By Roger Vincent

Kyriacou Brace as Brakes' Youth Go Back to the Top

Brakes Youth well deserved this emphatic win completing the double over Highway Sports with three first half goals from Howell, an Iain Groves scorcher from 35 yards and the on-form Kyriacou. Kyriacou notched a second early in the second half, just reward for a non-stop, dynamic performance. Brakes were in stunning form, particularly in the first half, and only a spoiling display by Highway kept the score down after the break. With other results going their way Brakes' Youth went two points clear at the top with four games in hand.

In a frenetic opening 10 minutes Howell wriggled through only to shoot over the bar and Highway hit the bar. It was Highway's last real goal effort as Brakes took control. In the 24th minute Brakes nearly scored when the ball ping-ponged back and forth off the line, then in the 26th Thompson took a short throw and crossed the return for Howell to force home, 1-0. Howell, Thompson and the busy Kyriacou were testing and probing the Highway defence and Howell again went close in the 31st when he turned well in the box to shoot just wide.

Just as a little frustration was creeping in there was a spectacular goal to warm the 51-strong crowd in the increasing cold. In the 35th minute Iain Groves made it 2-0 from fully 35 yards when he pulled the trigger and, with the bench shouting at him not to waste the ball by shooting from that distance, struck a magnificent, unstoppable shot high into the net. A feature of the game had been the never-say-die running of Kyriacou, an object lesson to footballers at all levels about always following up. In the 45th minute it was 3-0 when Kyriacou picked up a through ball over the top of the defence that did not look to be his and nicked it past the 'keeper.

With Brakes now well on top frustration was creeping into Highway's play and there were too many stoppages for niggly fouls to let the game flow. But Kyriacou again followed up a Thompson drive that hit the post and knocked home his second in the 50th to make it 4-0. Soon after Thompson took a free kick and the lanky Scott headed onto the top of the bar.

As the game got more physical it became more a matter of survival as the tackles went in. Highway had several yellow cards and had to make at least one substitute to prevent losing a player to a second yellow. Eventually they did have a player sent off, in the 81st, but by then the game was over as a spectacle. Kyriacou had a shot cleared off the line in the 87th and the referee, thankfully, blew up bang on time despite several long stoppages.

This was another powerful and impressive display and, hopefully, Brakes' Youth will draw a much bigger crowd next Monday when Racing Club visit the NWG.

Leamington Youth: Lee van der Heyden; Alex Shaw; Stuart Poole; Iain Groves (Mark Beezley 74); Lee Scott; Tim Green; Philip Thompson; Paul Wilkinson; Ryan Howell (Chris Lewis 74); Nick Kyriacou; Josh Tolley (Nick Collen 68) Josh Tolley
Sub(s) Not Used: Neil Stacey; Martin Groves

Team News: James Harri working; Neil Stacey has England match next week so was only on the bench in case of emergencies