Birmingham Senior Cup 2nd Round
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Tuesday 27th November 2018

Brakes recovered from conceding an early penalty to record their fifth successive victory in all competitions as a second half goal glut saw off the spirited challenge of Midland League Lye Town.

Progression in a cup competition for the second time in four days has rounded off a very productive month for Leamington and ensures there is still plenty to look forward to, with some attractive fixtures ahead in December.

Paul Holleran had promised changes for this game and he was true to his word, resting Jamie Hood and Connor Gudger while dropping Jack Edwards and Junior English to the bench from Saturday’s starting eleven. Goalkeeper Ben Newey was also in the squad for the first time, and came on for his debut in the closing stages.

Jack Till curled the first attempt of the game into the arms of Tony Breeden in the opening minutes, Ahmed Obeng giving Matt Sargent his first test of the evening at the other end when he did well to keep the ball in play on the touchline inside the box before driving a shot in to the near post which the keeper pushed behind.

Luke Paskin appeared somewhat fortunate to escape with a ticking off from Referee Simon Brown after holding back Anthony Dwyer as he tried to run through on goal. Reece Flanagan took the resulting free kick, the ball deflecting onto the roof of the net.

Colby Bishop then did well to nod a right wing cross back into the centre, Dwyer nudging the ball back for Ahmed Obeng whose shot was well blocked.

The majority of the sparse crowd were then stunned as the visitors were awarded a penalty just past the half hour, James Bowen penalised for a shirt pull. Joe Lawley stepped up to calmly send Breeden the wrong way and give Lye the lead.

Brakes restored parity within four minutes however through Connor Taylor’s first goal for the club, the midfield man latching onto a good pass from Dwyer to drill a low effort past Sargent into the net.

Leamington stepped up the pace in the second half, Reece Flanagan dancing past a couple of challenges on the edge of the box before crashing in a fierce strike that Sargent beat away to the edge of the box, Obeng’s first time effort travelling just the wrong side of the upright.

Eight minutes in the second goal arrived as Lye failed to clear their lines with efforts raining in. Bishop saw a well struck first time volley blocked, Obeng was denied on the rebound as he attempted to head in the loose ball, but it was eventually played back in from the right by Dwyer, who fired it into the centre under heavy pressure, Obeng merely having to direct it into the net as it struck his chest.

Bishop was a whisker away from a third when he beat two defenders on the left edge of the box before curling a shot just over the bar, before Dwyer’s turn and shot was put behind for a corner.

Paskin eventually found his way into the Referee’s notebook for impeding Obeng as he looked to burst forward. Brakes’ forward momentum continued however, James Bowen leathering in a shot that deflected behind, the Referee awarding a goal kick.

A quick break forward saw Taylor feed Bishop on the right, and though the angle was tight his powerful shot grazed the top of the crossbar. Sargent was then required to fist away another effort from Dwyer.

Gloss was applied to the scoreline with three goals in the final fifteen minutes, Bishop finally getting on the scoresheet on 75 when Bowen laid the ball on a plate for him two yards out after winning back possession on the left and firing low into the centre.

Five minutes later the striker had his second. Played up to the edge of the box on the right by a superb pass from the impressive Taylor, who nutmegged his marker in the process, Bishop still had plenty to do but stepped past a defender and smashed in a shot that found its way into the net at the near post off the unfortunate Sargent.

The ‘old five’ was complete with four minutes to play when great work from Kieran Dunbar saw him slide the ball into the centre from the left, Obeng and Lye’s Joe Colley both sliding in to connect, but whoever got the final touch, it ended up in the back of the net to complete a satisfactory nights work for Leamington.

Attendance: 132

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, (17 Ben Newey, 82), Kieran Dunbar, James Bowen, Joe Clarke, James Mace, Jack Lane, Connor Taylor, Reece Flanagan, Colby Bishop, Anthony Dwyer, Ahmed Obeng (17 Tom James, 86).

Subs not used: 12 Jack Edwards, 14 Junior English, 15 Callum Gittings.

Lye Town: Matt Sargent, Joe Colley, Lewis Probert, Adam Meacham, Luke Paskin, Jack Pearlman, Ashley Parson-Smith, Joe Lawley, Josh McKenzie (14 Dreniz Bala, 81), Ben Billingham ©, Jack Till.

Subs not used: 12 Luke Carter, 15 Aaron Bishop, 16 Lewis Clarke, 17 Lewis Worsey.

Referee: Mr Simon Brown

Assistant Referees: Mr Callum Fisk & Mr Aaron Ford

Brakes Man of the Match: Connor Taylor.