Leamington replay match report
Match report by Rupert Cane
Kingstonian’s FA Trophy run came to an end in wet and windy Warwickshire as a first-half Leamington goal was enough to settle yet another close encounter between the sides.
Our National League North opponents were worthy winners, but just as in the FA Cup K’s battled hard before eventually suffering the fate of elimination.
An impressive number of away supporters made it to the Phillips 66 Community Stadium despite the atrocious conditions that put the game in doubt. As it turned out, the pitch held up well, but the gale-force wind seriously affected the quality of the contest.
K’s started brightly but were restricted to long-range efforts by a solid Brakes backline. Calum Davies drew a couple of saves out of Jack Weaver, while Fabio Saraiva, deployed in the no.10 role in place of the injured Reece Hall, fired wide on his left.
Shortly after the half-hour, the hosts went ahead when Jack Edwards collected Coventry loanee David Bremang’s pass and picked out the bottom corner as he drove into the box.
In response, Davies shot weakly at Weaver who somehow couldn’t hold it, allowing the lurking Tom Kavanagh to find Gus Sow with the keeper out of position. From an angle and with plenty of bodies standing in his way it was by no means a simple chance, and Sow saw his effort cleared off the line by James Mace.
On the stroke of half-time, Leamington almost doubled their lead. We had our pockets picked in midfield, and after Bremang took it around Rob Tolfrey, Ollie Cook was the man in the right place at the right time to hook off the line.
Kingstonian were playing with the wind after the interval, but in truth that hindered the passing style that has reaped such rewards this season. Balls over the top regularly flew over the Brakes’ high line and into Weaver’s grateful arms, or behind for a goal-kick.
Leamington pressed for a killer second and Stephan Morley skimmed the outside of the post with a fierce cross-shot.
Our best opportunity to make it 1-1 for the second time in four days was a Fabio free-kick from fully 30 yards out that Weaver managed to palm behind. Substitutions were made and players moved around, but to no avail. Leamington closed the game out with little fuss.
So another wonderful cup journey comes to an end, with K’s left to rue some bad luck following injuries, suspensions and unexpected departures. What awaits now is the small matter of a Surrey Senior Cup tie at Woking and, hopefully, a play-off push.
Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke, James Mace, Jack Lane, Kaiman Anderson, Callum Maycock, David Bremang, Jack Edwards, Connor Taylor.
Subs: Callum Gittings (for Callum Maycock, 88m), Kieran Dunbar (for Kaiman Anderson, 90m), Jordan Murphy, Kyle McFarlane (for David Bremang, 90m), Reece Rawlings, Josh Allen.
Kingstonian: Rob Tolfrey, Sean Clohessy, Harry Osborne, Simon Cooper, Ollie Cook, Tom Kavanagh, Gus Sow, Kenny Beaney, Calum Davies, Fabio Saraiva, Dan Hector.
Subs: Dan Thompson (for Tom Kavanagh, 64m), Jerry Puemo (for Ollie Cook, 84m), Ben Harrison, Lewis Pearch, Tutu Henriques, Cameron Reardon.
Goal scorer: Jack Edwards (31m, 1-0)
Attendance: 308
