LEAMINGTON exited the Birmingham Senior Cup at the third round stage following a 3-1 defeat away at Redditch United.
The Brakes surrendered an early lead after Ant Lynn fired the visitors ahead only for Redditch to produce a comeback at the Valley Stadium.
Leamington play one level above the Reds and beat United in the Southern League Premier Central play-off semi-finals en route to promotion last season.
The Brakes made the perfect start when Lynn flicked home new singing Owen Farmer’s low cross from the left after just nine minutes.
However, Redditch drew level on 18 minutes as Ryan Boothe squeezed a shot past Leamington goalkeeper Ethan Pheasey from a tight angle at the back post after the visitors failed to deal with a corner from the right.
The Reds went close to taking the lead later in the first half as Nick Clayton-Phillips saw his driven effort from 15-yards out hit the base of the post.
And United completed the turnaround on 38 minutes when Marvellous Onabirekhanlen held off a Leamington defender a slid a shot underneath the goalkeeper to finish off a fine team move.
The home side almost extended their lead as Boothe poked a shot towards the bottom right corner only for Felix Banke-Wallis to clear the ball off the line.
And the Reds went close again moments later when Clayton-Phillips retrieved a loose ball and saw his dangerous cross parried by Pheasey before the keeper gathered at the second attempt.
The Brakes almost drew level after the break with Ollie Taylor unable to hold Joe Clarke’s header from a free-kick as Redditch scrambled the ball to safety.
And Leamington spurned a glorious chance to equalise soon after as Lynn burst through only to shoot straight at Taylor when one-on-one.
However, Redditch sealed their place in the next round on 82 minutes when Boothe stretched out a leg to turn home William Grewal-Pollard’s cross from the left from six-yards out.
Leamington are next in action against Rushall Olympic on Saturday, January 25 with kick-off at 3pm at Dales Lane.
