Brakes Pay For Early Errors

Brakes' opening friendly against a skilfull, but slow, Coventry City XI hadn't prepared them for quick-thinking Stratford Town and they were 3-0 down within half an hour. But they sharpened up and looked most likely to "win" the remaining hour although there were no further goals. It was hard to keep track of comings and goings with a Sven-like 21 players used but manager, Jason Cadden, was impressed with the second half performance and pleased overall. The one piece of bad news was an injury to Martin Thompson who came off in the 26th minute having jarred his knee which is now swollen. Martin also faces a week's suspension carried over from last season, starting from 18 August, and so will miss the first league game on the 21st.

A strange, faltering start by both sides saw nobody seemingly able to control the ball which seemed to have a will of its own. But in the 9th minute a goal out of nothing saw Nicholls notch an opportunist goal to put Stratford 1-0 up. We believe that the ex-NW favourite had "vowed to score against Richard Morris" but as Andy Harper was in goal this doesn't count. A moment's hesitancy saw the lead doubled in the 20th and the best goal of the match was smashed home in the 29th to put Stratford 3-0 up and coasting against a Brakes' side who had already lost striker Martin Clunes to a knee injury.

But Brakes snapped into action and started to make the better chances. In the 33rd Sleem nearly rounded off an excellent passing movement and Blakes' perseverance, when he charged down the 'keeper's clearance in the 38th, saw the ball roll agonisingly just past the post.

McKinley, coming on in the second half, was imperious in defence and set Blake on goal in the 50th though the 'keeper recovered well. Brakes' best attempt so far fell to Steve Thompson in the 60th when he lifted the ball over the advancing 'keeper for what seemed a certain goal until an unaccountably high bounce took it just over the bar.

Tolley and Feely came on for the latter stages and played influential roles. Tolley, twice, just failed to clear the Stratford 'keeper with chances from the left and Brakes' hit the bar after one goalmouth melee. With McKinley commanding the defence Feely moved up in the last minute to arch a powerful header just over the bar under pressure from three defenders after one of a series of corner kicks as Brakes assumed control.

Leamington:
Starting XI - Andy Harper; Ben Adams; Harj Dhesi; Simon Walker; Darran Tank; Darren Timms; Mark Anderson; Martin Thompson; Vernor Sleem; Lee Lavery; Josh Blake
Came On - Andy McKinley; Richard Adams; Steve Thompson; Michael Feely; Mark Delaney; Lee McBain; Barry Shearsby; Jonny Burgess; Ryan Howell; Josh Tolley

Stratford Town Paul Nicholls and Others.

Team News: Steve Thompson will miss 2/3 pre-season matches - job related; Niels Kristensen still having knee problems; Glenn Webb knee stiffness; Martin Thompson has jarred his knee which is swollen - no prognosis yet; Andy McKinley off for 2 weeks on holiday; David Care missed as wife having a baby - don't know when it's due.

Who Are You?: Ex-Brakes' Youth Players: Mark Anderson, Ryan Howell, Josh Tolley, Andy McKinley (though the latter two have already made senior appearances - Andy McKinley is still eligible for the youth team);
Ex-West Midlands Police: Mark Delaney, Richard Adams (22);
Ex-Rugby Town: Darran Tank (older than 22), Lee Lavery, Lee McBain;
Ex-Alvechurch: Andy Harper;
Michael Feely (22) has just returned from 4 years in the States at Boston University having got a degree sponsored by a football scholarship. Previously captain of the England U18s' English Schools Michael is also having trials with Nuneaton Borough and Moor Green. Understandably he wants to play at the highest level possible but we hope that, if Caddsie wants his signature, he'll choose us because we are much nicer and there's more of us.