Fortress NWG Breached for First League Defeat at Home in 21 Months

Stourbridge, well-organised and experienced, and as good as any team Brakes have played, inflicted Brakes first defeat at the NWG since Bedlington Terriers in the FA Vase about a year ago, and their first in the league since Coventry Marconi won 3-2 on 16 March 2004, the season before last. And, despite Brakes having enough chances to win the game, Stourbridge deserved their win on the night scoring twice from set pieces before Jon Adams late penalty gave Brakes brief hope of a draw at least.

With Steve Thompson making his first start since his bad injury in August Blake was released to play a more forward role with a new, slim-line Thommo helping with defensive duties down the left flank. And early signs were that the formation was working with Brakes making the early running.
 

In the 18th Morgan released Richard Adams who ran through, one-on-one with the ‘keeper, but saw his shot beaten out to Martin Thompson whose effort was charged down by a regrouped defence. But in the same minute Stourbridge broke quickly and could have taken the lead when, with Morris floundering on the ground, the ball was put wide of a gaping goal.

Three minutes later Blake sped down the left showing superb control and whipped the ball back from the line, low and hard, to force a corner. But Jon Adams kick bounced around the crowded area before it was cleared.

A pattern was emerging with Stourbridge defending in depth and Brakes looking to use speed to run on goal but being met by a solid wall. At times the Stourbridge area was so crowded with players from both sides it was difficult to see what was happening.

But this was no unthinking, backs to the wall, defensive strategy; it was organised and effective with some defenders clearly not in the first flush of youth but using experience to negate the tricks and turns of Brakes’ mercurial strikers by directing them back or into blind alleys.

Morgan and Herlihy tried a more probing approach with Martin Thompson providing the muscle and Richard Adams and Blake trying to run through defenders. It always looked likely to provide a breakthrough but there were no clear goal attempts as the wall did its job. As the half ended McFarlane moved up to join the attack but Stourbridge’s two front men always looked dangerous on the break though their shooting was less impressive.

Soon after the restart Herlihy set up Steve Thompson for a drive that was just wide as Brakes showed early promise of breaking the deadlock. But it was Stourbridge, looking less and less likely to score in open play who did that when Bennett rose above everyone to head home a corner from Nicholls on the left for 0-1 in the 60th.

The admirable Stourbridge defence almost unravelled six minutes later when the reliable Solley in goal made a rare error, calling that it was his ball but somehow sending it spinning just past the post for another corner. A rare strike on goal in the 70th by Jon Adams gave brief hope but Brakes had a mountain to climb when, from another set piece, a free kick 35yds out on the right taken by Broadbent, Bennett again rose high to head home in the 72nd, 0-2. Morgan was shown a yellow soon after for dissent as frustration boiled over.

Brakes kept trying, kept probing, and could have had a penalty in the 83rd for handball which was not given though a penalty (for pushing I believe but the area was so crowded I couldn’t be sure) was given two minutes after the 90th and duly despatched by Jon Adams for 1-2 which sparked a final, frenetic minute with Brakes continuing to “bang their heads” against an unyielding wall.

It’s always miserable to lose but, in many ways, this was a good performance. There was certainly no lack of effort from the Brakes players, despite comments to that effect from a few, very few (and we know who you are!) who seem to think that teams will roll over like they did in Mid Comb Div.2 and that if we don’t score five in every game we’re not trying. This is a nonsense. Every match will be tough and Brakes will win more often than not, probably even against Stourbridge, but losing some matches is the reality of football at this level. And the team is good enough, and young enough, to learn how to cope with tactics aimed at negating their normal style and to learn how to change them during the game.

Assistant manager, Keith Orme, said after the match that Stourbridge were a very well organised side that clearly had a plan to defend in depth and hit us from set pieces, and it worked. Our lads had put everything into it and we had chances to win the game but on the night it wasn’t to be. We have to be positive now and look to Saturday and we are still very well placed to progress in the league.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Jon Adams; Nick McFarlane; Ryan Parisi; Andy Gregory; Steve Thompson (Kristian Kelsall 73); Stuart Herlihy; Leon Morgan [Capt]; Martin Thompson (Ryan Howell 69); Richard Adams (Neil Stacey 87); Josh Blake
Subs Not Used: Darran Tank; Paul Shepherd

Stourbridge: Lewis Solley; Matt Webb; Jon Ford; Steve Frost; Morgan Brookes [Capt]; Nathan Bennett; Jamie Rogers; Leon Broadhurst; Mark Bellingham; Robert Taylor; Tim Nicholls
Subs Not Used: Andy Wright; Sam Rock; Chris Field; Sean Wright

Attendance: 350

Players' News: Morton Titterton failed a pre-match fitness test having got a knock last Saturday – no long-term prognosis.