New Windmill Ground Howler Too Much For Sphinx

Brakes, with several key players missing, were still too strong for Midland Combination front-runners, Sphinx. Ryan “Howler” Howell scored a hat-trick in a stunning performance of skill and strength, Paul Eden notched his first of the season and Jon Adams drilled the fifth. David Care and Richard Morris returned after injury, Care after being sidelined for over a year, and there were consummate performances from ex-youth players, Richard Morgan and Jamie Coleman.

Another drizzly evening at the NWG with a relaxed crowd determined to enjoy a match with little at stake but the need to avoid injury before next Saturday’s “big one”.

But Kelsall seemed not to recognise the old tradition of playing it gently before a big match, one moment streaking down the wing, the next back in defence. He threatened in the 2nd minute then swept in another cross in the 11th which Eden slotted home with the skill of all top strikers that make missable chances look easy, 1-0.

Within five minutes Brakes were further ahead when Howell got the final touch as the ball pinged back and forth in the Sphinx penalty area, 2-0 in the 16th, and another goal, this time from Sphinx’s Kinder who smashed home an Owen cross for 2-1 in the 19th, brought a vestige of hope to an over-run Sphinx but finished the scoring for the first-half.

Stidder was forced off with an injury in the 38th and, with the game still in doubt at that stage, Richard Adams replaced him. Howell’s dipping shot in the 40th was only just over but Parisi made a timely header as half-time neared that kept the ball, but not him, out of Brakes’ net and Stacey made one of several saving tackles in the 45th.

Howell was close to adding to his tally in the 50th when his diving header, from another Kelsall cross, hit the post but the on-song, young striker was on target in the 57th making it 3-1 when he picked up a superb Herlihy through ball to round the ‘keeper; and he nearly scored again after one of several surging runs from Smith 10 minutes later.

But, it was Howell’s day and, in the 72nd, he made it 4-1 when he ran down and robbed two Sphinx defenders who couldn’t get the ball away between them, ran through them and drove the ball into the net from a tight angle.

With Brakes in almost total control Richard Adams pulled a ball back to Jon Adams in the 83rd and brother Jon drilled a low, hard shot just inside the corner with the Sphinx ‘keeper not even close, 5-1.

This was a powerful performance from a Brakes side demonstrating their strength in depth. Jamie Coleman from last season’s youth team had another, excellent senior outing as did Richard Morgan, another youth player, in goal who didn’t put a foot (or finger) wrong. And Neil Stacey, another Brakes’ youth player only a few years ago, once again was quietly in control at the centre of the defence. With David Care making a cameo role, after so long out with injury, surely on his way back to a regular place, the future looks bright for Cadden’s men even if the weather, once again, did not.

Leamington: Richard Morgan (Richard Morris 53); Ryan Parisi; Jamie Coleman; Steve Smith [Capt]; Neil Stacey; Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy (David Care 75); Kristian Kelsall; Andy Stidder (Richard Adams 38); Paul Eden; Ryan Howell
Subs Not Used: Tom Sidwell

Coventry Sphinx: Gavin Davies; Mark Owen; Adam Knibbs; Danny Sharples; Ben Atkins (Ryan Wolstenholme 63); Lee Hughes; Casey Gaggini; Paul John [Capt] (Chris Harris 63); Adam Kinder; Petajon Gordon (Adrian Fisher 46); Craig Jones
Subs Not Used: Paul Charnley

Attendance 215

Players' Other News: Tom Sidwell niggle, may miss Saturday and Andy Stidder went off with an injury that threatens his chances