Much-Changed Brakes Bow Out Of Cup To Late Goal

Tom Friend made his club debut, Ryan Parisi his first appearance this season and Martin Thompson his first start after one previous appearance off the bench in a much-changed Brakes side with only Morris in goal and Richard Adams, playing wing-back, having made more than 10 starts. Nevertheless many of this team had played together for Whitnash this season and a crushing "defeat" of the first team in a training friendly this week promised more than was delivered.

It was cold with drizzle in the air and enough of a wind to add a chill factor in the wide-open spaces at Banner Lane. Low expectations, perhaps, and Spain v England on the tele kept the crowd down to about 90, just about the lowest at any Brakes' match.

But it was a bright start with Friend powering though on goal to be taken out by a combination of three defenders the 'keeper making the contact that resulted in a clear penalty. Jon Adams converted the perfect spot-kick for 0-1 in the 6th minute, his first goal for Brakes. The first half-hour was dominated by Brakes with Jon Adams by far the best player on the field from either side. His 14th minute shot was just wide and he was involved in the best move of the match in the 32nd when he picked up a ball from Burgess and found Shearsby; Shearsby passed to Friend who gave Richard Adams a scoring chance but his well-struck shot was parried for a corner, with difficulty, by Massey's 'keeper.

At this stage there seemed little doubt that Brakes would win even though Massey had hit the underside of Morris's bar in the 21st with the 'keeper beaten and a free-kick was curled just wide in the 28th, again with Morris stranded. Massey were in some disarray and at odds with each other judging by some of the language. But in the 39th it was 1-1 after Dhesi slipped and a Massey striker hit a low shot into Brakes' goal.

Friend was unlucky to receive a yellow in the 64th when he was booked, despite the Massey 'keeper's protestations on his behalf, for challenging what he assumed was a free-kick when it was, in fact, a goal-kick. Or was it the other way around as I've never heard of this distinction in the rules of the game anyway? But that was the only excitement in the second half. Whatever had gone wrong I don't know but, for the final half-hour, Brakes made no headway and had not one meaningful shot on goal. With extra time and, possibly, penalties looming over a silent, cold, damp crowd the game and fans were put out of their misery by a lob over the stranded Morris for 2-1 in the 89th, probably a just result on the night for Massey who clearly wanted this win much more than their opponents. Maybe the missing 100 had seen it coming.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Jonny Burgess (Ryan Parisi 76); Harj Dhesi; Tom Sidwell (Andy McKinley 59); Phil Daly, Daz Timms; Baz Shearsby [Capt]; Jon Adams; Martin Thompson (Ryan Howell 80); Tom Friend, Richard Adams
Subs Not Used (3 From 5 Used): Mark Anderson; Paul Eden

Team News: Several players in need of post traumatic stress counselling after Caddsie's summary of events in the changing-rooms afterwards.