Birmingham Senior Cup Second Round 
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Tuesday 3rd December 2024

There was a different sense of anticipation as Leamington took on Halesowen Town in the Birmingham Senior Cup, bidding to get back to winning ways after three straight defeats in the National League North. 

With the visitors bidding to join Brakes at Step 2 next season it probably came as little surprise that both sides made a plethora of changes from their respective games on Saturday. There were several unexpected names on the team sheet however, and the entertainment and quality on show warmed those in attendance on a chilly December evening. 

There were seven changes for Leamington, with Paul Holleran opting to give several of his squad the night off in preparation for the FA Trophy tie against Rochdale on Saturday. Tim Berridge and Ted Rowe were both handed starts, while Jiah Medrano kept his place. Josh Quaynor returned from his suspension to take up a position in front of the back four, while there were first team debuts for three young Academy prospects; Tom Connell, Charlie Beddows and Harry Lloyd. There was also a debut for Robbie Paratore, a 29 year old striker from Australia, who after starting out in Leicester City’s Academy, appeared for the likes of AFC Fylde, ACR Messina, Telford, Stourbridge and Corinthian Casuals over the last few years. There was a familiar name between the posts for Halesowen in the shape of their first team coach Lewis Solly, who was a mainstay in a Stourbridge side that was such a thorn in the side of Jason Cadden’s Leamington teams nearly 20 years ago. 

Both sets of supporters in the unsurprisingly low crowd would have been unsure of what to expect, but what they got was a pretty bright opening quarter of an hour or so, with both sides committed to attacking at pace. 

A clear tactic from the visitors was to try and take advantage of the perceived inexperience of right back Connell by getting the ball to former Coventry City prospect Jake Hickman whenever possible, to allow him to run at the Leamington defence. Connell was ably supported by the vast experience of Theo Streete however, and made a steady start to the game. He also possesses a Rob Evans-esque long throw in his armory; the Brakes captain for the evening allowing his young team mate the responsibility of launching the ball into the penalty area when given the opportunity. 

Leamington were settling down nicely despite the team changes, and Berridge did well inside the box on the left, turning back inside before finding Paratore, who shot was shovelled onto the roof of the net for a corner; which was played in dangerously close to the goal line before being headed onto the roof of the net by former Brakes loanee Nat Kelly. 

A lovely one touch move involving Evans, Beddows, Paratore and Berridge which ended with the intervention of a Yeltz defender. Lloyd then came within the width of a post from opening the scoring as his low volley bounced off the hardening turf and onto the post, with a team mate unable to capitalise. 

Paratore sent another effort into the arms of Solly from the left of the penalty area as Brakes continued to press. 

The visitors were close to taking a spectacular lead when Hawkins’ clearance from out on the right wing was quickly played back into the Leamington half. Adi Yussuf held it up, and McKauley Manning launched an audacious effort towards goal that a backpeddaling Hawkins held on his line. 

Seconds later, Leamington were in front; and the name of the goalscorer was a welcome one. Berridge kept hold of the ball well on the edge of the Town penalty area before drilling a low strike past a static Solly into the bottom left hand corner for a long awaited first goal in Gold and Black. 

The Leamington debutants were performing brilliantly, showing maturity beyond their years, while Paratore was also putting in a useful performance linking midfield and attack. The manager, watching proceedings from the Mick Brady Stand, must have been delighted with what he was seeing. 

On the occasions they had been able to counter in the first half Halesowen had looked dangerous, and they did so again within the opening minute of the second, to devastating effect. Hickman beat Connell on the right before firing low into the centre, where debutant Ryan Fletcher turned well before firing beyond a possibly unsighted Hawkins into the net.

Despite the Yeltz having started the brighter, Leamington were still threatening, and Rowe drove a shot straight at Solly. 

Both sides introduced more Academy talent from the substitutes bench, with Ethan Ritchie coming on for his debut for Brakes. The youngster almost put Brakes back in front as the ball arrived at his feet just inside the box on the right, his shot taking a slight deflection that took it inches past the post. 

From the resulting corner Berridge got a flick on but the ball was blocked on the line and half cleared back out to the taker Rowe, who fed Berridge on the edge of the area for a low strike just past the upright. The striker, clearly with an eye on more goals after opening his account, was then a whisker away from connecting with Quaynor’s ball into the box. 

This was a great spell of pressure from Brakes after Halesowen’s spell on top, and Solly was put under heavy pressure as he collected another ball into the box. 

Young goalkeeper Jacob Humphries, who has been on the bench for the first team for much of the season, was also introduced for his debut in the last ten minutes. 

The game became an end to end affair, with Cousens driving a shot over following a counter that was born from a fine challenge by Connell in defence. Berridge hooked a shot in over his shoulder that rolled past the post seconds before the final whistle, and a penalty shoot out 

There was good natured banter between the two sets of supporters in the Harbury Lane End as Berridge stepped up to send Solly the wrong way, Yussuf scored after a stuttering run up, and Quaynor blasted his spot kick home. Humphries went the right way for Kelly’s penalty, while Theo Streete rifled his into the top corner. Yeltz substitute Todd Parker rolled his in, while Lloyd drove a confident effort into the net for Leamington’s fourth. 

Pa Njie levelled things up again for Halesowen, while George Ward drove Leamington’s fifth straight down the middle. Humphries was again very close to getting to Luke Postle’s spot kick, as the two sides went into sudden death. 

Rowe sent Solly the wrong way for Brakes’ sixth, and Martin Riley slammed his against the right hand post to send Leamington into Round Three. 

While the Senior Cup may not be top of either club’s agenda this season, this was a thoroughly entertaining contest between two much changed teams, and there will have been plenty of unexpected positives for both managers, while also serving as a great eye opener for the Leamington support into the fantastic work done by Chris Knott and the staff in the Academy. On this evidence, the future is bright. 

Attendance: TBA

Leamington: Callum Hawkins (13 Jacob Humphries, 81), Thomas Connell, Jiah Medrano (15 Ewan Williams, 70), Josh Quaynor, Theo Streete, Rob Evans © (14 George Ward, 46), Charlie Beddows (12 Ethan Ritchie, 59), Robbie Paratore (16 Tobias Cousens, 70), Harry Lloyd, Tim Berridge, Ted Rowe. 

Halesowen Town: Lewis Solly, Jak Hickman © (15 Todd Parker, 84), Luke Postle, Patrick Wood, Nathaniel Kelly, Martin Riley, Musa Ceesay Ceesay (14 Ben Cassidy, 73), Pa Njie, Adi Yussuf, Ryan Fletcher, McKauley Manning (16 Mason Heather, 65). 

Subs not used: 12 Ryan Wollacott, 17 Dan Platt (GK)

Referee: Mr Ashley Clarke

Assistant Referees: Mr Joseph Larkin & Mr Matthew Joyce

Fourth Official: Mr Joshua East 

Brakes Man of the Match: Tom Connell.