We finally returned to league action following almost a month without a league match after a run of FA Trophy and FA Cup Matches with a trip to Warwickshire last night.

Leamington were our hosts as we met for the first time in the league in over 10 years after they were relegated from the national league north after a tough 23/24 campaign which saw their six-year stay in step two come to an end.

Leon made one change to the starting eleven from Gateshead as youth team product Alfie Steward came in to replace Stanley Obinna Anaebonam who was missing through injury and Brendon Daniels was also back amongst the subs as he returned from injury.

We got the game underway in our Black Country Blue strip and it would take just two minutes for Joel Shambrook to pick the ball up and beat his man before finding Steward who was crowded out before he could get his shot off.

We continued our bright start to the game as Alex Prosser sent a corner into the box where Reece King rose the highest to head goalwards but Meredith was there to head his effort off the goal line

Alfie Steward would take his chance and put us in front just four minutes in as he scored his first goal for our first team! A long goal kick reached Luke Benbow who flicked it onwards to Steward who brought it down before looping his shot over Hawkins to give us a very early lead.

We very nearly extended our lead after a delayed restart as Reece King had blood on his shirt after an elbow to the face in the opening minutes. When the Brakes eventually got the game back underway, Benbow picked up the ball before trying to send it goalwards but Streete was on hand to make a good block to prevent it causing Hawkins too many problems.

Despite our positive start, the hosts would soon grow into the game, and our man of the match, Charlie Price would make his first of many good saves throughout the evening as Walker forced him into a good save at his near post.

Benbow would have another good chance 15 minutes in as he looked to curl a trademark freekick into the top corner but his effort was just wide of the post from a tough angle.

Not long after, Leamington would equalise as we gifted them the ball back in the middle of the park and it was played through to Henry Landers who had enough time to turn and finish well past Price.

They continued to try and dominate proceedings with Jessy Bavanganga producing a great block to stop a shot from distance before Price was on hand to send a dangerous shot around the post before claiming the resulting corner.

We were still trying to play some good football as the half went by with the ball eventually finding Benbow who held it up well before finding Steward outside. His cross was initially blocked but the ball fell to Shambrook who played a dangerous ball towards the back post but nobody was there to attack it.

Shortly before halftime, Benbow picked the ball up in the box before turning his man and trying to beat Hawkins at his near post but the keeper made a great save to stop the ball finding its way in.

Jack Fletcher had the final opening of the half when we played some brilliant football which eventually saw Steward pick the ball up on the right before sliding Fletcher through but his shot, from a difficult angle, was well blocked.

Half Time: Leamington FC 1-1 Stourbridge FC

Leamington got the game back underway and it was them who had the first chance of the half as Landers broke into the box before firing goalwards but a deflection saw it hit the post and bounce back out, allowing us to clear our lines.

Landers was involved again soon after as he broke down our right before picking our Tyrone Barnett but he took too long before shooting which allowed us to recover and Joel Kettle was on hand to block his shot.

Our first change of the evening followed as goal scorer Alfie Steward was replaced by Charlie Dowd.

Kettle had a couple of half chances as we looked to create some opportunities of our own. His first came as a corner eventually reached Niall Flint who crossed back across goal but his header was into Hawkins's arms before the ball reached him off a throw-in but he could only put his effort wide.

Price would make another great save as the hosts searched for a winner as a powerful shot from very close range came in and he made a great reaction save to stop a certain goal.

It wouldn’t take long for the Brakes to find the goal to give them the lead as a dangerous cross split everyone in our box and found Barnett who was alone at the back post and made no mistake when finishing it.

Refusing to let our heads drop, we were searching for an equaliser which Fletcher almost found but his strike from around 25 yards out was just about tipped over the bar by Hawkins.

Our final two changes followed as Dexter Walters and Brendon Daniels replaced Joel Shambrook and Alex Prosser.

Leamington nearly extended their lead as we entered the final 10 minutes when Landers fired well over the target before Cally Stewart dragged his shot wide.
Bavanganga would find himself very high up the pitch as we searched for an equaliser but his shot/cross from out on the right wing went wide as he looked to open his account for the club.

Our final opportunity to level the scores came right on the 90th minute when Flint won a freekick just to the side of the penalty area. Substitute Brendon Daniels stood over it, looking to announce his return to the side with a goal, but his strike cannoned off the post before being cleared by Leamington.

Full Time: Leamington FC 2-1 Stourbridge FC

We’re next in action on Saturday afternoon at the War Memorial Ground as we have yet another break from league action when we host northern premier league side Bamber Bridge in the FA Trophy.

Leamington FC: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor, Ewan Williams, Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Henry Landers, Adam Walker ©, Jack Edwards, Tyrone Barnett, Callum Stewart. Subs: Joseph Clarke, Jiah Medrano, Will Shorrock, Junior English, Ethan Pheasey

Stourbridge FC: Charlie Price, Joel Shambrook, Harvey Portman, Alex Prosser, Jessy Bavanganga, Joel Kettle, Niall Flint, Reece King ©, Luke Benbow, Alfie Steward, Jack Fletcher. Subs: Charlie Dowd, Darryl Knights, Dexter Walters, Brendon Daniels, Jack Wilson