Brakes Defence Springs Leaks in Battle of the Spas

Brakes never recovered from two early goals in the first 10 minutes and, although they replied through McKay within two minutes of a third strike in the 23rd, there was always too much ground to make up against the runaway leaders and they conceded a fourth late in the game having matched a very good Malvern outfit for the intervening hour.

Brakes got off to the worst possible start conceding a corner straight from the kick-off when a defender sliced a clearance. And Malvern’s big number 5, Burrows, was not picked up as he ran into the box unmarked to power home a header from the resulting corner kick, 1-0 in the 2nd.

Brakes still had to settle when another defensive error presented the ball to Phil Preedy in front of goal and a powder-puff challenge didn’t stop him driving the ball low into the net for 2-0 to the league leaders in the 7th.

Brakes had made two defensive errors and been punished for both before they, and their fans, the vast majority of the 196 crowd, had “got going”. A period of relative calm followed with Brakes ruffling a far from impressive Malvern defence in which captain Bullock was an early booking.

But just as it looked as if they would make a game of it there was a third, appalling defensive error in the 23rd and Owen made it 3-0 having been presented with a gift by a now, seriously jittery Brakes’ defence. But, to their credit, they did fight back and a Jon Adams free kick was met superbly with a glancing header from McKay in the 25th who outjumped everyone to make it 3-1 and throw Brakes a lifeline, though six minutes later a Malvern drive rattled the Brakes crossbar with Morris stranded.

Brakes had been struggling with Malvern’s first touch, always quick and accurate as befits a side with players either from a higher level or who belong there. But now Brakes stepped up a gear and matched them. Malvern are not like most teams Brakes have met in their precipitous climb from the lower reaches of the Midland Combination; Malvern are cynical, hard and unforgiving when errors are made; but mostly they do things quickly. And now Brakes started to show that they can learn and that most, if not all, of this team can step up a level in time.

It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if Brakes could have practised their new-found skills against a Malvern side not holding a two-goal lead But Malvern could afford to sit back and soak up the pressure. With Brakes’ forwards buzzing around the Malvern half some brave goalkeeping by Humphries, and some industrial clearances kept Brakes out.

Leon Morgan, returning from injury, came off the bench and climbed high to head home in the 76th, though with an assist from a defender’s back, and Husband came on to create mayhem down the left touchline with Martin Thompson replacing the tiring Howell.

Now a Leamington goal would have made it interesting and could well have led to an equaliser, euphoria indeed compared with the first 25 minutes when a severe drubbing seemed on the cards. Wave after wave of Leamington attacks bore down on Malvern’s defences but with no need to score Malvern played out the game restricting Brakes, mostly, to long-range efforts.

And, perhaps inevitably, the constant pressure paid off, for the other team, when in a rare foray upfield Morris safely gathered only to throw a short ball to a defender who was looking the other way, and in nipped the indefatigable Owen (said by home fans to be on £75 a goal) to slot home his second for 4-1 in the 86th to spoil what was, otherwise, an excellent half for Brakes who had done enough in the previous hour to suggest that they can put this behind them and run out next Saturday with renewed belief.

Manager Cadden was clearly disappointed with the “silly mistakes” that led to “four goals from only five shots on target” but felt that it had been a useful learning experience for his young side.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Ryan Howell (Martin Thompson 81); Tom Sidwell; Ryan Parisi; Andy Crabtree; Morton Titterton [Capt] (Leon Morgan 72); Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy; Jody McKay; Richard Adams; Josh Blake (James Husband 78)
Subs Not Used: Darran Tank; Alex Rodman

Malvern Town: Craig Humphries; Craig Williams; Richard Tompkins; Darren Bullock [Capt] (Rik Hamlon 69); Marc Burrows; Nathan Jukes; Lee Tompkins (Dave Cannon 79); Luke Whittington; Mark Owen; Mark Shepherd; Phil Preedy (Duncan Preedy 89)
Subs Not Used: Des Cox; Jonathan Atkinson

Attendance: 196

Players' News: Kristian Kelsall missed through work commitments as did Paul Shepherd.

Other News: Please check out the website www.leamingtonfc.co.uk for park ‘n’ ride and other ways of alleviating possible congestion in the NWG car-park on Saturday for the FA Vase clash.