Rampant Youth Smash Five to Move Out of Relegation Zone

Young Brakes swept into a three goal lead inside the first four minutes with goals by Coleman and Lewis sandwiching an own goal. But a young Boldmere side fought back well showing great character and Brakes didn't add to their score until later in the second half when Wright then Thiara, his first for the club, put the result beyond doubt in the 71st and 77th minutes. A crowd of 71 saw Brakes move two places clear of the relegation zone but an astonishing run of four wins and a draw in their last six games may still not be enough and the final game, Wednesday week at Gornal, takes on huge significance if Brakes are to stand a chance of an Escape which would be truly Great and which their form in the last two months richly deserves.

The pitch looked in perfect condition despite a lot of standing water in the surrounding fields, but it was raining again as Brakes kicked off with Rellis at number 9 in place of top-scorer Wright who was stuck in traffic. An already doomed Boldmere, with a young side as they start to build for next season, were soon in trouble as a rampant Brakes offered no mercy in their attempt to avoid joining the Mikes in the drop.

While some of us were still putting up our umbrellas Coleman put Brakes 1-0 ahead in the 1st minute with a 20yd chip within 30 secs. Almost from the kick off an unfortunate misunderstanding led to an own goal with the ball diverted past his 'keeper by a Mikes' defender, 2-0 in the 2nd and it was 3-0 in the 4th when Lewis smashed the ball in the net after good work by Powell. It was nearly four in the 9th as McGarvey turned away with arms raised missing the desperate clearance off the line from his shot. The Boldmere contingent nervously asked if the electronic scoreboard did double figures.

But, to their credit, the Mikes persevered and started to show that they can play as well. Though the speed of Rellis and Kitchen was causing their defence some concern they threatened to come back into the game. Although a Lewis shot from a Kitchen pass in the 40th threatened to increase Brakes' lead the young Mikes had shown great character to change round with no further goals against after the opening 4-minute blitz.

Thiara came on for the struggling McKinley at half-time as Brakes turned the screw. There were shouts that the ball had crossed the Mikes' line in the 52nd and Lewis had a shot turned round a minute later. But the young Mikes' side were tiring and when Wright came on for Lewis in the 61st his fresh legs proved too much. Wright stroked the ball just wide in the 64th but made no mistake in the 71st when he made it 4-0 driving home a Powell cross after good work by McGarvey.

Six minutes later, in the 77th it was 5-0 when Thiara scored his first goal for Leamington with a superb header from a Kitchen cross. That was the end of the scoring but, although Brakes dominated the remaining 15 minutes, Boldmere played with plenty of spirit and played some good football which augurs well for them next season. Brakes probably still have to win their final game, at Gornal Wednesday week, to stay up, and possibly could still go down. But whatever happens they can look back on their last six games with pride especially after such a difficult start.

Leamington Youth: Richard Morgan; Jamie Coleman; Simon Goodall; David Ward; James Lockyer; Ashley Kitchen; Andy McKinley [Capt] (Anvinder Thiara h-t); Kevin McGarvey; Sean Rellis; Chris Lewis (Joe Wright 61); Ashley Powell
Sub(s) Not Used (2 From 4 Used): Paramdeep Bhangal; Masango Mwetaminwa

Team News: Andy McKinley has signed for Racing Club Warwick, seniors