By Roger Vincent

Tolley Strike Not Enough as Young Brakes Slip Out of BFA Cup

Young Brakes went two down in 12 minutes, the second from a questionable penalty, and looked likely to be on the wrong end of a hefty score-line as they fought to get out of their own half for the first half hour. Then, in a remarkable turnaround, they started playing football and dominated the rest of the game. However, with so many recognised strikers out, they struggled to score and only had a Tolley goal in the 38th to show for their efforts in a match that, ultimately, they were unlucky to lose.

Played at the Halesowen Harriers' ground, built on the site of an old coal mine, we wended our way to the top of a hill and the club house to find the pitch nestling at a lower level surrounded by grass banks forming a kind of amphitheatre. The pitch itself looked perfect and, apparently, was turfed in the 50s from the Wembley pitch which was relaid at that time. Whether it was the famous Wembley turf or just the conditions I don't know, but the speed of the ball off the flat, lush service, to some extent, foxed Leamington all through the match.

In the 8th minute the many travelling fans in a crowd of 70 felt that they were watching something more akin to today's Wembley, a demolition job. Halesowen made it 1-0 when they slotted home from a rebound after peppering the Brakes' goal, and four minutes later, in the 12th, it was 2-0 when a Brakes defender was adjudged to have brought down a Halesowen forward in the box and the penalty was powered home. With young Brakes unable to break out of their own half the defence did well to soak up the pressure but were lucky to escape when a lob cleared Van der Heyden and bounced off the bar in the 24th. With the influential defender, Poole, substituted because of injury after 30 minutes and Halesowen going close again two minutes later it was starting to look black for Brakes.

But then there was a remarkable change. Halesowen still looked a good side but young Brakes started to play football on the ground and win balls that previously they had conceded. As their new-found belief took hold they went close in the 36th through Richards then scored in the 38th to make it 2-1 after a superb move started by Edwards who crossed for Howell to step over the ball leaving Tolley to drive home. But the half ended with a good, saving header from Scott and a charge down by Van der Heyden as Halesowen served notice that they were still in the game.

Brakes came out for the second half looking the most likely winners. Tolley wriggled past several defenders in the 55th to be denied the final touch and Iain Groves drove over five minutes later. Claridge, who had come on for Tolley, also went close but Brakes were missing an uncompromising striker like Harri, Sutton, Lewis or Stacey and I am convinced that they would have won this game with any one of those players. But, to their credit, they kept on trying to the final whistle and, ultimately, must be judged over 90 minutes to have been unlucky not to go through to the next round. They have another cup chance on the 25th when they meet Walsall or Tamworth in the next round of the league cup; both these clubs head their divisions, Walsall the Premier, so no easy game there. But young Brakes must have a chance if they can get an out and out striker fit or, maybe, just find out what was going on in those first 20 minutes or so.

Leamington Youth: Lee van der Heyden; James Taylor; Stuart Poole (Martin Groves 30); Iain Groves; Lee Scott; Tim Green; Philip Thompson; Paul Wilkinson; Sean Richards (Matt Melling 83); Ryan Howell; Josh Tolley (Jimmy Claridge 66)
Sub(s) Not Used: James Mellings

Team News: Richard A Sutton unwell; James Harri working; Neil Stacey unavailable; Chris Lewis is back playing games to get match fit after a long lay-off with a smashed knee cap.