Vanarama National League North
Aggborough Stadium
Saturday 30th December 2024 

Brakes made the relatively short hop into Worcestershire on a gloomy but mild final day of November to take on old rivals Kidderminster Harriers.

Having lost Dan Meredith to injury during Tuesday evening’s defeat to Needham Market, and with Jack Edwards also sidelined, Josh Quaynor suspended and Joe Doyle-Charles having left the club on Friday to join Hednesford Town, Paul Holleran was forced into three changes to his starting eleven. Jiah Medrano came in for his first start of the season, while Theo Streete came into the back four, which saw Rob Evans move across to right wing back. Ant Lynn also stepped up from the bench. New loan signing from Solihull Moors, Joel Shambrook, was also on the substitutes bench, and came on for his debut in the second half. 

The gaffer found himself up against a former Premier League manager in Phil Brown; not something that happens every week. The one time Hull City boss had been unable to arrest Kidderminster’s slide back into the National League North after one season, but had Harriers well placed among the top six after suffering their first defeat in eight league games on Tuesday. 

The opening quarter of an hour was fairly non-eventful, save for a powerful header that whistled just over the bar from Amari Morgan-Smith following Joe Foulkes’ ball in from the right. Both sides were able to get forward, with neither goalkeeper particularly troubled. 

The usually vocal home support seemed strangely subdued; and were being completely outsung by a raucous Brakes support, which had travelled in good numbers. 

Ashley Hemmings drove a shot well wide of goal and Ryley Reynolds dragged another effort wide after pouncing on headed clearance from George Ward as Kidderminster continued to create what half chances there were in the game. 

Referee Kevan Hurn seemed happy to let some robust challenges go unpunished on both sides, leading to frustration from one or two. Will Shorrock did superbly to dispossess Foulkes just inside the Kidderminster half, but then felt he should have won a free kick as a challenge came in on him from behind. 

Cally Stewart latched on to a header that dropped over the top of the Kidderminster defence to fire Leamington’s first chance of the afternoon into the side netting. Henry Landers then won and took a free kick from out on the right that Christian Dibble powerfully punched clear from his penalty area. Kidderminster then threatened to break two on two; and only some superb work from captain Adam Walker, forcing Hemmings to turn back towards his own half, allowed Brakes to get back in numbers. 

Harriers were ramping up their play in the final third, but Brakes were matching it with the quality of their defending. When they did get a shot off, as Hemmings managed to do just before half time with a powerful half volley from just outside the box; Hawkins was there to parry and collect. 

Walker almost took advantage of the Harriers defence expecting the ball to go out of play on the right to set off on a run towards the penalty area with the second half in its infancy, but he was dispossessed on the edge of the box. 

The home fans finally found their voices as their team forged their first opportunity of the half. Hemmings sent an inviting ball in from the right, and Kam Kandola rose highest in a packed six yard box, but glanced his header over the bar. 

Brakes continued to defend manfully as more dangerous crosses were sent into their penalty area, but they finally buckled on the hour mark as Hemmings delivered again from the left and Foulkes steamed in at the far post to emphatically head home. 

Harriers were then camped inside the Leamington half for almost all of the next ten minutes. Moving the ball around confidently and with their support now in buoyant mood, they looked to turn the screw. But with the rain now starting to fall more heavily, and the Brakes fans cranking up the volume even louder, Leamington responded. Teddy Rowe, brought on in the aftermath of the goal saw a shot blocked as they began to push forward more. Landers looked to be in with a chance as he turned Caleb Richards on the edge of the box, but his goalbound effort was helped over the crossbar by the outstretched arm of Dibble. 

The game was certainly becoming more stretched as it entered the final ten minutes or so, with Brakes finally stemming the flow of Kidderminster attacks and mounting more of their own. 

With the game inside additional time Streete’s dangerous ball in from the right was snatched by Dibble at his near post. With a corner in the final seconds Leamington kept the pressure on, and their hosts were relieved to hear the final whistle sound.

While this may be a fourth successive league defeat for Brakes they put in a really hard working shift here, something which was recognised by Harriers manager Brown, who made a point of shaking the hand of every Leamington player as they left the pitch. 

Attendance: 2,257 (107 Leamington)

Kidderminster Harriers: 21 Christian Dibble, 3 Caleb Richards, 4 Paul Downing, 6 Reiss McNally, 9 Amari Morgan Smith ©, 10 Ashley Hemmings (16 Taylor Foran, 86), 12 Joe Foulkes, 14 Zak Brown, 26 David Davis (28 Kobe Hall, 71), 27 Kam Kandola, 30 Ryley Reynolds. 

Subs not used: 1 Tom Palmer, 11 Maliq Cadogan, 17 Seb Thompson. 

Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 6 Rob Evans (22 Joel Shambrook, 81), 16 Jiah Medrano, 5 Theo Streete, 14 George Ward, 7 Henry Landers, 8 Adam Walker ©, 17 Ewan Wiliams (11 Tim Berridge, 85), 12 Will Shorrock (18 Teddy Rowe, 60), 9 Cally Stewart (21 Joe Clarke, 76), 19 Ant Lynn. 

Subs not used: 20 Jacob Humphries (GK). 

Referee: Mr Kevan Hurn

Assistant Referees: Mr James Wetherall & Mr Richard Fullicks

Fourth Official: Mr Jamie Stevenson

Brakes Man of the Match: Adam Walker.