Glassboys On the Mark to Shatter Brakes’ Hopes

Stourbridge moved into second place after this narrow win against Brakes and after a poor start to the season are, with Chasetown, the form team of the moment. They also boast the league’s top striker, Mark Bellingham, who is 10 ahead of anyone else in the league and has notched 40, including cup matches, at a goal a game. And it was Bellingham who made the difference lashing home the winner in the second half after Brakes had taken an early lead through Jon Adams equalised by Bastable six minutes later.

It was a bitterly cold night, with sleet and hailstones earlier in the day and, with European football live on TV, a crowd of 201 was probably as good as could be expected comparing well with the other two league attendances of 42 and 71, the latter at Warwick.

The town clock-face glowed yellow through the trees, suspended like a moon with hands and numbers, as the teams kicked off on a good pitch before a crowd, unusually for Brakes, equally vociferous for both sides. The pitch is open on one side leading to a cricket pitch, with no hard-standing, but this is now deemed acceptable for the next step up so long as spectators don’t stand there (only ball “boys”) and Stourbridge’s facilities have been accepted.

Stourbridge made the early running, penning Brakes in their own half, and their physical presence dwarfed the smaller, nippier Brakes that set a pattern for the game. When Brakes did escape they looked dangerous and played good football without really threatening. But though neither side was really imposing itself on the other it was Brakes who forced two successive corners in the 13th then took the lead when a superb, defence-splitting pass from Howell released Jon Adams, out on the left who ran on to the left corner of the box before releasing a crashing drive for 0-1 in the 19th.

Now Brakes looked as if they would take the game to Stourbridge. They were quicker to the ball against a hesitant defence but still prone to give the ball away. And it was from one such error that Stourbridge broke quickly down the right and Bastable made it 1-1 in the 25th smashing a first time cross into the roof of Brakes’ net.

Brakes could have regained the lead 10 minutes later when they earnt a free-kick in front of goal, just outside the area, but Rodman’s drive skimmed the bar. Brakes were now on top but Bellingham was lurking dangerously and Brakes were indulging an increasing trait of late in not playing to the whistle but appealing to the officials at every perceived slight – of which there were many.

Brakes started the second half in much the same way. Undoubtedly they were playing the better football, were quicker and playing with spirit, backing each other up and fighting for “lost” balls. But there was a worrying development in that they needed to build momentum to turn the pressure into goals and Stourbridge were very good at breaking up momentum.

Then Brakes conceded a corner and the tall Stourbridge players seemed to dwarf Brakes in the box with Bellingham turning well to force home the cross for 2-1 in the 57th.

Brakes continued to play football but it was noticeable that Richard Adams wasn’t his usual self. I noted at the time that the sooner he made a decision, one way or another, the better for him and the club. Later events (see Players’ Notes below) suggest that he was more preoccupied than usual at a difficult time for him but I’m glad he’s finally made up his mind and wish him all the best in future even though, from Brakes’ perspective, it was the “wrong” decision.

But there were wholehearted performances from many players, especially Jon Adams, Titterton, Howell and Parisi, with Stacey solid at the heart of the defence and demonstrating more than once what a superb striker of the ball he is. Sidwell made a welcome return, starting for the first time in a month and fitting back in well.

With the game seemingly running down to a narrow win for the team now in 2nd place there were three late bits of magic. McKay showed what Brakes, perhaps, were missing up front when, in the 89th, he turned fully 40 yards from goal near the right touchline and lashed a magnificent shot that was just dipping under the bar when the excellent Solly in the Stourbridge goal leaped to turn it over for a wasted corner. Then Morris made an equally superb save at the other end during added time after the 90 shortly after Jon Adams provided a cross that needed just a touch for a deserved equaliser.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Alex Rodman (David Care 51); Ryan Parisi; Tom Sidwell; Neil Stacey; Morton Titterton [Capt]; Jon Adams; Josh Blake; Richard Adams; Ryan Howell (Jody McKay 66); James Husband
Subs Not Used: Jamie Coleman; Paul Eden; Paul Shepherd

Stourbridge: Lewis Solly; Mark Jones; Morgan Brookes; Steve Frost; Chris Field; Nathan Bennett; Jamie Rogers; Leon Broadhurst; Mark Bellingham (Stuart How 82); Rob Taylor; Adam Bastable [Capt]
Subs Not Used: Tim Nicholls; Sam Rock; Sean Wright; Paul Evans

Attendance: 201

Players' News: Richard Adams announced his departure for Nationwide North side, Redditch United, soon after the game; Andy Crabtree missed through one week’s suspension (sending-off for two yellows); Leon Morgan, Darran Tank and Stuart Herlihy 'flu; Leon has a week's suspension coming up for five yellows, Mon 6 March thru Sun 12 March and, pending an appeal, may miss the two weeks following that until 26 March for the Romulus red.