Young Brakes Lose 2-0 Lead After 20 Second Opener

Young Brakes got off to a perfect start, missed by the stragglers leaving the bar, when the influential captain, Leaver, found Rellis down the right who got to the line and crossed for Cromwell to head in with just 20 seconds on the clock, 0-1 in the 1st minute.

Both teams could have added more goals in a pulsating first half. Morgan foiled a Mikes striker in the 3rd but was grateful to see what seemed a certain goal saved by McKinley getting back superbly after the Brakes 'keeper had been rounded in the 29th. Sheppard saw a fine drive turned round the post just beforehand and the speedy Rellis, Crowley and Cromwell combined well to threaten the Boldmere goal in the lead-up to half-time.

Boldmere started the second half in a hurry and Morgan made an excellent stop in the 49th turning the ball round the post at full stretch. But with chances being missed Brakes seemed to have done enough when Rellis made it 0-2 in the 57th picking up a superb through ball from Cromwell and slotting home after rounding the 'keeper, just reward for his effort and fast-running combined with no little skill.

Cromwell, showing much more commitment, won the ball in defence to set up the move of the match in the 60th, involving McGarvey, Rellis and Crowley, who was adjudged offside. With Lockyer winning balls in the air and Thiara and Langley keeping control on the ground this was becoming a good performance by young Brakes.

But Boldmere needed one goal to boost their confidence and it came in the 66th minute when a mistake in defence left a striker in front of goal who made no mistake, . Now it was a different game with Boldmere marginally on top. Mistakes were made as the frenetic pace started to tell and both goalkeepers had to make excellent saves. Ryan nearly settled it with a strong drive that was just wide but in the 81st Boldmere made it 2-2 with a penalty, correctly given for a player brought down in the area. Both teams then had a chance to notch the winner but, over the 90 minutes, a draw was about fair and there was some relief in both camps when the final whistle went.

Leamington Youth: Richard Morgan; Paz Bhangal; Ben Langley; Jac Sheppard; James Lockyer; Andy McKinley; Tom Leaver [Capt] (Kevin McGarvey 54); Vinny Thiara; Will Cromwell; Sean Rellis (Alex Harri 73); Kyle Crowley (Luke Ryan 73)
Sub(s) Not Used (3 From 5 Used): Luke Warby

Team News: Jamie Coleman (cricket final); David Ward and Satty Baden injured; Ashley Kitchen and Chris Lewis on holiday; John Hampton ?