Brakes Coast Into Round Three of Senior Cup

Another wet day, though not "a monsoon in the middle of nowhere" as the Sun had it in Monday's report of last Saturday's FA Cup triumph, saw a high proportion of the 278 crowd cowering under cover at the Harbury Lane end. And they saw the best of the early action with Brakes kicking that way. Neil Olden in the Oldbury goal brought experience, no little skill and a running "commentary" that threatened to drive the more sensitive Brakes' fans out into the rain for relief, but he had no chance in the 15th minute when Martin Thompson made it 1-0 picking up an incisive pass from Kelsall and rounding a defender before shaking the rain-drops from the net.

Brakes were making the early running and Thompson so nearly scored again five minutes later when a superb through ball from Stidder, making only his second start, was picked up by the impressive front man, but this time his strike was just turned away by the excellent Olden. As Brakes threatened to overrun the faltering Oldbury defence Thompson ran down the right using strength and skill to get to the line for a cross that only just eluded Stidder.

But it wasn't all one way and ex-youth 'keeper, Richard Morgan, making his debut for this season dived bravely at feet in the 26th then saved at point-blank range five minutes later for what became an assured performance in greasy conditions not suited to goalkeeping. Martin Thompson repaid an earlier compliment by releasing Stidder in the 34th and the increasingly impressive young striker saw his shot just turned round for a corner by Olden. The final 10 minutes of the first half showed chances for both sides with Richard Morgan coming out well to clear, then Kelsall making a timely challenge before Leon Morgan was close with a diving header after a Blake corner.

With the rain getting heavier, and the crowd still adjusting its clothing appropriately after the break, Brakes went further into the lead when a Blake free-kick from the left was cheekily turned in by Martin Thompson for 2-0 in the 46th with the Oldbury 'keeper threatening apoplexy at the waywardness of his absent defence. Brakes were mostly in control though Richard Morgan had to save well from a close-range header. Soon after, Jon Adams came on for two-goal Thompson with Herlihy replacing Leon Morgan.

But if Oldbury thought the pressure was off they were soon disabused. A corner on the left was pulled back to Jon Adams who turned inside, seemed to have lost the ball twice, then blasted it into the net from 30yds with Olden powerless, 3-0 in the 72nd. Ex-youth player, Jamie Coleman, came on for an assured debut replacing Blake and the other debutants also had encouraging starts. Neil Stacey, another ex-youth player, has been at other clubs for a while and returned as a confident, controlled defender to a ground where he was an out and out striker. Moreton Titterton showed his class before tiring a little later on but lasted the 90 minutes for some useful match fitness, and, of course, 'keeper Morgan, no stranger to the NWG in his two years between the sticks for the youth team, showed his tremendous ability as a shot-stopper and safe handler of the ball in difficult conditions.

The last thing anyone wanted in the increasing deluge was extra time but there were few concerns when Lee Booth scored from close range for 3-1 in the 82nd and only a slight muttering when Ben Smith made it 3-2 in added time after the 90th following a rare error by a Brakes' defender. The whistle went soon after and Brakes had done enough to be well-pleased with a (wet) night's work and now go to Solihull Borough in R3, date to be decided.

Leamington: Richard Morgan; Kristian Kelsall; Steve Smith; Neil Stacey; Ryan Parisi; Moreton Titterton; Paul Eden; Leon Morgan [Capt] (Stuart Herlihy 70); Martin Thompson (Jon Adams 64); Andy Stidder; Josh Blake (Jamie Coleman 74)
Subs Not Used: Andy Gregory; Ryan Howell

Oldbury United: Neil Olden; Chris Homer; Andy Dodds [Capt]; Steve Wilkinson; Martin Keight; Simon Carter; Ben Smith; Neil Barnfield; Andy Wells; Lee Booth; Lee Dimmock
Subs From: Darren Goodall; Paul Lloyd; Steve Johnson

Attendance 278

Players' News: Brakes' Youth player, Tom "TJ" James, has been selected by the Birmingham County FA squad for their FA County Youth Cup round 2 away match against Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA on Saturday 22 October (2pm) at Worksop Town FC.

Singing in the rain, yet again

The Harbury Lane ground was again inundated with rain which no doubt reduced the crowd to 278 spectators but failed to dampen the spirits of the Leamington players as Manager Jason Cadden used the Birmingham Senior cup tie to rest some players and give four debuts as the Brakes sought some revenge off Oldbury United for the 4-1 tanking at the Cricketts last month. Club debuts went to Moreton Titterton and Neil Stacey with season debuts to Richard Morgan in goal and Jamie Coleman, on five minutes Andy Wells flashed a header across the goal for the visitors before the Brakes won a corner with no end product. United forced two successive corners and on 16 minutes Leamington took the lead following great work by Kristian Kelsall who played Martin Thompson in to beat a defender with a smart turn then shooting past keeper Neil Olden with aplomb. Olden’s incessant chatter to his defenders caused much merriment at the Clubhouse end which the fans began to imitate and that earned him the nickname of ‘Seal’ - to his credit the experienced keeper took it with a rueful grin. Wells headed over the bar and the action returned to the other end where Olden denied Thompson who collected an Andy Stidder pass then Wells set off on a long run until a timely tackle to the ball out for another corner with was cleared to the all action Thompson who made tracks down the right wing before whipping in a great cross that was a fraction too high for Stidder. Richard Morgan made a brave save diving into a mass of feet to clear the danger then the powerful Lee Booth cracked a drive inches wide on 31 minutes, Olden did likewise as play switched down the slope with Thompson laying off a pass to Stidder but the keeper put the ball out for a corner flinging himself full length then the Brakes were close to doubling the lead from a short corner which Kelsall to Josh Blake whose teasing cross was narrowly headed inches wide by the diving skipper Leon Morgan.

Leamington increased the lead on 46 minutes through Thompson who knocked in a corner from Blake with keeper Olden wondering whether his defenders were still in the dressing room, Richard Morgan pulled of a brilliant stop from a diving header then Paul Eden pushed a beautiful pass up the wing, Oldbury wasted a chance putting a free kick a yard over the bar from a dangerous position and on 64 minutes Martin Thompson left the field to great applause to be replaced by Jon Adams. Leon Morgan was taken off and Stuart Herlihy came on wearing the captain’s armband on 69 minutes as a four man move ended with another Brakes corner. Leamington increased the lead through Jon Adams who sent a thumping 30 yard drive past Olden yet Oldbury were far from finished as skipper Andy Dodds took a free kick on the right and curled in a wicked shot that had Richard Morgan hurling himself across his line to clutch the ball to safety. Jamie Coleman came on for Josh Blake then Jon Adams made a surging run on goal that was denied by Olden as the ball went out for a corner. The muscular Booth used his skill to net from a yard out beating Morgan with a deft flick to reduce the arrears on 82 minutes then used his brawn to knock Ryan Parisi into the advertising hoardings which earned the Brakes a free kick and nothing more, the ten men hung on until Parisi was eventually able to hobble back on and with the crowd urging the referee to bring the game to its end deep into injury time, Oldbury netted through Ben Smith with the home defenders claiming handball but the match official was adamant it hit the shoulder. Leamington travel to Southern League Solihull Borough in the third round.