inside his own half, and the ball was moved around several players before Dan Meredith found Cally Stewart, who set Adam Walker free with a cheeky backheel. Walker then played Will Shorrock in behind the Coventry defence. Shorrock squared for Stewart, who took a touch before firing powerfully past Luke Bell to open his pre season goal account.

There were further chances for Brakes before half time. Williams headed well over from a right wing cross, before Henry Landers sent a bouncing cross in from the same area for Shorrock, whose first time strike back towards goal on the half volley was headed against his own crossbar by Ben Blakely. Just before the whistle for the interval Landers put his laces through a decent strike from 35 yards, but it was straight at Bell. 

With a virtually new eleven for the second half, Coventry started brightly again with the majority of their second year scholars now on the pitch. They forced an early corner which came to nothing, but Leamington pushed forward from this with a driving run from Dan Meredith into the box. He attempted to slide the ball through for Shorrock, who hadn’t quite anticipated it, and halted his run. 

Shorrock then set up Stewart after a powerful run in from the left, last season’s top scorer turning and driving his shot high over the bar. 

Meredith bulldozed his way into the box once more on another direct run; squaring for substitute Jack Edwards, who sidestepped an attempted challenge before seeing his shot well blocked. 

With this being Leamington second 90 minutes of pre season and Coventry’s first, there was perhaps inevitably very little in the way of chances or goalmouth action as both sets of players felt their way towards full fitness, but Brakes were able to seal another two goal success as two of their new boys combined on 79 minutes. 

Jiah Medrano, another second half substitute, used quick feet to move the ball away from Dave Mantle before tearing into the open space down the left; firing the ball across to Berridge on the edge of the box, who got it out from under his feet before setting up Elliott with the perfect pass, the youngster attacking it with a firm first time strike past Bell into the bottom left hand corner.

This was another useful workout for Leamington, and they will face a different type of opposition altogether when they make the short trip to Tiddington to take on Stratford Town next Saturday. We wish Coventry City’s academy sides all the best for the forthcoming campaign.   

Attendance: 552

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Joe Doyle-Charles (15 Caine Elliott, 74), Theo Streete (16 George Ward, 67), Rob Evans, Henry Landers (14 Tim Berridge, 55), Adam Walker © (12 Jack Edwards, 55), Callum Stewart (19 Harry Lloyd, 81),  Ewan Williams (18 Finn Smith, 83), Will Shorrock (17 Jiah Medrano, 74). 

Subs not used: 13 Jacob Humphries. 

Coventry City: 1 Luke Bell, 2 Greg Sandford, 4 Ben Blakely, 24 Kain Ryan, 22 Mackenzie Stretton, 8 Kai Yearn, 21 Charlie Finney, 6 Jack James, 11 Aston Ellard, 9 Nathan Jeche, 7 Wisdom Mbra. 

Half time substitutes: 12 Dave Mantle, 18 Joe McCallum, 16 Josh Gordon, 17 Callum Perry, 19 Elliot Betjemann, 27 Leon Osaghae, 14 Harvey Bond, 28 Conrad Ambursely, 29 Constantine Panayiotou. 

Subs not used: 26 Dan Rachel (GK). 

Referee: Mr Elliott Swallow.

Assistant Referees: Mr Adam Wilson & Mr Joe Larkin.

Photos: ©  Cameron Murray