Wed, 19 Nov 2008 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Bromsgrove Rovers (1-2). Birmingham County FA Senior Cup - 3rd Round. By P Edwards. Birmingham Senior Cup Round 3
Tuesday November 18th, 2008
Leamington bowed out of the Birmingham Senior Cup in disappointing fashion to fellow Midland Division side Bromsgrove Rovers, who are having a mixed season at present, but were deserving of progression in this competition. If not for some fine saves by Richard Anstiss, the scoreline could perhaps have been worse, although at the other end Rovers keeper James Dormand also made some fine stops. The game was marred by the double sending off of Luke Corbett and Rovers' Leon Woodley, both for straight red cards, after an ugly skirmish during the first half. This could see Brakes lose one of their main front men for a lengthy period.
Corbett almost opened the scoring with the first opportunity of the game on nine minutes. A quick free kick by Guy Sanders caught the Rovers defence napping, and Corbett controlled and struck the ball firmly enough, but hit his shot straight at Dormand, who parried the ball over his head. Corbett managed to keep it in play, but his cross was cleared from danger. Davion Hamilton sent Bromsgrove's first sight of goal high and wide from out on the left, but Richard Anstiss was called into action to claim the ball at the second attempt from a dangerous cross into his area. Sanders had a good chance for Leamington, but was off target with a first time shot after Matt Gardiner only half cleared the ball following a free kick.
Corbett played a fine pass across the pitch that allowed Jamie Towers to storm into the area, but with a trailing defender and Dormand moving from his line to narrow the angles, he hit his shot into the Harbury Lane End. Jason Taylor then put a hurried effort wide from a good position at the other end.
There was a hairy moment for Leamington, and Anstiss in particular, as he raced from his line to challenge Hamilton, who was scampering on to a through ball. The Rovers number seven was sent sprawling, and for a moment it looked as if the Brakes keeper would marking his second appearance of the season with an early bath, but the presence of covering defenders was enough to persuade match official Mr Gibbs to issue just a yellow card. The resulting free kick did not trouble the Leamington goal. Glenn Webb was played into space on the left in our next attack, but perhaps had more time than he realised, and put his shot high and wide.
The game had not been dirty in the slightest up until this point, but on thirty two minutes, players from both sides clashed, as is usually the case when something happens that is disagreed with, and Luke Corbett was dismissed, presumably for raising his hands, along with Woodley, who, it seemed, went for getting involved afterwards. Fortunately this did not appear to raise the temperature of the game.
The opening goal arrived five minutes later. The build up was not brilliant from Leamington's point of view, as they could not get the ball clear, but Taylor did well to get the ball to strike partner Nathaniel White, who steered his close range effort wide of Anstiss and into the net.
Josh Blake had a superb opportunity to get Brakes back on terms just before the interval. Adam Cooper stood over a free kick on the right, and with everyone expecting a ball into the box, nobody picked up Marcus Jackson, who sped onto the ball played forward to him. His first cross was blocked, the second found Blake, six yards out and right in front of goal, but unfortunately he put his header wide of the target.
Richard Anstiss may have had some hearts in mouths during the game as he came off his line on several occasions, but he made three brilliant saves at the beginning of the second half to keep his side in the game, as Bromsgrove started well on top. The first was from a long distance pile driver from Dean Craven, which was tipped over the bar. A header by Rapinder Gill from the resulting corner was pushed out from under the crossbar, and another good effort moments later was parried. Blake played an unintentional one - two with Webb, and forced a good save from Dormand for Leamington's first effort of the half. From the resulting couple of corners, Gill almost put through his own net at the near post.
Rovers seemed determined to add to their lead however, and Keenan Meakin Richards saw a good effort flash wide of the far post, before Hamilton forced another save from Anstiss with powerful effort that was parried away.
The introduction of Mykel Beckley for Webb looked to add some pace to the Brakes attack, but at the back Sanders was in to steal the ball from Jason Taylor as he was played in on goal. Beckley made his first contribution, sliding the ball through for Jamie Towers, but Dormand denied him, saving with his legs. Anstiss made another save from a great effort by White, before the striker added his and his teams' second goal on seventy one minutes. It was similar to the first goal, and the ball almost appeared to be presented back to him by the Brakes defence.
Mark Bellingham had joined the action from the bench minutes beforehand, and inevitably he was involved as Leamington looked for a way back into the game. Dormand was just there to beat him to a Towers cross, but the keeper was caught out when the next one arrived on seventy five minutes. Towers picked up the ball in defence from a poor ball across the pitch, and accelerated up right. Bellingham stole in front of Dormand to clip a shot into the net and halve the deficit.
Leamington had chances to force the tie into extra time after this, with Beckley running at the defence but seeing his shot deflected behind. The substitute then put over an inviting ball, only for Sanders to unfortunately miss his kick in front of goal. Anstiss cleared well again as Taylor stole in looking for a clinching goal, but Blake, who had a quiet second half, had the final chance of the game when his run made space for a shot, but with Dormand to beat, he hit it straight at the keeper.
Steve Palmer made a belated debut for the club after recovering from his pre season injury, to provide a bright spot in what turned out to be a disappointing evening for Leamington, but Bromsgrove were worthy winners on the night. Hopefully there will be far greater support for both sides when we meet again on December 27th.
Leamington: Richard Anstiss, Jamie Towers, Ryan Parisi, Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders [C], Marcus Jackson (Steve Palmer, 75), Stuart Herlihy, Jamie Lenton (Mark Bellingham, 71), Josh Blake, Luke Corbett, Glenn Webb (Mykel Beckley, 55).
Subs not used: Jai Stanley, Martin Hier.
Bromsgrove Rovers: James Dormand, Rapinder Gill, James Turner, Leon Woodley, Matt Gardiner, Sam Alsop, Davion Hamilton, Keenan Meakin Richards, Jason Taylor, Nathaniel White (Tom Brady, 87), Dean Craven.