By Roger Vincent

Tolley Two as Young Brakes Make it Three in a Row

Leamington Youth maintained their 100% record beating Highgate United at the New Windmill before 62 people. Tolley scored in the 26th minute when he blasted the ball into the corner and Kyriacou hit the post soon after. In the 44th minute, growing Highgate pressure told and they equalised but Howell turned well in the box to restore Brakes' lead in 1st half stoppage time. Tolley added his second and Brakes' third in the 74th minute with a 20yd piledriver to complete a comprehensive victory from an on-song Brakes' Youth team who could be heading for promotion.

Two evenly-matched sides fought hard for 90 minutes but Brakes looked the more likely to score. Highgate's Sterling looked impressive and threatening but too often faltered through lack of support as a good Brakes' defence, missing Lee Scott (holiday), nullified his efforts. Howell went close in the 18th after a goalkeeper error before Tolley made it 1-0 in the 26th when he unleashed an unstoppable shot into the corner from distance. The impressive Dosanjh went close in the 28th before the most improved player this season, Kyriacou, did well to reach a Stacey cross in the 34th only to see it rebound off the post.

Brakes still looked more like scoring but Highgate came more into the game and made it 1-1 in the 44th with an unstoppable drive past Van der Heyden. But they paid the classic penalty for relaxing after scoring when Howell restored Brakes' advantage turning a defender in the box and driving low and wide past the highgate goalkeeper to make it 2-1 in the 45th.

The second half started with both teams sharing the possession but Brakes had a wake-up call in the 50th minute when Van der Heyden came out well to stop what looked like a certain goal. A flurry in the Highgate area threatened a further Brakes goal and Stacey went close when he was denied in a one on one with the impressive Highgate goalie. But in the 74th minute Tolley smashed in a piledriver from fully 20yds for his second and Brakes' third, 3-1.

Lewis, who had come on for Kyriacou, could have added a fourth in the 86th minute but the goalkeeper saved at the second attempt. The game ended with Highgate threatening to come back into the game with a brilliant saving tackle from Green in the 87th and a fine save from Van der Heyden who turned the ball round the post with a minute remaining.

Leamington Youth: Lee van der Heyden; James Taylor; Stuart Poole (Matt Melling 65); Ryan Howell; Alex Shaw; Tim Green; Phil Thompson (Jimmy Claridge 60); Lakhdeep Dosanjh; Nik Kyriacou (Chris Lewis 82); Neil Stacey (Capt.); Josh Tolley
Sub(s) Not Used: Iain Groves; Seb Rockcliff