Brakes Do Just Enough

A cold, then very wet, November evening with Arsenal on the tele, resulted in the lowest New Windmill crowd for some time of 202, but they saw Brakes do just enough to ease through to the next round of the Birmingham County Floodlit Cup. The returning David Care and Si Walker both started for the first time in many weeks and Mark Simmonds made his first start since his early days with the club. With Martin Thompson returned to the bench after being off with hamstring problems there were a few changes for Brakes to handle but it was the old school of Blake (8th) and Sleem (82nd) who saw Brakes through to the next round with a goal in each half.

After heavy rain for much of the day the match started in relatively dry conditions with Brakes taking early control and forcing four corners in succession before five minutes had passed. Simmonds, making his first start for many a month, showed early promise setting up Episcopo for a shot then creating the first goal when he fed Blake who lashed a superb, low drive into the corner of the net from 18yds to make it 1-0 in the 8th minute. This ensured that Blake has scored in every competition this season, the only player to do so.

Dudley showed no real threat up front, despite some recent good form, but Morris had to punch clear in the 19th after a rare foray upfield. Shearsby and Steve Thompson were hitting target man, Sleem, to worry a hesitant Dudley defence and it was good to see Care back and going past players with Walker his old, solid self at the heart of the defence and Sidwell adding some height and skill. After the excitement of the FA Vase this was, understandably, a muted affair and a chance to make some changes as well as bringing back players after injury.

With the rain clouds scudding in to soak an already chilled, small crowd of 202 this was more a game for die-hards, a lull between the more valuable prizes of Vase and League. But Brakes didn't relax their game too much and strung together some good, passing moves. As the rain strengthened it was some relief when that man Sleem, again, turned a Steve Thompson corner over the line to make it 2-0 in the 82nd minute and remove any lingering threat that Dudley would snatch an equaliser to force an extra half-hour though, in truth, Brakes never looked like losing this one and did just enough to ensure their passage to the 3rd round.

Leamington: Richard Morris; David Care; Simon Walker; Tom Sidwell; Andy Gregory (Niels Kristensen 83); Anthony Episcopo (Chris Hanrahan 64); Barry Shearsby; Mark Simmonds (Darren Timms 68); Vernor Sleem; Josh Blake; Steve Thompson [Capt.]
Subs Not Used: James Gettings; Martin Thompson

Team News: Paul Nicholls "got stuck at work"; replaced players Episcopo and Simmonds not so much injuries, more lack of match fitness, so no real problems. Martin Thompson probably not ready yet but on the bench when Nicholls couldn't make it.