Pitching In Southern League Premier Division 
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Saturday 30th March 2024

Leamington took on a Halesowen Town side still in with a slight chance of making the play offs as they entered their final half dozen games of the season. Under new manager Russell Penn, the Yeltz had only lost one of their last four games, and would not be easy opponents as Paul Holleran’s men looked to consolidate their place in the top six. 

There were inevitably changes to the starting eleven after the bitterly disappointing Birmingham Senior Cup exit on Tuesday evening at Racing Club Warwick; Theo Streete, Rob Evans and Will Shorrock all returning. Jiah Medrano was unavailable after his injury in that game, while former Yeltz players Josh Quaynor and Evans lined up against the club where they are still revered after helping them to promotion last season. 

The visitors are backed by the easily the biggest supporter base in the division, and a good number of them had made their way over from the Black Country. They were in good voice early on as their side started well, and Miracle Okafor almost got in behind the Brakes defence in the opening minutes, but after taking the ball round Callum Hawkins it was cleared away. 

Jack Edwards was sent sprawling as he attempted to latch on to a ball forward, but Referee Gareth David was not interested, something which was replicated at the opposite end seconds later when Hawkins felt he was impeded as he attempted to go over the top of Miracle Okafor to claim the ball. 

Leamington had started in similar fashion to the second half at Warwick on Tuesday, having to soak up plenty of pressure from the visitors without being able to exert any of their own. Adam Walker gave away a free kick in a dangerous position for the visitors on the right edge of the penalty area. Former Coventry City academy product Jak Hickman delivered the ball to the far post, where it was headed back across goal towards Kieren Donnelly, who was penalised for a high foot on Edwards.  

Cally Stewart sparked Brakes’ forward movements into life when he sent a decent curling effort flying past the right hand post from 20 yards out. 

The attacks were sparse at both ends now as the game became a little scrappy, with both teams cancelling each other out. Adam Walker stabbed an effort at goal inside a crowded penalty area, but there was little to enthuse the healthy crowd of 914. 

Dan Meredith, usually such a reliable outlet down the right, was seeing very little of the ball in this game, and was barely presented with an opportunity to run with it or get crosses into the box. Halesowen did well to stifle the Leamington attack, and a first half of few chances ended goalless. 

Donnelly and Walker both received cautions in the early stages of the second half after a brief meleé right in front of the Leamington dugout. 

The Yeltz had a decent chance to open the scoring when Okafor’s low cross travelled across the Leamington six yard box unchallenged. Reece Mitchell got to the loose ball first, delivering it back into the centre, where Donnelly stretched to head just over the bar. 

After his tremendous free kick goal last Saturday it was perhaps inevitable that Evans would get a chance against his former club. What’s more, it came at around the same point in the afternoon. Shorrock won a corner on the right and his delivery into the box was attacked by Tyrone Barnett, whose header was met by a fantastic save from Dan Platt, but the ball ran loose to Evans, who rammed a first time volley into the roof of the net. 

Stewart sent a shot on the turn over the crossbar as Leamington attempted to find a second goal that might secure the three points, and they came mightily close in the closing stages twice in quick succession. Good work down the right from substitute Henry Landers saw him drive the ball in low as he went to ground, Stewart connecting with a fierce first time drive which was saved brilliantly by Platt, who scrambled to his feet to get something on Walker’s follow up effort, the ball striking the base of the post. 

Halesowen responded immediately, substitute Ryan Boothe slamming a shot from the right into the side netting, but Brakes saw out the remaining time to collect another big three points. 

Attendance: 914

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Ewan Williams (12 Joe Clarke, 88), Theo Streete, Rob Evans, Will Shorrock (14 Henry Landers, 82), Adam Walker, Jack Edwards, Tyrone Barnett (15 Devon Kelly-Evans, 75), Callum Stewart. 

Subs not used: 16 Connor Taylor, 17 Dan Baldwin. 

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt, Luke Redfearn (15 McKauley Manning, 63), Reece Mitchell, Todd Parker, Ryan Wynter, Tom Taylor, Jak Hickman, Kai Lissimore (12 Jack Holmes, 77), Miracle Okafor (17 Ryan Boothe, 83), Caine Elliott, Kieren Donnelly. 

Subs not used: 14 Richard Gregory, 16 Will Harris. 

Referee: Mr Gareth Davis

Assistant Referees: Mr Michael Jones & Mr Mehul Karla

Brakes Man of the Match: Rob Evans.