Young Brakes Nodded Through to BCFA Youth Cup R3

Young Brakes recorded their biggest win of the season with a first goal for Powell followed by a strike from Leaver and a brace from Lewis returning after injury. 3-0 up within half an hour Brakes didn't turn the screw against a spirited Mount Nod but added a fourth with 10 minutes left. The biggest youth crowd of the season, 82, watched this one in unseasonably mild weather for November and saw a game perhaps lacking the finer niceties of the game but a well-contested, spirited affair which is, maybe, what a cup match should be like.

In a lively start young Brakes could have scored in the opening 10 minutes when, first, a Lewis back-heel released Powell whose cross was headed on target by Cromwell then Coleman's shot after a Powell pass was turned round for a corner. Brakes seemed physically stronger as a side and it was strength which brought the first goal when a Mckinley through ball was ping-ponged back and forth between Lewis and Powell in turns with the Mount Nod defence before Powell eventually smashed the ball home for 1-0 in the 13th and his first goal for Brakes in only his third game.

Mount Nod were under the greater pressure but were unlucky to strike a post in the 14th after a break which found the Brakes' defence hesitant. But two goals in two minutes sealed their fate when Leaver drove home through a ruck of players after the 'keeper had fumbled a McGarvey corner, 2-0 in the 21st, and, after good work from Cromwell, Lewis powered home in the 23rd to make it 3-0 which remained the interval score though McKinley and Kitchen both nearly added. An excellent Morgan block in the 42nd prevented a goal from Mount Nod, at a critical time, that could have made the second half different.

The game was a much more even affair in the second half with little good, flowing football but the Brakes' midfield was adding movement and cohesion that has been missing at times. Cromwell, who had battled hard throughout for the team without adding to his personal goal tally, was replaced by the nippy Rellis and it was his excellent run down the left, and pinpoint cross, that set up the fourth goal. Either the hard-working Kitchen or Lewis could have knocked it home but it was Lewis who got the nod and scored his second of the night for 4-0 in the 80th minute.

Leamington Youth: Richard Morgan; Simon Goodall; Jamie Coleman; Ashley Kitchen; Andy McKinley [Capt]; Dave Ward (James Lockyer 74); Ashley Powell; Kevin McGarvey; Will Cromwell (Sean Rellis 69); Chris Lewis; Tom Leaver (Dave Callaghan 82)
Sub(s) Not Used (3 From 5 Used): Vinny Thiara; Paz Bhangal

Team News: Andy McKinley and Tom Leaver were both in the squad for the Birmingham County FA cup match last Saturday when Cheshire were beaten 1-0 in R2. Andy came off the bench to play but Tom had earlier withdrawn through injury. They now meet either Kent or Somerset in R3 some time in December.