Quiches All Round as Brakes End Friendlies on a High Five

With my wife visiting friends in Cornwall, the prospect of having to cater for myself was not one that I relished. Jamie Oliver need not fear competition from me in the culinary department but, thankfully, our friends from Pershore came to the rescue with the best home-made quiches that you are ever likely to taste. There was, of course, a football match going on as well and, after an even first half, Brakes asserted in the second period to run out comfortable winners to set themselves up nicely for the first proper fixture of the season at Boldmere St. Michaels next Saturday.

Martin Thompson, who hopefully will be free of injury this season, was to the fore in the early exchanges, just failing to connect with a corner from the left on 9 minutes and then meeting a Steve Thompson free-kick only to see his effort deflected for a corner that came to nothing.

The first goal came in the 13th minute from Leon Morgan who rose to head home a Steve Thompson corner (1-0). Pershore hit back quickly, equalising within two minutes through a powerful Michael Duncan shot that went in under the crossbar (1-1) in the 15th.

It was pretty end to end stuff at this stage and Brakes again went into the lead in the 19th minute when, following a foul on Martin Thompson on the edge of the penalty area, Rob Hipkiss placed the resultant free-kick wide of visiting 'keeper Paul Workman (2-1).

Darran Tank foiled a possible scoring opportunity for Pershore with a decisive tackle to rob Richard Bills and at the other end Workman got down well to deny Steve Thompson. Pershore did get their reward for persistence in the 33rd minute as Andy Biddle scored from the penalty spot after Paul Shepherd had upended Mark Bellamy (2-2).

Brakes superior firepower and fitness began to tell after the interval, although not before a Pershore effort had come back off the post. Workman saved well from Andrew Stidder on 60 minutes, but almost immediately, Ben Usher restored the lead in the 61stminute, (3-2). Paul Eden then went past tiring legs to shoot and, although Workman made a save, the ball bounced back to Josh Blake who made no mistake in stretching the lead to 4-2 in the 75th.

Blake had another chance on 83 minutes when rounding the 'keeper, only to shoot into the side netting. Then Alex Rodman set up Eden who missed a good chance. Right on full-time, Stidder did well down the left to cross for Ryan Howell to complete the scoring (5-2).

After the match, manager Jason Cadden, was giving nothing away as to his starting line-up for next week. However, I would be surprised if it did not contain many of the players from last season, supplemented with Kristian Kelsall (unavailable today) and possibly Rodman who seemed to impress many people coming on as a substitute. Whether Paul Shepherd or Richard Morris gets the nod in goal is anyone's guess, but with Andy Harper (currently injured) and Richard Morgan (one of the youth team award winners from last season) also available, this is one position that will be keenly contested.

Manager Cadden did say, however, he was pleased with the preparations adding "A lot of people have scored goals and contributed to the results. We still need to clear our lines better and not give away scoring opportunities as with the first today. I am aiming for 22-25 players for the season and we will be ready for next week."

Congratulations again to Pershore for winning hospitality and catering awards from the North Bank at the post-match ceremony. Richard and Jon Adams were also winners but, this year, it was Leon Morgan's turn to scoop the largest number of awards.

Leamington: Paul Shepherd (Richard Morris HT); Steve Smith; Steve Thompson (Paul Eden 60); Russell Dodd (Alex Rodman 60); Darran Tank; Leon Morgan [Capt] (Richard Adams 76); Jon Adams; Rob Hipkiss (Jon Burgess 32 (Ryan Howell 73)); Martin Thompson (Ben Usher HT); Paul Nicholls (Andy Stidder HT); Josh Blake

Pershore Town (Starting Line-up): Paul Workman; Jamie Lambert; Danny Harris; Colin Fulloway; Andrew Biddle; Mark Brookes; Adam Twine; Mark Bellamy; Richard Bills; Richard Biddle; Michael Duncan

Players' News: Tom Sidwell, Simon Walker and Andy Gregory rested; Kristian Kelsall at a wedding