Vanarama National League North
Aggborough Stadium
Saturday 13th August 2022

By Paul Edwards 

Leamington had to battle extremely hard for a share of the spoils on a baking hot afternoon at Aggborough. 

Regular drinks breaks were the order of the day with temperatures well over 30 degrees, and while Kidderminster Harriers undoubtedly enjoyed more possession and more shots on goal, they were met with what proved to be an impenetrable defensive wall of blue, headed up by the outstanding Callum Hawkins in goal. Brakes had chances of their own to break the deadlock, but overall they can be satisfied with a tough afternoon’s work.

Paul Holleran stuck with the same starting eleven that defeated Farsley Celtic on the opening day, while new signing Louis Hall took his place on the substitutes bench.

Brakes inadvertently allowed Harriers onto them in the opening moments as Dan Meredith cleared straight to the lively Yusifu Ceesay, whose low strike was parried by Callum Hawkins. The ball was picked up by Zak Brown and squared to Tom Owen-Evans, who instead of shooting first time tried to engineer some space for himself, and was charged down.

Ashley Hemmings had their next effort, and was afforded plenty of space on the right, but curled his effort wide of the far post. Owen-Evans then sliced horribly over from six yards as Kidderminster attacked with purpose down the left, Caleb Richards playing the ball in dangerously.

It was clearly going to be a busy afternoon for the Brakes custodian, and shortly afterwards he produced a smart double save, first to deny Ceesay and then Joe Foulkes from close range.

Brakes forced the first corner of the afternoon around the fifteen minute mark following a long throw from Ben Usher-Shipway, but it came to nothing. Shortly afterwards Dan Turner registered the first effort on target of the afternoon for Leamington when Junior English played him on the right, forcing Tom Palmer down to his near post to save.

On twenty minutes the first flashpoint of the afternoon arrived, and it was a highly debatable one. From the away fans viewpoint behind the goal the ball looked to be clearly out of play on the left before it was played to Cessay in the area. He was sent flying by Hawkins after the ball had gone, but the Referee pointed immediately to the spot, leaving the visiting support outraged. However, in the eyes of the Brakes support justice was served as Hawkins was not put off by Hemmings’ attempt to stutter his run up, diving low to his right to make a fine save. Shane Byrne then blazed the loose ball over the bar from the edge of the box.

Hawkins was relieved as Owen-Evans’ low strike from the edge of the box struck the post before rebounding into his arms just before the first drinks break of the afternoon.

The same player sent another shot high over the bar after the resumption, before Nathan Lowe won Harriers’ first corner of the afternoon as James Mace diverted his shot behind.

Referee Craig Scriven, who had ignored the shouts from the visiting supporters alerting him to the fact that there was a hole in the goal net down by the post, angered them further by cupping his ear to them during a break in play, a little unnecessary given the circumstances.

The atmosphere around Aggborough quietened considerably as half time approached, with Leamington holding firm and starting to stem the flow of Kidderminster chances.

Brakes forged the first chance of the second half early on, Jack Edwards heading a corner back across goal for Turner to nod towards the top corner, only for Palmer to push the ball behind. The resulting flag kick was plucked out from under the crossbar by the Harriers keeper.

Edwards had clearly been wound up by the close attentions of Nathaniel Knight Percival in the opening moments of the half, and he was raising his game, making a fine ball winning challenge in the middle of the park to send Turner off towards goal. The striker returned the ball to Edwards, who won a corner off Palmer at his near post.

Owen-Evans saw another strike held by Hawkins at the other end, but Leamington were having their best spell of the game now, and Jack Lane sent a header towards goal from another corner after Meredith’s piledriver was deflected over the bar, only to be denied by Palmer. A good run from Adam Walker saw him flight the ball towards Lane at the far post, but Palmer plucked the ball out of the air.

Play switched quickly to the other end, and Ceesay looked to be in on goal, but Hawkins whipped the ball off his boot.

The pressure then switched to the other end, and Owen-Evans looked to have hit the post again. Substitute Ethan Freemantle then dragged a shot on turn inches wide of the far post.

Late on Kiddy substitute Gabby Rogers fired over the 5 Star Windows North Stand terrace, while Ceesay ended a dangerous run with a shot that didn’t miss the far post by much.

Brakes substitute Alex Prosser picked up a harsh late booking on halfway, but Brakes held firm and consolidated a sterling defensive performance with a second consecutive clean sheet.

Attendance: 2,092 (51 Leamington)

Kidderminster Harriers: 1 Tom Palmer, 3 Caleb Richards, 4 Nat Knight-Percival, 5 Krystian Pearce, 7 Tom Owen-Evans (21 Gabby Rogers, 81), 8 Nathan Lowe, 10 Ashley Hemmings, 11 Yusifu Ceesay, 12 Joe Foulkes, 14 Zak Brown (17 Ethan Freemantle, 71), 23 Shane Byrne ©.

Subs not used: 6 Tom Leak, 15 Keziah Martin, 16 Ben Margetson.

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Junior English, Dan Meredith, Simeon Maye (14 Kieran Cook, 75), James Mace, Jack Lane, Ben Usher-Shipway (12 Alex Prosser, 71), Adam Walker, Dan Turner, Jack Edwards ©, Devon Kelly-Evans.

Subs not used: 15 Connor Taylor, 16 Louis Hall, GK Tom Day.

Referee: Mr Craig Scriven

Assistant Referees: Mr Ben Robinson & Mr David Critchlow

Brakes Man of the Match: Callum Hawkins.