Brakes Toehold at Bescot

But the Scholars did enough in the first half to suggest that that is not beyond them and Brakes, whose second half performance in this match was magnificent, must beware of over-confidence. With light flecks of snow drifting onto a playing surface that had recovered from the mud-heap at the time both these clubs were competing for FA Cup glory it was Chasetown who took the game to Brakes in the first half enjoying the majority of possession as Brakes reeled under pressure.

Yet though Martin Thompson could have converted from a Stacey free kick in the 10th when he scooped over the bar it was little surprise when Chasetown went into a 17th minute 1-0 lead with a looping header from Edwards unmarked at the far post meeting a cross from the right flank.

By the end of the first half Brakes had been forced into two substitutions, Care coming on for Parisi and Leon Morgan for Martin Thompson. Though the half ended with Morgan, returning from a long absence, just failing to meet a through ball the whistle came with some relief for most of the 349 fans with talk of 1-0 being a “good result if we can hold out”. But, in truth, that seemed unlikely.

But the second half was such a different story that, initially, there was disbelief, soon replaced by joy as Brakes took the game to Chasetown. Maybe there was something in the half-time tea but more likely an inspired change of style with Brakes switching to 4-4-2, Rodman released from defensive duties creating havoc down the left and Titterton and Stacey running the midfield.

Then there was Morgan, gangly but quick and, most of all, tall with a powerful leap. He created mayhem in the Chasetown goalmouth but also popped up to head the ball clear when Brakes came under pressure.

It was all Brakes at the start of the second half and that was soon turned to advantage when Husband spun round in the box to smash a tremendous shot on target that the Chasetown ‘keeper did well to palm round the post. In what was to be a feature of the second half Rodman found Leon Morgan from the corner kick and he lashed the ball into the roof of the net for 1-1 in the 48th.

Blake was now finding space as well, running everywhere with the crowd cheering him on. Then another Rodman corner kick, this time from the right, again found Morgan causing panic in the box; the ball came out to Blake who fired home for 1-2 in the 54th before running to the now delirious Brakes’ supporters.

Yet there was more. Jon Adams and Rodman stroked the ball around and earned successive corners taken by Rodman. Herlihy joined in the fun, twisting and turning past two defenders into the box before crossing for Rodman to drive an angled shot a whisker past the post in the 62nd.

But Chasetown were still in the game though such was Brakes’ superiority it came as a shock when Morris had to save in the 65th with Morgan heading clear out of the Brakes’ defence, and an even greater shock when Chasetown hit the bar two minutes later.

This was now a real cup-tie with Chasetown starting to come back into the game but every time Brakes moved upfield there was panic in the Scholars’ defence. Now Stacey started to employ a long throw into the box from anywhere in the last 1/3rd onto the head of Morgan standing in front of the ‘keeper. In the 74th Herlihy, who had another excellent game, momentarily took over Morgan’s role in the box from a Brakes’ free kick heading just over.

The pressure had to pay and it was Jon Adams’ goal in every way. He took advantage of a defence in disarray by robbing a hesitant ‘keeper who should have cleared. Bryan, in the Scholars’ goal, trying to retrieve the situation only succeeded in flooring Adams and was duly sent off with Jon Adams converting the resulting penalty in the 76th against the outfield player taking over in goal for 1-3 on the night.

Yet Chasetown persevered and it took a sound defensive performance to prevent another goal from the Scholars that would have made the 2nd leg next Tuesday even more interesting.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Alex Rodman; Ryan Parisi (David Care 31); Neil Stacey; Tom Sidwell; Morton Titterton [Capt]; Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy; Josh Blake; Martin Thompson (Leon Morgan 43); James Husband
Subs Not Used: Ryan Howell; Andy Crabtree; Paul Shepherd

Chasetown: Simon Bryan; John Branch (Neil Aulton 77); Mark Branch; Chris Slater; John Newall; Richard Huckfield; Matt Bytheway; Dave Egan [Capt]; Danny Smith; Karl Edwards; Duncan Horler (Ronnie Sayer 36)
Subs Not Used: Lee Parsons; Kevin Thompson; Craig Harris

Attendance: 349

Players' News: Ryan Parisi off with hamstring twinge and Martin Thompson dead leg, no prognoses; Tom Cudworth cup-tied; Michael Feely not signed in time, has to be 21 days prior for league cup; Neil Stacey 35 days suspension starts Monday 17 April for first red card.

Other News: A park ’n’ ride is being looked at for next Tuesday’s 2nd leg but not guaranteed at this time as we are unsure about evening licences. Watch this space. The uncertainty only applies to Tuesday evening and Saturday's park ‘n’ ride for the RC Warwick game will happen as already announced.