Hammers Thumped After Early Pounding

To use that old, hackneyed expression this was a game of two halves. For an hour the wind blew, the rain drizzled and Brakes seemed unable to bring any cohesion to their play. Cradley, as befits a team desperate for points to escape the drop, and one of three teams most likely, played as if this was a cup final, shouting, cajoling, in quickly to every ball. And it worked to the extent of a half-time lead.

But Brakes equalised soon after the restart, the rain stopped, the wind dropped, and a second goal just after the hour broke the Hammers’ spirit. They tried, still, but never looked like taking the game thereafter and by the time Brakes brought on their substitutes it was one-way traffic with both the fresh strikers scoring late goals in what would have been more of a rout if the crumbling Cradley defence hadn’t been saved by the final whistle.

Herlihy, after his first goal of the season in the last game, seems to have the bit between his teeth as he headed, powerfully, just wide in only the 3rd minute but Brakes were struggling to make headway against a spirited Cradley side. There was little cohesion in their play, not helped by a brisk wind, and Cradley were using the wings well forcing Brakes’ two, influential wingbacks into defensive positions.

It was a night for errors and with Cradley fighting for every ball it was almost no surprise when a couple of poor clearances in the Brakes’ defence let in Smith who drove home in the 17th to give Cradley a 0-1 lead.

With salvation possible from just a few wins Cradley were rampant and could have increased their lead with better finishing. And given the spirit and energy shown they probably deserved it at this stage. Brakes seemed low on confidence with players hiding rather than running into positions but Rodman, continuing his current rich vein of form, seemed immune from such frailties and was clearly feared by Cradley when he escaped from defensive duties.

And, once again, Parisi was everywhere at the back mopping up loose balls and getting back to make saving tackles when it really mattered, ably supported by authoritative displays from Sidwell and Cudworth. With Titterton belying the miles on the clock with another busy, inspirational display in midfield it was up front that Brakes didn’t seem to be able to get going.

But there was a warning for Cradley in injury time at the end of the first 45 when Husband’s drive was beaten out and Cudworth, making his first start, could have opened his account for his new club.

Yet Cradley were the first to strike in the second half forcing Morris into an excellent save at the expense of a corner in the 46th. They must have rued that chance a few minutes later when Rodman put Brakes back on terms at 1-1 in the 49th picking up an incisive through ball from Herlihy to round the ‘keeper and slot home.

Cradley crumbled as Brakes rediscovered their confidence. The rain stopped and the wind became a breeze; I almost expected the sun to come out. Herlihy powered his way to two chances and Jon Adams shot just over the bar before Martin Thompson, improving with every game as he recovers match fitness, ran at the goal and was unlucky to see his shot saved though Husband was quick to pounce as the ball ran free hammering home in the 66th for a 2-1 lead.

This was parity with the match in February when it was abandoned because of floodlights’ failure. But Brakes had a few more tricks up their sleeves on this occasion. Blake came on and looked as if he could win the match on his own. We’re used to whole-hearted displays from Josh Blake but this was something else. He flashed a header wide in the 74th, created mayhem in a desperate Cradley defence in the 85th then set off on a brilliant run, chesting the ball down at speed before turning a couple of defenders inside out for good measure and blasting home, 3-1 in the 88th.

A minute later Blake charged down a Cradley ball he had no right to get to and slipped the ball through for Brakes’ other substitute, who had come on to appreciative howls from the crowd packed behind the Cradley goal in the Harbury Lane stand and Ryan “Howler” Howell slipped a beautifully-placed shot into the corner for 4-1 in the 89th.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Alex Rodman; Ryan Parisi; Tom Sidwell (Neil Stacey 90); Tom Cudworth; Morton Titterton [Capt]; Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy; Jody McKay (Josh Blake 68); Martin Thompson (Ryan Howell 78); James Husband
Subs Not Used: David Care; Paul Shepherd

Cradley Town (From): Tim Beech; Carl Martin; Luke Bradley; Pat Power; Mark Smith; Joseph Beard; Steve Chatterley; Tom Maddern; Shaun Maynard; Jason Ramsay; Tom Millington; Tom Jennings; Scott Wood; Michael Crook; Ben Store; Chris Homer

Attendance: 232

Players' News: Andy Crabtree probably “2nd week in April”; Darran Tank similar; Leon Morgan back after suspension; Michael Feely (midfielder / striker) has signed from Evesham, previous clubs include Redditch.