Battling Brakes Take Sutton's 100% Record With Wright Hat-Trick

A magnificent battling display by young Brakes before 73 fans took table-topping Sutton's 100% record with Joe Wright notching a hat-trick against a side that had previously conceded only six goals. Twice in the lead Leamington looked likely to take all the points at 2-1 with four minutes to go. But Sutton scored two goals in a minute to lead for the first time before Wright hit the equaliser in the 89th.

McKinley played in midfield and there was a better balance to the side with the forwards not having to fetch and carry from an embattled defence. Young Brakes have only scored once in the league in seven games since their only victory at Moor Green but, against a side with a 100% record who have only conceded six all season, they went into the lead. And it was an excellent goal. Mckinley moved the ball upfield to Lewis whose precision through ball was gathered superbly by Wright and driven in the corner, 1-0 in the 14th minute.

But Sutton have tremendous self-belief and, seeming affronted that a team had dared to score against them, attacked in numbers forcing a free kick which was knocked home from short-range in the 16th minute, 1-1. But there was a new spirit about Leamington and, astonishingly, they could have been back in the lead just as quickly when Lewis had a half-chance in front of goal. The forwards were gelling well with all the front-runners talking to each other and passing the ball around to unsettle the Sutton defence.

But Sutton are a very good side though, despite their paltry goals against, I think that their strength is up front where their speed and passing always looked like reaping dividends. But the Brakes' defence was on fire. Morgan, who seemed back to his best after some uncertain performances, made an excellent save in the 23rd and Coleman, Ward and Lockyer were battling for every ball with Kitchen, making his first appearance in eight weeks, a dynamo in probably the best performance I have seen from him. But there was no let up and Sutton struck the post with the first half running down.

Sutton announced their intent by coming out onto the pitch, for the second half, before I'd had the first sip of my cup of tea. Fortunately Brakes restored some decorum and I managed to finish it. But Morgan was forced to save low down from an on-target strike in the 47th. But, as it seemed that the Sutton pressure must result in a goal, Brakes gradually wrested back some control and made inroads into an increasingly panicky Sutton defence. In the 59th Wright ran in on goal and was just stopped and a Powell cross just eluded Lewis in the 66th. Then the Lewis-Wright partnership worked again with another superb through ball for Wright to run onto and glide a perfect shot wide of the advancing 'keeper, 2-1 in the 68th.

Excitement mounted in the large crowd, then tension as the minutes ticked away towards an unlikely victory but memories of the previous two 4-0 defeats by Sutton this season lurked as those of us who were there knew what they were capable of. McGarvey, who had played a tremendous game but is only just back from long-term injury, tired and was replaced by Mwetaminwa and the speedy Rellis came on for Powell as Sutton pressed with increasing desperation.

Then, the seemingly inevitable happened as Sutton equalised in the 86th minute, 2-2, but what a scrabbled, untidy goal. And, just as we were accepting that a draw was OK, heartbreak, this time with a very good goal as Sutton took the lead for the first time in the 87th with a swift, incisive run from the left, 2-3.

But this was a new Leamington and they didn't give up. The admirable Kitchen nearly set up an equaliser just before, in the 89th, the partnership of Lewis and Wright worked a third time when Wright made it 3-3 with a clever shot wide of the 'keeper from Lewis's pass. This time there was no come-back from either side. Sutton slumped in the realisation that their dream of winning the league with a 100% record had gone and young Brakes ran off to a thoroughly deserved crowd ovation.

There was even a spring in the step of the "old people" sweeping up the mud in the changing rooms afterwards (once they'd got shot of the preening youngsters, that is; in my day .....!). There's a way to go to avoid relegation but this team can do it. They have an easier programme on the run in and tonight was the (really) hard one. If they show the same spirit at Bedworth (ko 7:45) Wednesday week, 9 February, and subsequently there's still hope.

Leamington Youth: Richard Morgan; Jamie Coleman; Paramdeep Bhangal; Dave Ward; James Lockyer; Ashley Kitchen; Kevin McGarvey (Masango Mwetaminwa 78); Andy McKinley [Capt]; Joe Wright; Chris Lewis; Ashley Powell (Sean Rellis 85)
Sub(s) Not Used (2 From 5 Used): Dale Attwood; Alex Harri; Anvinder Thiara