Birmingham Senior Cup 2nd Round
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Monday 12th February 2018

Securing National League North safety was always going to be top of Leamington’s priorities this season, but nevertheless it was disappointing to see Paul Holleran’s side relinquish their hold on the trophy after just one game as they were edged out by a well organised West Bromwich Albion Under 23 side.

The Brakes boss used the break from a gruelling league programme to rotate his squad as much as he was able to, resting Callum Gittings while Jamie Hood and Junior English took their places on the substitutes bench, allowing Richard Taundry, Kurtis Revan and Liam Canavan some much needed game time. Ahmed Obeng also started while two members of Brakes’ all conquering Under 18’s side, Shay Nicholson and Jack Winiarski, both came on for their first team debut in the last ten minutes.

Leamington certainly created the majority of chances throughout, Revan playing in Obeng on the edge of the box early on for a low effort which was saved by keeper Ben Pierce. Revan himself then wriggled free of the attentions of an Albion defender to send a rising drive over the bar.

Albion front two Evan Pierce and Jamie Soule combined for the former to force Tony Breeden into his first save of the game with a well struck shot.

As you would expect from a Premier League club’s academy side the visitors sprayed the ball around with confidence at times but Leamington matched their workrate, Kieran Dunbar stealing the ball back midway through the Albion half and feeding Obeng on the left, who in turn found Canavan in the box. Some neat footwork saw him bustle past three defenders before driving a powerful shot just past the right hand post.

The only goal of the game arrived almost on the half time whistle, and there was a sprinkling of Premier League quality from the scorer. Jonathan Leko has recently been recalled from a season long loan spell at Championship side Bristol City by new Baggies boss Alan Pardew, having already made over a dozen first team appearances for West Brom and he was found in acres of space by Soule on the left inside the penalty area as he drove at a backtracking Leamington defence, driving in a low shot that Breeden will have been disappointed to let slip under him, though he was possibly unsighted and got down well to the shot.

Revan was bundled to the ground inside the box by what was an untidy challenge at best early in the second half, the ball eventually falling to Joe Clarke, who crashed a shot just past the upright from 25 yards.
Breeden was almost beaten by Leko again as the 18 year olds’ cross was deflected towards goal by James Mace, Breeden pushing the ball onto the inside of the post before it was cleared away.

Canavan came close again with a powerful swerving drive from 25 yards that whistled just past the post, while not for the first time in recent games Brakes fans were left questioning the officials when Revan dispossessed goalkeeper Pierce before attempting to fire the ball across goal, the ball clearly hitting a defender and going behind, the assistant on that side signalling for a goal kick to the disbelief of those in the Harbury Lane End.

Canavan struck the defensive wall with a free kick after a foul on Obeng saw Pablo Martinez go into the Referee’s notebook. The midfielder picked up possession again from the loose ball and saw a shot deflected behind.

Brakes continued to probe for an equaliser that never came as youngsters Nicholson and Winiarski were introduced. Revan’s strike as he cut in from the right looked goalbound before it struck Albion skipper Kyle Jameson and went behind for a corner, while a mazy run from Obeng into the box drew a save from Pierce, but lifting the trophy at Molinuex back in May seems a long way off now, as Leamington have just the league to concentrate their efforts on.

Attendance: 144

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Richard Taundry, Connor Gudger, Joe Clarke (15 Shay Nicholson, 82), James Mace, Joe Magunda, Kaine Felix (16 Jack Winiarski, 80), Kieran Dunbar, Kurtis Revan, Liam Canavan (14 Junior English, 80), Ahmed Obeng.

Subs not used: 12 Stefan Moore, 17 Jamie Hood.

West Bromwich Albion: Ben Pierce, Sam Wilding (14 Aram Soleman, 46), Robbie McCourt, Zak Brown, Pablo Martinez, Kyle Jameson ©, Jonathan Leko, Mylo Hall, Evan Pierce, Jamie Soule (15 George Harman, 81), Taylor Morrison.

Subs not used: 12 Kevin Healy, 13 Adam Przybek, 16 Cameron Walker.

Referee: Sarah Garrett

Assistant Referees: Tom Bowkett & Martin Gittings

Brakes Man of the Match: Kurtis Revan.