Corbett again administers Blues’ knockout blow

Luke Corbett again proved the scourge of Birmingham City, knocking the Championship side out of the Birmingham Senior Cup for the second time in three seasons, writes Paul Edwards.

The visitors had taken the lead in closing stages of a first half which had seen Leamington in command, but second-half goals from Asa Charlton and Corbett turned the tables to earn the hosts their first win in five.

Paul Holleran made changes to the side that had started at St Albans, dropping Lee Downes and Luke Corbett to the bench and resting Liam Francis, while introducing James Husband, Sam Adkins and David Kolodynski.

For the first 25 minutes, Brakes took the game to their visitors, keeping possession in the attacking third and looking composed on the ball.

Despite this there were few chances at either end, the first one of note coming from Craig Owen, whose header at full stretch failed to trouble Blues’ England under-21 keeper Jack Butland.

The visitors won a free-kick in a dangerous position outside the penalty area but the ball was played in and tamely put behind.

Jacob Blyth placed a headed effort straight at Butland from a free-kick and Brice Ntambwe strode forward menacingly for the visitors before driving his shot wide of Lee Evans’ goal.

Blyth then leathered an ambitious effort well wide of the target.

Mitchell Hancox looped a header high over the bar as the two sides began to create more opportunities.

Luke Hubbins headed straight at Evans from a corner before the Brakes keeper contributed to Birmingham’s opening goal, blasting an attempted clearance straight at Ashley Sammons, who was fortunate with the ricochet and had the simple task of slotting into an empty net.

The goal was harsh on Leamington, who had been the better side for the majority of the opening half, and they quickly set about trying to get level after the break.

Kolodynski cut in from the left and cracked a fizzing low drive that was well held by Butland.

Blyth was then thwarted by a last-ditch clearance as he attempted to convert his strike partner’s cross from the left.

Sam Adkins sent a good effort flashing wide before the equaliser arrived in the 64th minute.

With Leamington pushing forward the ball was only half-cleared to Stephan Morley just outside the penalty area on the right. He lifted a high ball across goal where Charlton stole in unnoticed to clip a neat shot just inside the angle of post and bar.

The goal further buoyed the crowd, who had found their voices after a silent first half.

Evans also responded to his team-mates’ efforts, springing to his right to push a fierce shot away for a corner.

Leamington threatened again when Owen won his battle with a defender on the left, squaring for Kolodynski inside the area, who saw his shot blocked.

At the other end, Evans got down late to block a dangerous shot.

The winning goal had a sense of deja vu about it. Corbett had settled a thrilling tie between these two sides back in 2009 with a late break-away goal and, while his winner in this tie was not quite as exciting, it was certainly no less satisfying.

Kolodynski, a livewire presence throughout the second half, picked up the ball on the right wing and, faced with a defender, whipped in a superb cross that took the slightest of deflections on its way to the far post, where Corbett popped up to slot home.

There was a heart-in-mouth moment at the end of the game when Evans collided with Mitchell Hancox as they competed for the ball on the edge of the Leamington area.

It looked for a moment as though referee Marc Perry would award a penalty to Birmingham, but nothing was given.

And, as Hancox was applauded from the pitch with blood streaming from a head wound, the game was bought to its conclusion, leaving Brakes in the last four of the Senior Cup for the first time since 1980.

Brakes: Lee Evans, Michael Tuohy, Stephan Morley, Craig Owen, James Mace, Asa Charlton, James Husband (Lee Downes, 63), Sam Adkins, Jacob Blyth (Luke Corbett, 78), David Kolodynski, Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Dior Angus, James Robbins, Arthur Byrne.

Birmingham City: Jack Butland, Jack Deaman, Amari Bell, Brice Ntambwe, Will Packwood, Frasier Kerr, Luke Hubbins, Callum Reilly, Josh Hawker, Ashley Sammons (Dequan Ebanks, 46), Mitchell Hancox. Subs not used: Brad-Lee Gascgoine, Nick Townsend, Sam Westley, James Fry.