McKinley Spots It & Tolley Lobs It...

Leamington Youth finished their pre-season off with a comfortable victory over Banbury United in searing temperatures through two second half gaols from McKinley, who finally converted a penalty, and a neat lob from Tolley.

With 10 of the squad still on Holiday the depleted squad was well matched during the first half by a young Banbury side re-building for the forthcoming season. The most significant moments were a Ben Rowan drive in the 24th minute that just sailed over the bar, a Josh Tolley free-kick in the 30th that had the keeper scrambling but ended up just over, and a marauding run by the ever-improving Alex Taylor in the 35th that ended with the keeper throwing himself at Taylors feet just as he was about to pull the trigger.

However, it was not all one-way traffic as Banbury United with three up front liked to attack on the break, and Mark Moss between the sticks and the commanding Luke Moulding both produced sterling shows of authority. It's just a shame that Moss is over-age for the forthcoming campaign. Moss in particular had to pull off a good low stop in the 29th and commanded his box at all times, while Moulding won everything in the air.

Half Time 0-0 - only 38 minutes played due to a request from the Banbury manager because of the heat!

When the second half began Leamington soon took control but had fewer mentionable efforts on goal, however when you keep the ball the way they did the opposition have few opportunities as well.

The first goal came in the 65th minute when the physically powerful Mark Anderson beat his man and was brought down just as he was bursting into the box -third penalty in three games - could this one be converted? Assistant Manager Joe Bennett had, before the game, given Andrew McKinley the opportunity to redeem himself after a shocking penalty against Worcester City…..Confidently struck into the bottom left corner, which sent the keeper the wrong way, 0-1.

Young Brakes then kept up the pressure by rarely giving the ball away, and in the 80th minute debutant left back Jamie Coleman linked well with Josh Tolley to pull the opposition full back out of position, and a deft chip from Coleman allowed Tolley the chance to run at and coolly lob the advancing and desperate keeper for 0-2 at which it stayed.

45 minutes was played in the second half after a Leamington request and cooling! temperatures.

Leamington Youth from: Mark Moss (GK); Alex Shaw; Jamie Coleman; Ben Halstead-Smyth; Luke Moulding; Ben Rowan; Andrew McKinley; Mark Anderson; Josh Tolley; Ryan Howell; Alex Taylor; Lewis Scott; Nik Kyriacou

Team News: Good but not good as Ryan Howell, Ben Rowan, and Ben Elkington have been invited to the England trials, congratulations lads do yourselves proud. However they are over four days residential the first being Monday 18th August!!! Nik Kyriacou and Josh Tolley have been invited to represent Birmingham County FA in a fixture on Sunday 17th August!! To top this Iain and Martin Groves; James Taylor; Phil Thompson; Luke Moulding and Mark Anderson will all be on holiday when the first game of the season is upon us, leaving just 13 players to pick from, who would be a manager?