Solihull Moors 1 Brakes 1: Johnson earns Brakes a replay

Moors took an early second-half lead and would have extended their advantage but for a splendid penalty save from Tony Breeden. Breeden pulled off another fine stop soon after to spur on his team-mates who got their reward with Ricky Johnson’s 75th-minute equaliser.

There was more injury woe for Paul Holleran just 20 minutes in when Alex Taylor went down clutching the same knee in which he suffered cruciate ligament damage back in January.

Young Walsall loanee Jake Heath stepped off the bench for his debut and put in an impressive shift in central midfield. Birmingham City youngster James Fry also looked composed on his debut at right-back.

Lee Chilton had the visitors’ best chance of an evenly matched first half, screwing his shot well wide from inside the area when he had more time.

The home side made a good start to the second period and moved in front in the 52nd minute when Darryl Knights’ cross was headed home at close range by Gary Birch.

Minutes later, the striker looked set to double his side’s lead when the ball was threaded into the six-yard box but despite him twice trying to stab the ball home, Breeden eventually cleared with his legs.

Moors’ strong opening to the half looked to have been further rewarded when they were awarded a penalty, Paul McCone penalised for a fairly innocuous challenge as a home player darted into the box. The decision looked harsh but Breeden ensured it was irrelevant by diving to his left to keep out Beswick’s spot-kick.

Beswick almost atoned for the miss minutes later when he weaved into the box in between the retreating Brakes defenders only for Breeden to produce another fine stop.

As if sensing that there was still something in the tie, Leamington then began to cause problems of their own.

Johnson almost got a boot on a knock-on from Chilton, only for Jasbir Singh to get there first, but it was the striker who came out top in their next dual as he latched on to a precision ball out of defence by Liam Daly to lift the ball over the Moors keeper.

Solihull Moors: Jasbir Singh, Michael Nottingham, Jordan Gough, Jay Denny (Matt Birley, 46), Rob Elvins, Stuart Pierpoint, Peter Till, Reece Fleet, Gary Birch (Michael Taylor, 80), Ryan Beswick, Darryl Knights (Aron Wint, 87).Subs not used: Junior English, Darren Acton, Dominic Langdon, Michael Blackwood.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, James Fry, Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, Liam Daly, Paul McCone, Matt Dodd, Alex Taylor (Jake Heath, 20), Ricky Johnson, Lee Chilton, Lee Moore (James Husband, 90). Subs not used: James Mace, Lewis Fenney, 14 Jamie Sheldon, 16 Will Green.