Young Brakes Lose At Quorn After Lively Start

For nearly half an hour young Brakes ran Quorn ragged, but their inability to score, and what happened next, had a depressingly familiar feel about it. Powell played an influential role, linking well with Wright, and hit a dangerous ball across the face of the goal in the 11th after a superb Wright pass. The two combined well again minutes later in a fighting start that had Quorn pegged back in their own half.

In the 22nd Harri hit the bar and, a minute later, a glorious passing movement between Lewis and Wright seemmed to set up Thiara with an unmissable chance but, on a mostly excellent pitch, the ball bobbled at the critical moment. With Brakes well on top Quorn broke into the Brakes half for only the second time with a swift run on the left. Morgan beat out the first shot but, as has happened before, no defender was covering back and Morgan could only watch from the ground as those lining up to score decided whose turn it was; 1-0 in the 28th.

And that, sadly, was mostly that. With all still to play for, only a single goal in it, and their earlier superiority and dominance surely still fresh in their minds young Brakes conceded. Their current run does not encourage confidence, and this is a team short of confidence, but though they play well enough at times to look like they are one goal away from turning the corner they play as if there is only a straight road ahead leading to relegation.

Yes there were some wholehearted performances, and a renewed vigour when McGarvey and Rellis came on in the 76th, the latter hitting the post in the 80th, but if 11 players had been shouting "come on, we're still in it" instead of only a couple this game could have been won. In the 62nd minute Quorn made it 2-0, when Brakes' defence failed to clear, with an excellent strike in off the post. But, in the minds of some of the team, the game had already been lost.

There are few points being won in the Premier basement and Brakes probably only need two or three wins to climb out of the bottom three. That may seem a tall order with only one win so far but, after the league leaders on Monday, their remaining programme makes that possible. And if they play with the belief of the first half-an-hour of this game, and don't give up until the final whistle, it could even be probable.

Leamington Youth: Richard Morgan; Jamie Coleman; Paramdeep Bhangal; James Lockyer; Andy McKinley [Capt]; Anvinder Thiara (Masango Mwetaminwa 76); Tom Leaver; Alex Harri (Sean Rellis 76); Joe Wright; Chris Lewis (Kevin McGarvey 76); Ashley Powell
Sub(s) Not Used (3 From 4 Used): Luke Warby