Pre Season Friendly 
Arden Garages Stadium
Saturday 20 July 2024

Brakes made the short hop down the A46 to take on neighbours Stratford Town in their latest pre season warm up fixture, 

Both sides fielded players looking to impress the respective managers; Stratford naming two separate elevens. 

As is usually the case in these games, it was slow to get started; almost 20 minutes passed by from the kick off before the first serious shot in anger - Tom Solanke’s fierce drive being very well blocked by Brakes’ captain for the day Theo Streete. Reece Styche sent an effort from a similar distance soaring high and wide of Callum Hawkins’ goal. 

Brakes took the lead on 23 minutes as their hosts practically handed them the early advantage. Former AFC Wimbledon man Chris Hussey dallied in possession in his own penalty area and was blocked by Ewan Williams as he attempted to clear his lines. The ball ran loose to Will Shorrock, who squared it back to his unmarked team mate, and Williams finished calmly and firmly past former Brakes keeper Callum Smith into the bottom left hand corner. 

The searing temperatures of the previous day had well and truly disappeared as the heavens opened before half time, although it was still a warm afternoon. 

Tyrell Hamilton, who spent a very brief spell at Leamington without making an appearance during the short lived 2020/21 campaign, was eager to get on the ball and cut in from the right at every opportunity, and he saw a shot well blocked by Caine Elliott. 

The hosts had been a little slapdash with some of their passing at times, but generally put together the better attacking moves during the opening 45 minutes, and looked good in possession, while Brakes did what they always tend to do well; the defensive staples, and were clinical when their chance presented itself, which they will need to be in the forthcoming season. 

There were some particularly feisty challenges going in for a pre season friendly, so it was a little bemusing to see Joe Doyle-Charles being shown a yellow card for one of the less ferocious ones. 

Unfortunately the resulting free kick just past the hour mark presented Hussey with the chance to redeem himself for his first half misdemeanour, which he did in style, beating half time substitute goalkeeper James Dadge with a precise left footed strike which hit the top corner. 

The hosts then introduced a raft of replacements, while Paul Holleran brought on Henry Landers and Cally Stewart, who went on to play a large part of Brakes’ forward movements for the last 25 minutes or so. 

George Ward met a left wing corner from Landers with a towering header which was unfortunately blocked at source. 

Stewart beat Stratford substitute Michael McGrath with an outrageous turn some 25 yards from goal, but unfortunately was unable to maintain control of the ball. However, Landers eventually picked it up on the right and fired in low to the near post, where Stewart was lurking to backheel towards goal, only for Smith to block. 

Stratford surged straight up the other end and were prevented from going ahead by a flying save from Dadge. 

Tim Berridge met another dangerous low centre from the right by Landers, but was unable to steer the ball goalwards. 

Dadge then saved another effort that was fired straight at him, but Stewart would have the final word with five minutes remaining. A trialist substitute found Landers out on the right with a neat ball from central midfield, and he found Stewart in the centre, who rammed the ball through Smith’s legs into the back of the net. 

Building fitness and stamina for the season ahead obviously takes precedence over results in pre season. Wins may be of secondary importance but they can also help to build momentum, and while this was a third consecutive victory for Brakes, it was also their toughest test thus far. They will step up their preparations with two games in four days at home next week against Racing Club Warwick and a Leicester City XI. 

Attendance: Not announced

Stratford Town: 1 Callum Smith, 2 Lewis Wilson, 3 Alex Worley, 18 Chris Hussey, 5 Paul McCone ©, 6 Tom Solanke, 7 Reece Styche, 8 Lewis Ison, 9 Callum Ebanks, 10 Dan Lafferty, 11 Tyrell Hamilton. 

Substitutes: 4 Trialist A, 13 Trialist B, 14 Dan Vann, 15 Kieran Berry, 16 Finley Brennan, 17 Jamie Molyneux, 19 Trialist C, 20 Owen James, 21 Josh Hawker, 22 Trialist D. 

Leamington: Callum Hawkins (13 James Dadge, 46), George Ward, Josh Quaynor (15 Dan Meredith, 74), Joe Doyle-Charles, Theo Streete ©, Rob Evans, Will Shorrock (12 Cally Stewart, 64), Caine Elliott (16 Trialist A, 79), Tim Berridge, Ewan Williams, Jiah Medrano (14 Henry Landers, 64). 

Subs not used: 17 Trialist B. 

Referee: Mr Liam Corbett.

Assistant Referees: Mr Mike Bingham & Mr Ravel Cheosiaua.