Brakes edged out by Sky Blues U21s in annual friendly clash
Leamington were beaten 3-2 on Friday night at home in their annual friendly with Coventry City’s U21 side.
New coach Liam Kelly’s squad contained some of the up and coming youngsters that have been in and around the first team squad as they prepare for their Premier League return, while there were two former City academy men in the Leamington squad in Kyle Finn and Dexter Walters, with Cian Tyler an interested spectator, as he recovers from illness.
Leamington’s trialist goalkeeper would have been disappointed with his first two clearances, but he gained confidence saving a couple of low strikes from outside the penalty area as the Coventry youngsters dictated play early on.
Scott Easterlow’s men had looked a little shaky at times in defence, and this showed on 26 minutes when Tristan Batanwi slotted home after a Leamington defender had been dispossessed.
Coventry threatened again, and it took a fine intervention from Cameron Eubank to prevent a potential second.
The Brakes keeper then saved well from Elijah Briscoe.
City’s youngsters scored a second in the 38th minute. Shay Dunn won a tussle with Owen Farmer, and slotted Harry Gray through on goal.
The keeper saved his initial effort well, but the Sky Blues’ trialist No.11 snaffled up the loose ball from close range.
It was very nearly three moments later, Eliot Betjemann connecting first time with a low left wing cross, but he was denied by a fantastic save.
With the visitors replacing their entire 11 and Leamington also making changes the second half was always likely to be a different story, and four minutes in Brakes showed their better side.
Substitute Dexter Walters fired an inviting low ball in from the left that was slammed home first time past Eliot Meredith by Kyle Finn.
But Coventry quickly restored their two goal advantage, Nsemi Bassega slotting home from close range after a shot was blocked.
Substitute keeper Jacob Humphries made a good save with his leg to prevent a fourth goal, while at the other end the busy Eubank saw a ferocious effort blocked at source.
Kenzie Stretton almost did add a fourth for the Sky Blues when his drive towards goal cannoned back off the inside of the right hand post and back across goal.
Brakes almost snatched a second goal when some great work from Nathan Kabeya saw him sweep the ball out left from midfield to Walters, who danced into the box and fired low across goal; Harvey Broad slicing the ball clear after it had struck the post.
More great play from Kabeya almost led to another Leamington goal; the right wing back nipping in to win the ball midway through the Coventry half before feeding Finn, who forced a good save from Meredith.
Coventry somehow managed not to bag a fourth goal as their second half scorer Bassega stabbed wide from right in front of goal.
Moments later Leamington grabbed a second, Finn squaring for Trialist G to advance and slot past Meredith.
Finn almost engineered the chance for an equaliser, but hesitated just inside the box, and the chance was gone.