Brakes Inch Closer to Salvation With Bedworth Double

An own goal just before half-time was enough to earn young Brakes another three points with the double over Bedworth in successive matches. But, despite seven points from the last three games, Brakes are still in a relegation position and need to win at least two, and maybe three, more games to stay up. The good news is that, based on this battling display and with the remaining games against teams outside the top four positions, this is feasible.

Brakes' Youth's best crowd of the season, 83, saw a rip-roaring affair that was more like a cup-tie. Brakes knew that anything less than a win against fellow-strugglers, Bedworth, could mean the end of still slim hopes to escape relegation.

A McGarvey cross in the 7th narrowly evaded Kitchen and Wright but two close calls at the other end soon after showed that Bedworth's intent was as strong. As the action swept to and fro McKinley headed just over from a Kitchen corner but Brakes' 'keeper, Morgan, managed to stop a certain "goal" minutes later in the 16th.

This was end-to-end stuff that had the crowd on its feet (well, the majority were standing anyway, but you know what I mean) and a good through ball from Lewis in the 36th was followed, two minutes later, by a brilliant, diving save from Morgan to deny Bedworth.

Bedworth should have been ahead on the number of clear-cut chances but young Brakes were playing the better football and gradually imposing themselves on the game. So it was probably deserved, and not unexpected, when they went ahead 1-0 in the 45th after the excellent Kitchen crossed a free from the right. Both Lewis and Wright attacked the goal, and either might have scored, but it fell to a Bedworth defender to get to the ball just ahead of both and deflect it into the net with his knee on the stroke of half-time.

Some of the old problems crept into Brakes' play at the start of the second-half and a touch of ball-watching could have cost dear as, again, Bedworth made the more chances. But a combination of sterling defence and wasteful shooting kept the ball out of the Brakes' net and they had their fair share of pressure forcing four successive corners on the hour with a glancing header from Lewis in the 84th going close.

Leamington Youth: Richard Morgan; Paramdeep Bhangal; Jamie Coleman; David Ward; Andy McKinley [Capt]; Ashley Kitchen; Simon Goodall; Kevin McGarvey; Chris Lewis; Joe Wright; Ashley Powell (Dale Attwood 72)
Sub(s) Not Used (1 From 5 Used): Masango Mwetaminwa; Anvinder Thiara; Sean Rellis; Alex Harri

Team News: James Lockyer slight pull, should be available next game