Leamington ease through as new additions make positive impact

Brakes rolled over near-neighbours Rugby Town to advance in the Red Insure Cup on a chilly Tuesday evening at the New Windmill Ground.

Paul Holleran welcomed back Richard Batchelor into his starting line-up following the influential midfielder’s one- match suspension, and with James Husband and James Rowe having picked up knocks in the FA Trophy defeat to Hyde, Alex Taylor and Jamie Sheldon were handed their first starts for the club.

Guy Sanders also started his first match since the previous round of this competition.

Both sides made a pacy start to proceedings, zipping the ball across the damp turf, but it was Brakes who opened the scoring in the 12th minute.

Matt Lewis’ downward header from a Batchelor cross was kept in play and pinged around the six-yard box before being lashed into the net by Luke Corbett.

The goalscorer set up Sheldon in the next attack, but the angle was tight and the midfielder’s shot was deflected behind.

Taylor thought he had opened his account for the club when he raced on to a through ball to stab past Dave Clarke, but his celebrations were curbed by an offside flag.

A sublime backheel by Lewis set Taylor free on the left to put a low cross in from which Sheldon shot just over. Another cross from Taylor was then cleared from in front of the visitors’ goal.

The visitors were by no means out of the game, and mounted several attacks without troubling Tony Breeden.

Brakes looked more likely to add to their advantage, and Lewis was denied by Clarke after stabbing the ball goalwards.

Lewis also had the first chance of the second half, with Clarke pushing his header over for a corner, from which Liam Daly headed narrowly over.

The tie was effectively over on the hour, when Sheldon marked his full debut with a cracking strike. Looking up from out on the right touchline, the midfielder curled a superb effort beyond Clarke and into the far corner of the net.

The visitors attempted a response but another shot flew over the bar.

Leamington were comfortable now and made the game safe with a third in the 77th minute. A swift break saw Corbett break clear, and with the Rugby defence desperately chasing back, he played in Sheldon, who slid the ball under Clarke for his second of the game.

Lee Downes’ back-header drifted wide as Brakes continued to threaten, but it was the visitors who had the better of the final ten minutes.

Substitute Danny Edmund found his route blocked by Breeden and shot into the side netting, and Michael Tuohy headed a well struck free-kick off the line.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, Scott Lycett, Stephan Morley (Michael Tuohy, 70), Lee Downes, Liam Daly, Guy Sanders, Alex Taylor, Jamie Sheldon, Matt Lewis, Luke Corbett, Richard Batchelor (Marcus Jackson, 79). Subs not used: Craig Wilding, Jamie Hood, Arthur Byrne.

Rugby Town: Dave Clarke, Gary Moran, Danny Hall (Danny Edmund, 72), Nik Preston, Melvin Gourlay, Nik Heath, Ben Steane, Paddy Connolly, Luke Keen (Warwick Alexander, 84), Seb Hamilton (Tyrone Fagan), Richard Wesley. Subs not used: Chris Charles, Craig Goodbody.