Solihull Sporting V Kenilworth Sporting (Division Three)

Solihull Sporting were looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 6-0 defeat against promotion chasing Wake Green Amateur with a result against Kenilworth Sporting at Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst yesterday afternoon.

It’s been an encouraging season for the hosts under manager Gavin Heath with eye catching wins against Lane Head in the LJ Cup alongside league wins against the likes of Gornal and Balsall and Berkswell. They were comfortably in mid table going into this match with 17 points from 16 matches.     

Kenilworth Sporting have been one of the form teams in division three under manager Ryan Dowsing of late and were coming off three consecutive wins coming into this match. It’s been a promising season for the visitors who have adapted well to step eight following promotion from the Stratford Upon Avon Football Alliance last season.

​They were in the top five going into this match and notably beat Wake Green Amateur 2-1 away from home a few weeks back. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Solihull Sporting included Cobie Braddish starting in goal and Keenan Latouche captaining the team from centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Roman Robinson leading the line up front and being supported by Tyler O’Neil and Harley Byrne on the wings.

There were three changes from their match against Wake Green Amateur last weekend with Amahri Thomas coming into the line-up and playing in the number ten role.    

Kenilworth’s line up included Paul Lawrence starting in goal and captaining the side. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with a front two of Dan Turner and Joe Gardner being supported by Brendan Luff from attacking midfield.

There were seven changes from their last league match against BNJS a month ago with Tom Hackett coming into the team and playing at centre back alongside Sean Woodfield. 

​First Half

There were a few half chances for both teams in the early stages of the first half with Brendan Luff finding some space in the box before firing over the bar for Kenilworth Sporting. Harley Byrne made a positive run down the left-hand side for Solihull Sporting at the other end before squaring it to Amahri Thomas who fired wide.

The host were committing players forward and threatening from set pieces throughout the first half. They looked well organised off the ball and limited Kenilworth Sporting to half chances in the opening half hour. Keenan Latouche was reading the danger well at centre back with Jacob Brownhill doing a good job of breaking up the play from holding midfield.

The visitors gradually grew into the match as it went on and started to build some momentum in the latter stages of the first half. Jake Comasky was linking up well from holding midfield and helping them build attacks in the final third.

Dan Turner also looked a threat for Kenilworth and was getting into some promising positions in and around the box. He got a shot off that was instinctively saved by Cobie Braddish in the Solihull goal to keep it at 0-0 and was doing well to hold up the play throughout the first half.

The visitors managed to take the lead in the closing stages following a couple of dangerous corners into the box. Solihull failed to clear a corner and Keenan Latouche got caught playing out from the back. Tom Hackett reacted well to the loose ball before producing a composed finish into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 going into the break.

Second Half

Solihull Sporting had a good fifteen-minute spell in the second half and were taking the game to Kenilworth Sporting in search of the equaliser. They were just lacking that final ball into the box, but the effort and endeavour was there yesterday from the hosts.

Kenilworth managed to see out the pressure from Solihull with Sean Woodfield and Tom Hackett reading the danger well at the back. The visitors had one of the best defensive records in the division coming into this match with just 25 goals conceded from 15 matches and looked well organised defensively.      

The visitors had a good chance to make it 2-0 in the middle of the second half when Brendan Luff played a brilliant ball to Dan Turner who headed wide of the left-hand post.

It was starting to click for Kenilworth in the latter stages of the second half and they had a promising twenty-minute spell in front of goal. Former AFC Coventry Rangers striker Jordan Powell was bought off the bench for the visitors with half an hour to go and looked a threat in the final third.

The visitors made it 2-0 when a good cross field ball found Sean Woodfield at the back post who headed into the net to effectively seal the match. Jordan Powell also found some space in the box before firing wide of the right-hand post.  

The chances kept coming for Kenilworth late on. Tom Hackett made an inspired run from centre back and beat a few players before going through one on one with just Cobie Braddish to beat. He produced a quality finish into the bottom left corner to round off the scoring for Kenilworth.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Kenilworth getting their fourth consecutive win and cementing their position in the top five.

Full Time

Solihull Sporting competed well with Kenilworth Sporting yesterday and were undone by moments of quality from the visitors alongside the odd mistake at the back. None the less, it was an encouraging performance from Solihull who showed character coming off the 6-0 loss against Wake Green.

There were a lot of good performances with Keenan Latouche reading the game well at centre back and Henry Bird having an underrated game from left back. Jacob Brownhill also played well from holding midfield and offered composure on the ball to build attacks.

Their upcoming schedule includes games against Feckenham (Away) and Castle Vale Town (Away) before playing AFC Birmingham (Home) and Wake Green Amateur (Away) in the new year.

Kenilworth Sporting were able to produce when it mattered to get the win yesterday. They looked well organised defensively with Sean Woodfield and Tom Hackett impressing at centre back. There’s attacking quality on the ball with Jake Comasky and Dan Turner making things happen in the final third.            

Their upcoming games include the likes of AFC Birmingham (Away), Leamington Hibernian (Home), Feckenham (Home) and Continental Star (Away) over the next few weeks.      

FT score: Solihull Sporting 0-3 Kenilworth Sporting

Man of the match: Tom Hackett (Kenilworth Sporting)

Attendance: 25

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League