Lee Carsley may have been the only household name on show for the Blues, but few supporters will have gone away from the New Windmill feeling short-changed after a throughly entertaining Birmingham Senior Cup tie on Tuesday.
A youthful Birmingham City side had comfortably seen off Blue Square North side Solihull Moors 3-1 in the previous round but, two moments of quality aside, they were distinctly second-best to a rampant Leamington, playing their first home game unde
r the stewardship of new manager Paul Holleran.
With Tony Breeden ineligible, Chris Kiely returned in goal for Brakes, while at the back, Michael Tuohy came in for the injured Guy Sanders.
And, in front of their largest attendance of the season - 810 - Brakes came close to opening the scoring inside the first 60 seconds.
Luke Corbett beat two defenders down the left and saw his shot deflected to Chris Murphy, who put his follow-up wide from no more than eight yards out.
Mark Bellingham drew a comfortable save from Blues keeper Jack Butland and Corbett sent a snap shot wide from 25 yards before Brakes received an amazing let-off in the 18th minute.
A searching ball from Carsley caused indecision between Kiely and the covering defender, allowing Luke Hubbins to nip in and take the ball around the keeper.
However, after having done the hard work, Hubbins somehow managed to screw his shot wide of the gaping goal from six yards.
Encouraged by their escape, the home side then proceeded to dominate the next 20 minutes.
Corbett was poised to open the scoring after an excellent run and cross from Bellingham, only for Stefan Metcalfe to produce a goal-saving headed clearance.
Corbett and Bellingham combined in the 22nd minute, with the former putting his shot wide after a incisive through ball from his senior partner.
Tuohy shot straight at the keeper after working his way into the box and then Bellingham was denied by an excellent reaction save from Butland after Adam Cooper had cut the ball back from the byeline.
With plenty of space afforded down the flanks, Tuohy and Murphy were pushing forward at every opportunity and the Blues keeper was again called into action to claim a Bellingham curler after another excellent run from Murphy.
But just when it looked like all Brakes' pressure would come to nothing, Bellingham broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute.
Butland parried his vicious shot from just inside the box but the ball crept over the line with Corbett arriving too late to apply the finishing touch.
The Brakes captain could have doubled the lead in the 39th minute after taking advantage of a moment of hesitancy by Butland.
However, with the keeper stranded, Bellingham's goalbound shot was scrambled away by Mitch Hancox.
With the home side in total control,it took a goal out of nothing to get the Blues back on level terms.
Omar Bogle had already caused the home side one or two concerns with his willingness to run at defenders, but there looked little on when he received the ball 40 yards from goal.
However, a neat bit of skill to beat two defenders and an excellent curled finish gave the youthful visitors an undeserved equaliser.
Despite the shock of seeing their lead disappear, Brakes quickly reasserted their control after the break.
Butland got a fingertip to a curled effort from Corbett, while Herlihy was wide of the target after a trademark burst from midfield.
At the other end, Cooper had to be alert to block a goalbound shot from Bogle, but with Brakes winning all the aerial battles and the young Blues backline struggling to cope with the physical presence of Bellingham, the pressure was relentless.
Bellingham hit a quickly taken free-kick straight at the impressive Butland and then saw a goalbound shot blocked before Brakes' attacking verve was rewarded with a second goal.
Good hustling in midfield saw the ball break to James Husband, who battled past his man before crossing into the box.
Corbett cleverly held off his man to allow Murphy time and space to pick his spot and he made no mistake, firing the ball into the right-hand corner of Butland's net.
Corbett looked poised to make it 3-1 in the 66th minute after a quick free-kick sent Murphy free in the box.
However, Blues substitute Will Packwood produced a fine interception with Corbett lurking at the far post for a tap-in.
Bogle provided another moment of alarm three minutes later when he found himself free on goal, but Kiely came off his line to save well with his legs.
Play then swiftly moved up to the other end, with Butland using his body well to deny Bellingham from close range.
The action was breathless and Blues conjured up a second equaliser in the 76th minute following another fine piece of individual skill.
Robin Shroot wriggled his way free of two defenders in the box and teed up substitute Brice Mtambwe, who sidefoot finish gave Kiely no chance.
Brakes were almost back in front from the restart, but under pressure, Bellingham lifted his shot over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box.
Bellingham came even closer when he saw his shot on the turn cleared off the line, while Kiely worked himself into referee Mike Bingham's notebook for throwing the ball into the crowd after racing out of his box to clear.
Kiely dealt well with a deflected long-range shot and, as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, it looked like extra-time would be needed to separate the two sides.
However, with the Blues pressing for a late winner, Bogle was caught in possession on the edge of the box and Brakes launched a swift counter.
Reynolds released Corbett, who still had plenty to do with Jarad Wilson for company.
The striker cut inside, leaving the Blues captain stumbling in his wake and then drove in a shot which beat Butland with the aid of a slight deflection, sparking jubilant scenes among players and fans.
