Middleton super strike ends Brakes' Brum cup hopes

After a promising opening twenty minutes when Brakes matched their Nationwide Conference North rivals, a stunning goal by Darren Middleton proved the turning point of the match and was enough to send the Moors through to the Birmingham Senior Cup semi-final.

Brakes welcomed back Alex Rodman in attack and Paul Shepherd in goal, with Neil Stacey getting the nod over Darran Tank in defence. As early as the fourth minute, there was some promising play between Leon Morgan and Ryan Howell which brought swift and decisive action from the Moors' defence. Howell then picked up a good clearance by Jon Adams to race into the home half, only to be upended by Guy Saunders.

At the other end, Peter Faulds blasted over when well placed and then Darren Middleton fired into the side netting. However, Middleton made amends on 22 minutes with a spectacular strike from the edge of the penalty area that rocketed past Shepherd into the top corner (1-0).

Shepherd than had to get down quickly to stop the Moors going further ahead and Morton Titterton, who in my book had one of his best matches since joining the club, blocked another Middleton shot.

Brakes were being pinned back at this stage and Shepherd saved well with his feet from Gary McPhee. A long-range shot from David Morrison cannoned off Ryan Parisi and the half ended with Neil Stacey also trying his luck from distance, but to no effect.

The second half was very much a mirror of the first, with Brakes starting well and then falling back under pressure. Howell shot over the bar from a Rodman corner on 52 minutes and then Parisi had an attempt on goal from long distance. From then on, the chances all fell to the Moors with substitute Sean Dowdall wasting two good openings, shooting wide with only Shepherd to beat.

Dave Care's arrival on the pitch in the 73rd minute allowed Jon Adams to push up into a central midfield role where he could contribute more to the game.

The bare statistics were that the Moors had eight shots on goal and Brakes none. For once, the stats said it all and there could be no complaint at the result. The difference between Step 5 at which Brakes play and Step 2 which is the Conference North was there for all to see. Moors never let their opponents settle on the ball and were quick to break from defence. Having said that, credit goes to the Brakes players who never gave up and played their part in an entertaining and end-to-end game.

Moor Green Ashley Timms; Richard Scott; Phil Midworth; Lee Collins; Guy Sanders; Chris Nurse; David Morrison (Wayne McCarron 89); Darren Middleton (Sean Dowdall 77); David Bridgwater; Gary McPhee (Jon Jackson-Bearey 86); Peter Faulds
Subs Not Used: Junior English; Andy Penny

Leamington Paul Shepherd; Jon Adams; Ryan Parisi; Neil Stacey; Morton Titterton; Josh Blake; Alex Rodman (Paul Eden 85); Leon Morgan [Capt.] (Dave Care 73); Ryan Howell (Martin Thompson 80); Richard Adams; James Husband
Subs Not Used; Kristian Kelsall; Richard Morris

Attendance 183