LEAMINGTON suffered a first pre-season defeat ahead of the 2026/27 season after losing 3-2 against Coventry City under-21s.
Goals from Kyle Finn and a trialist proved in vain for Scott Easterlow’s side against a young Sky Blues team at the Your Co-op Community Stadium.
The Brakes went unbeaten in their opening four pre-season matches which included a draw against League Two side Walsall.
Former Coventry youngsters Finn and Dexter Walters featured in Leamington’s squad.
However, the young Sky Blues took the lead on 26 minutes when Tristen Batanwi caught a Leamington player in possession and coolly found the net.
Brakes midfielder Cameron Eubank then made a vital intervention to intercept a pass across the Leamington box.
Leamington’s trialist goalkeeper then denied Elijah Briscoe as Coventry continued to push for a second goal.
And Coventry doubled their lead on 38 minutes after the trialist keeper denied Harry Gray only for a Sky Blues trialist to turn home the loose ball from close range.
Leamington’s trialist keeper made another stop later in the first half as he turned Eliot Betjeman’s first time effort to safety.
The Brakes made several changes at the break while Coventry changed their entire starting XI with the young Sky Blues two goals ahead at the interval.
And Leamington halved the deficit four minutes into the second period as Finn slammed a shot past Eliot Meredith from Walters’ low ball in from the left.
However, Coventry quickly restored their two-goal cushion as Nsemi Bassega finished from close range at the second attempt.
The visitors almost scored a fourth goal when MacKenzie Stretton’s shot cannoned against the inside of the post and back across goal.
And the Brakes hit the woodwork at the other end as Harvey Broad sliced a loose ball clear after Walters’ low cross struck the post.
The teams traded late chances as Meredith denied Finn low down while Bassega stabbed wide with the goal at his mercy at the other end.
The home side added a late consolation goal when Finn squared for a trialist to finish past Meredith with the Brakes unable to find a leveller.
Leamington are next in action against Rugby Borough on Tuesday, July 21 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Kilsby Lane.
