Batchelor winner was a long time coming

Last-minute winners do not come along too often, and when they do they encapsulate the ultimate highs and lows of being a football supporter, writes Paul Edwards.

So when Richard Batchelor chose the perfect moment to score his first goal of the season on Tuesday night, the result was pure unbridled joy for the Brakes fans who travelled to the Black Country.

Leamington had not tasted victory at Amblecote since January 1984 and the Glassboys had handed out several heartbreaking results and memories over the last seven years to make this result all the more significant.

There was disbelief among the visiting ranks as the match got off to almost the same start as it had done on Saturday. The hosts were allowed to advance in space to the edge of the box where Ben Billingham had time to pick his spot, curling a low shot wide of Kevin Sawyer and inside the far post.

The opening stages almost mirrored those of the previous game, but as the rain began to fall, Brakes slowly began to make inroads.

Tom Berwick turned well inside the area to create a chance for himself but snatched at the shot somewhat, firing it well over the bar.

Lee Moore then capitalised on a slip by Glassboys skipper Paul McCone, advancing into the area and playing in Lee Chilton, whose usual shooting powers deserted him as he miscued badly.

Stourbridge were creating chances of their own and threatened to extend their advantage. James Mace made a timely intervention to divert Chris Knight’s shot over the bar and Sawyer saved well from Leon Broadhurst after Brakes had given the ball away in midfield.

Leamington had not fully extended Lewis Solly in the Stourbridge goal, but dragged themselves level five minutes before half-time.

Matt Dodd won a free-kick out on the right and Moore delivered a dangerous ball into the six-yard box for Liam Daly to bundle home at the far post for his second goal of the tie.

After the excitement of the first period, the majority of the second half was devoid of any serious scoring chances for either side.

Drew Canavan had a low drive saved by Sawyer, while Stephan Morley’s first start of the season lasted just under an hour as he was replaced by Michael Tuohy.

Daly almost scored a second for Leamington when he lifted a shot in that Solly was forced to push over the bar.

From the resulting corner, Batchelor flicked a header towards goal but Sean Geddes cleared the danger.

At the other end there was a desperate scramble inside the penalty area, Sawyer fisting one effort away, another being cleared off the line and a third eventually saved by the big keeper.

Solly then dived full-length to keep out a fine curling effort from Chilton as the match, and the vocal support from both sets of fans, sparked into life.

Billingham cracked another shot just wide for Stourbridge and Joe Magunda went close when a cross struck him and dropped just wide of the post.

The late pressure was all coming from the away side and substitute Alex Taylor earned a free-kick in a dangerous position which Chilton sent well wide. Taylor then cut into the area and supplied a cross which Dodd glanced inches off-target.

As both sets of supporters were mentally preparing for extra-time, it happened.

Blue shirts streamed forward as Leamington broke quickly from midfield. Chilton delivered the perfect cross from the byeline and Batchelor crashed home a close-range header to sparking ecstatic celebrations both on the pitch and behind the goal.

Stourbridge: Lewis Solly, Sam Rock (Luke Benbow, 59), Sam Smith (Jamie Oliver, 20), Paul McCone, Sean Geddes (Aaron Griffiths, 70), Nathan Bennett, Paul Lloyd, Leon Broadhurst, Chris Knight, Ben Billingham, Drew Canavan. Subs not used: Linden Dovey, Tom Turton, Stuart Hendrie, James Dyson.

Brakes: Kevin Sawyer, James Mace, Stephan Morley (Michael Tuohy, 57), Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Matt Dodd, Lee Chilton, Tom Berwick (Alex Taylor, 83), Lee Moore, Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Sam Adkins, Liam O’Neill, Daniel Ward.