McKinley's Late Winner For

McKinley gave young Brakes their first win of the season with an 83rd minute penalty at Moor Green to move above then into 7th place. There were two debutants in the Brakes team, Simon Goodall starting and Masango Mwetaminwa coming off the bench. An appreciable crowd saw a fast and furious game between two, good footballing sides played on a superb surface with lights that actually illuminated the playing field! The wind had dropped and the evening was dry though there was a wintry feel in the air.

Moor Green dominated the first 15 minutes but Brakes weathered the storm and it was a fairly even contest thereafter. Defences predominated, with Goodall at the back making an assured debut, and there were few chances. Rellis showed his pace and Cromwell used his strength to close in on goal in the 38th but he was closed down by a good defence in front of a dominant 'keeper who didn't put a foot wrong all evening.

As the half drew to a close it was Brakes who had the better chances when, firstly, Kitchen ran through in the 45th and crossed for Lewis to screw wide then, in added time, Kitchen, through on goal, elected to round the 'keeper who was equal to the task.

Cromwell blasted over from distance in the 66th but Moor Green gave notice of intent when Morgan had to make a superb, diving save to his left in the 69th. But the Brakes defence was playing well and seemed more secure than in some recent games. Inevitably McKinley was its central rock but Ward and Coleman also took the eye. With the impressive Goodall this was as well-organised a defence as I've seen all season.

The tall Mwetaminwa, who had come on in the 55th for his debut, nearly made it a dream start in the 74th after brilliantly tricking two defenders on the edge of the box and curling his shot over the bar from a tight angle. But it was not to be his night and he never recovered properly after stretching for a ball eventually being replaced after breaking down a few more times.

Kitchen and Rellis were using pace to get past the Moor Green defenders and it was Rellis who ran from the half-way line into the box where he was deemed to have been brought down as he attempted to twist and turn past the final defender. Maybe Brakes were a little fortunate as many referees wouldn't have given it but up strode McKinley to blast home an unstoppable penalty kick, 0-1 in the 83rd.

I must add an accolade here for the Moor Green 'keeper. Not only had he played excellently all evening but he pre-empted the usual complaints to the referee by shouting to his team that it was a foul, a penalty had been given, and converted, so "let's get on with it". And they listened.

Would young Brakes throw it away in the euphoria of the moment? No, not this time. They played out the remaining 10 minutes intelligently, even creating another chance through the energetic McGarvey. Morgan rose well to take a high lob in the 90th that threatened to drop in under the bar but an excellent game of football played in the right spirit, a credit to both sides, ended with Brakes' first win of the season, "the first of many" said manager Stacey; and I think he could be right.

Leamington Youth: Richard Morgan; Simon Goodall; Jamie Coleman; Ashley Kitchen; Andy McKinley [Capt]; Dave Ward; Sean Rellis; Kevin McGarvey; Will Cromwell; Chris Lewis; Vinny Thiara (Masango Mwetaminwa 55 (Kyle Crowley 88))
Sub(s) Not Used (2 From 4 Used): James Lockyer; Paramdeep Bhangal

Team News: Tom Leaver on holiday.