Daly again proves he is the man to call on in a crisis

Leamington and Stourbridge could not be separated on Saturday, with Liam Daly’s late equaliser ensuring the tie went to a replay.

Chris Knight spent a short spell at The New Windmill two seasons ago without ever getting the opportunity to show what he could do, but he grabbed the first chance that was presented to him in this match with both hands. Turning sharply as Jamie Hood challenged him, he accelerated away from Daly and finished low past Kevin Sawyer to give the Glassboys a third-minute lead.

There was a further setback for Brakes minutes later when Craig Owen was forced off with an injury to be replaced by Lee Moore.

Lee Chilton brought a save from Lewis Solly and Stourbridge retaliated with Sam Rock driving an effort over the bar and Ben Billingham seeing his low shot saved by Sawyer.

Hood came close to levelling when he headed Moore’s corner down towards goal but Rock was well positioned on the line to clear.

Sawyer then punched away a long- range free-kick from Sean Geddes at the other end.

Leamington continued to threaten without ever showing the form they had done in their previous few matches. Joe Magunda headed over from a free-kick and Moore’s neat footwork took him into the Stourbridge penalty area where he fired an inviting ball right across goal, but there was nobody in a gold and black shirt to get on the end of it.

Drew Canavan set off on a run towards goal just before half-time that ended with a low drive which was saved well by Sawyer.

Lewis Solly unwittingly set up Leamington’s leveller just past the hour when he punched a clearance out to Moore just outside the area and the substitute coolly lifted his shot back over the keeper and into the net.

Tom Berwick was inches from giving Brakes an instant lead in the next attack, challenging a defender for Dodd’s cross only to see the ball drop just past the post.

Aaron Griffiths entered the action for the visitors and immediately picked up possession, setting off on run towards goal and seeing his low shot saved by Sawyer.

The Glassboys retook the lead in their next attack, however, when Geddes’ skidding low drive from distance found the net off the inside of the post.

Just when it looked like all was lost, Brakes drew on their new-found powers of resolve and, just as on the opening day of the season, Daly was the gamesaver.

A corner was not fully cleared and Moore picked up possession and played the ball back into a crowded area. Again it was not cleared and James Mace touched it back to Daly, who arrowed a low drive inside the post from just outside the area.

Chilton again demonstrated his first-time shooting abilities when he cracked a brilliant effort just wide following a free-kick as Brakes pressed for a late winner.

There was an anxious moment when Stourbridge were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out, but Geddes could not repeat his earlier heroics and fired his shot over the bar.

Leamington: Kevin Sawyer, James Mace, James Husband (Stephan Morley, 70), Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Matt Dodd, Lee Chilton, Tom Berwick, Craig Owen, Richard Batchelor (Sam Adkins, 83). Subs not used: Michael Tuohy, Joshua Tiff, Daniel Ward, Liam O’Neill.

Stourbridge: Lewis Solly, Sam Rock (Aaron Griffiths, 69), Sam Smith, Paul McCone, Sean Geddes, Nathan Bennett, Paul Lloyd, Leon Broadhurst, Chris Knight, Ben Billingham, Drew Canavan. Subs not used: Linden Dovey, Tom Turton, Jamie Oliver, Stuart Hendrie, James Dyson.