Batchelor deals a second knockout blow to Stourbridge

After waiting so long to win a game at Stourbridge, Brakes have now won at Amblecote twice in the space of a couple of months, eliminating their rivals from two competitions in the process, writes Paul Edwards.

As with the dramatic FA Cup victory it was Richard Batchelor who snatched the winner in a typically even Red Insure Cup contest.

The home side made their usual strong start, with Ben Billingham producing a driving run and shot that was deflected behind for the first of three corners in quick succession.

Leamington slowly composed themselves and began to come into the game more.

Referee Bruce Rogers left both sides perplexed with some strange decisions, not least the yellow card shown to Joe Magunda for an innocuous collision in midfield.

Chris Knight had the first of several chances when he held off Magunda but dragged his shot across goal and wide.

Alex Taylor responded with Leamington’s first opportunity of the game when he showed great technique to cushion a first-time volley towards goal from 25 yards which took Lewis Solly by surprise but fortunately for the Stourbridge keeper was straight at him.

Knight almost broke the deadlock again before half-time when he pounced on a back-header by Jamie Hood to sprint in on goal, but slipped his shot wide.

Leamington made a good start to the second half and went in front five minutes in when Solly could only half-clear a ball and Lee Moore stabbed in a low effort with the outside of his right boot that crept past the dive of the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net.

Batchelor‘s driving run from midfield ended with a shot that travelled just wide, while James Mace saved his team at the other end when he cleared off the line following a Stourbridge corner.

The equaliser was not long in arriving, though, home debutant Jordan Fitzpatrick lashing in a low drive after Billingham had done the spadework on the right.

Brakes had a debutant of their own in Laurie Walker between the posts and he was called into action when saving another low shot, then pulling off a superb double save from Sean Evans’ powerful drive. The goalkeeper then denied Evans again, stretching to tip an audacious chip over the bar.

Leamington hit back again with chances of their own. Sam Adkins’ first-time effort was blocked by Gavin Hurren and he was then set up by Moore, with the ball deflected behind.

From the resulting corner, Magunda powered in a header that was blocked on the line by the legs of Solly, with Tom Berwick just unable to force the loose ball home.

The ball was scrambled behind again and this time Batchelor made no mistake, rising to glance home Moore’s corner at the same end of the ground that he had scored the winner in the FA Cup tie.

Knight spurned two chances to equalise when his vicious shot was beaten out by Walker, the rebound being driven over the bar.

Home substitute Drew Canavan flicked the ball up and crashed in a shot that was deflected behind, but Brakes held on to see out what was an uncharacteristically low-key affair between these two big rivals.

Stourbridge: Lewis Solly, Jordan Fitzpatrick, Gavin Hurren, Paul McCone, Sean Geddes, Nathan Bennett, Paul Lloyd, Leon Broadhurst, Chris Knight, Ben Billingham (Tom Turton, 83), Sean Evans (Drew Canavan, 75). Subs not used: Jamie Oliver, James Dyson, Sam Smith.

Brakes: Laurie Walker, James Mace, Matt Dodd (James Husband, 62) Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly (Martyn Naylor, 67), Alex Taylor, Sam Adkins, Lee Moore, Tom Berwick, Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Ricky Johnson, Stephan Morley, Dan Ward.