Early Goals Secure the Points

Brakes threatened to run riot with two early goals but Oldbury fought back to get a foothold in the game and although Brakes continued to have far more of play, and the clearer chances, the most satisfying aspect of a goalless second half was a solid Brakes defence and Titterton and Herlihy controlling the midfield.

Persistent rain throughout kept the crowd down to 409 and the second half was spoilt by a succession of stoppages that destroyed the momentum of both sides. As the rain got fiercer some frustrations spilt over and Oldbury got four cards, including their coach, to Brakes one. That was a red for Stacey, his second in three games, thankfully matched by his fellow combatant so that both teams played with 10 men.

There were only 44 seconds on the clock when Titterton scythed a ball through the Oldbury defence which just eluded McKay but Brakes’ two, young influential wing backs soon fashioned a goal with Husband on the left crossing hard and low for Rodman to steam in from the right and convert superbly in the 3rd minute for 1-0, a cross missed by everyone else in a packed goalmouth.

Herlihy, Husband and Rodman brought appreciative applause from a damp crowd for some good interplay in the 8th before Rodman turned provider sending across a corner from the left that was met by the soaring Herlihy with a bullet-header for his first goal of the season, 2-0 in the 12th.

For a brief spell Oldbury were on top with Parisi off the field receiving attention and Morris got up well to palm clear. Jon Adams, helping out in defence, landed awkwardly on the base of his spine, but Rodman sped away up the right turning defence into attack crossing for Herlihy to stab wide in the 24th.

Indeed Rodman, looking more eager and strong than he has done for a while, was key at this stage in not allowing Oldbury to get on top because they were clearly unnerved by his movement and their need to defend his surging runs. Twice in a minute he soared up the right then appeared on the left to force the Oldbury ‘keeper to head clear from Martin Thompson before running through the middle and shooting just wide.

Oldbury had no intention of capitulating and were constantly encouraging each other enjoying another brief spell of dominance leading up to half-time but Titterton and Herlihy were showing control in Brakes’ midfield that has not always been apparent of late. With Parisi magnificent in defence and Sidwell playing as well as I’ve seen him, two late flourishes in the first half could have changed the game.

In time added after the 45th first Parisi tackled back as Oldbury looked likely to score then Husband crossed onto the head of Thompson in front of goal with the burly striker somehow heading wide before holding the offending body part in both hands.

Again, it could have been a different game if Oldbury had managed to convert a chance in the 47th that Morris saved twice, once off his post but Brakes rallied, the crowd sang (and kept it up, as promised, throughout the second half prompting a neighbour’s complaint about the noise), Herlihy was into everything with a string of tackles and powerful headers and it became a different game.

With the rain changing direction to sweep across the field and the referee blowing for every infringement on a now-greasy surface the game lost its pattern. Stacey, annoyed throughout by shirt-tugging, complained bitterly and seemed to be struck by his Oldbury combatant before retaliating in the 55th earning both players a red.

New signing, central defender Tom Cudworth, replaced striker Martin Thompson in the 61st for an assured display as Brakes sought to ensure the defence stayed firm in Stacey’s absence at the possible expense of the attack. But it was Oldbury who next went close with a header in the 71st that skimmed the Brakes’ bar. Another Oldbury chance went begging in the 76th with Parisi again off the pitch receiving treatment.

But the closest either team came in the second period came after Jon Adams had, first, created a chance for Rodman then, a minute later in the 77th, sped past the Oldbury defence to drive a low, hard shot past the ‘keeper to rebound from the base of the post.

Oldbury showed their frustration in a start-stop second half with three more bookings, all yellows, including one for a coach on the bench for sharing his opinions with the referee. He was sent “to the stand”, ie, in this case behind the barrier between the dugouts.

An Oldbury free-kick in front of the Brakes’ goal in the 81st was delivered into the arms of Morris but Brakes also had other chances and both Herlihy and Jon Adams could have doubled the score.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Alex Rodman; Ryan Parisi; Neil Stacey; Tom Sidwell; Morton Titterton [Capt]; Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy; Jody McKay (Ryan Howell 78); Martin Thompson (Tom Cudworth 61); James Husband (Josh Blake 72)
Subs Not Used: David Care; Paul Shepherd

Oldbury United: Ryan Price; Paul Lloyd; Andy Dodd; Simon Carter; Liam Newall; Danny Rochester [Capt]; Jason Barton; Ben Smith; Scott Gennard; Lee Booth; Lee Dimmock
Subs Used: Solomon Griffiths; Simon Hampson; Darren Goodall;
Subs Not Used: Leon Mitchell; Ashley Edwards

Attendance: 409

Players' News: Andy Crabtree probably “two more weeks”; Darran Tank similar; Leon Morgan back after suspension; new (forward) signing imminent, probably more news Wednesday.