FOOTBALL: LEAMINGTON dropped into the bottom half of the Vanarama National League North table on Tuesday night following a 2-0 defeat to Kidderminster.
The Brakes put in a hard working display, yet earned nothing from their trip to Worcestershire as they suffered their third straight defeat on the spin.
Brakes lined up with several players that had appeared in a Kidderminster shirt at one point in their career while former Leamington men Liam Daly and Sam Austin lined up for the Harriers.
Daly quickly got stuck into his former side as he registered the Harriers’ first effort on goal.
Colby Bishop responded for Leamington as he cut in from the left to send a low shot into the arms of Brandon Hall.
Harries used the wings where possible to generate pressure as Jamie Hood and Richard Taundry were made to work hard by the home side’s attacking threat of Emmanuel Sonupe and Elton Ngwatala.
Skipper Tyrone Williams looked to have a good chance to open the scoring at the near post, but appeared to balloon his shot into the air.
While Leamington were made to work increasingly hard in defence, they weren’t short of chances at the other end.
Bishop and Obeng linked up down to right only for Obeng to have an eventual shot blocked.
The home side had their best chance of the half when another slick passing move saw Ironside play in Sonupe, who attempted to clip the ball over Breeden. However the former Harriers stopper got a hand to the ball to concede a corner.
Though both teams ended the half level, Kidderminster’s pressure told on 64 minutes when substitute Milan Butterfield was penalised for sticking a boot out to challenge Sonupe.
Ironside stepped up to send Breeden the wrong way from the penalty spot.
With the game starting to slip away from them, the goal forced Brakes out of their shell.
Liam Canavan made his Brakes debut as a substitute with 15 minutes to play – and he wasted no time in getting involved by winning a crunching challenge in the centre circle.
Kidderminster sealed the game in stoppage time though with a goal from Sonupe.
Brakes keeper Tony Breeden made the decision to go up for a late corner. It backfired though when the corner was cleared and Sonupe struck from 40 yards.
Paul Holleran said after the game: “Kidderminster will be one of the toughest away fixtures we will have this season.
“I thought we contained them really well for long periods, and we looked a threat on the break.
“We’ve then had a right good go at them.”
Picture: Sally Ellis.
