Brakes Rampant as Vics Stunned by Old Five

On a bitterly cold night, with the game in doubt right up to the start, and only allowed to continue because the smooth surface stopped the pitch being dangerous, Brakes turned in a stunning display of attacking football that had the Vics reeling and 251 fans making up for their lack of numbers with their vocal support. This was Brakes’ first “Old Five” in the MFA and it could have been six or seven.

A Husband shot on 57 secs was somehow kept out and the ball bobbled around the Biddulph area just needing a final touch with the Vics’ defence in disarray. Brakes were sweeping the ball around with Husband and Care using the wings to advantage whilst Herlihy, after a few weeks diminished by illness, was back to his powerful best looking as if he could win the game on his own.

Crabtree released Care for a goal opportunity in the 8th as the underemployed defence joined in the fun and Care again broke free in the 11th before picking up a superb pass from Blake, making his 250th appearance, to slot home for 1-0 in the 18th.

The second goal was not long in coming and was crafted by two players at the top of their game, Husband, probably the most effective player in the team at the moment, ran from the left wing to the right and crossed for McKay to make it 2-0 in the 25th making a difficult chance seem simple, the mark of a real striker, when he converted a pass that was slightly behind him.

With Husband the architect with his delicate skills, and Blake and Care creating fear in the floundering defence, Brakes looked threatening every time they came forward and it was no more than deserved when the excellent McKay slotted his second, and Brakes’ 3rd, on the night in the 37th for 3-0 when he seemed to stroll through the bewildered defence before stroking the ball home.

Steve Thompson came on for his first game in six weeks in the 58th, replacing the evergreen Titterton who handed the captain’s armband to Tank, and immediately set about maintaining control of the midfield covering the ground with renewed vigour but still finding time to release a screamer from 30yds that deserved better in the 60th.

Blake was doing everything but score and was unlucky not to be able to claim a goal on his 250th appearance when McKay hammered the ball into the area and Blake was denied a goal by Vics’ Lyndon Hall who headed the ball into his own goal in a desperate attempt to clear, 4-0 in the 61st.

The Vics, whose shooting had been wayward in their rare chances, to their credit kept trying and were unlucky not to spoil Brakes’ clean sheet with a goal-line clearance in the 63rd. Brakes brought on Howell and Eden for Husband and McKay but if the Vics thought they’d been let off the hook they were soon disabused.

Howell ran to the right goal-line in the 78th crossing low and hard across the goalmouth, a pass that just needed a touch and eluded everyone, then ran through on goal five minutes later. But he was the architect of the next goal with a subtle back-heel to Eden who controlled the ball beautifully before slipping an excellent pass into the path of Jon Adams. Adams skipped round the ‘keeper before placing the ball in the net for 5-0 in the 87th, an excellent goal crafted from teamsmanship allied to skill and power. Care nearly got the second goal he richly deserved when his shot skimmed the bar in the 89th and the referee brought proceedings to an end, thankfully slightly early perhaps, with thick ice forming on puddles and car windscreens.

Leamington: Richard Morris; David Care; Darran Tank; Ryan Parisi; Andy Crabtree; Morton Titterton [Capt] (Steve Thompson 58); Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy; Josh Blake; Jody McKay (Paul Eden 76); James Husband (Ryan Howell 67)
Subs Not Used: Neil Stacey; Richard Morgan

Biddulph Victoria: Stephen Intihar; Matthew Swift; Michael Steele; Lyndon Hall; Stephen Jardine; Scott Burge [Capt]; Adrian Tilston; Martin Heath; Stuart Heeps (Daniel MacKintosh 65); Darren Baker; John Paul Jones
Subs Not Used: Simon Guest; Craig Malbon

Attendance: 251

Players' News: Leon Morgan still unwell and has only Saturday’s game v Stratford Town before missing three weeks, 6 thru 26 March, through suspension. Paul Shepherd hamstring – no prognosis yet.