Brakes at Bescot

Persistent rain overnight and during the day had cleared for a few hours then came down with a vengeance an hour before kick-off leaving standing water in the goalmouths. A brisk breeze marginally favoured the Scholars in the first half, kicking towards the North Bank, but they also had a mountain to climb needing three goals without reply to go through in 90 minutes after Brakes superb second half in the first leg a week ago gave them a 3-1 aggregate lead with away goals counting double if the aggregate scores were level after this second leg.

Both teams reached the FA Cup R1 Proper and are now suffering from a long and tiring season with too many fixtures bunched together not allowing recovery time. Consequently both teams have key players missing or less than 100%. The absence of both Horler and Bullimore probably cost Chasetown dear and Brakes had to introduce Adrian Fuller for his debut, with the agreement of his club, Banbury Town. Fortunately, with some foresight, he’d been signed as a possible stopgap more than the required 21 days beforehand and he slotted in well from the start.

Chasetown started at a gallop clearly attempting to unsettle Brakes and get an early goal that would have made their task seem oh so possible. Morris saved from Huckfield in the 2nd minute, at the expense of a corner, and Fuller shielded the ball out of play for a goal-kick minutes later with nerve-settling aplomb as the Chasetown attack bore down on him.

But Martin Thompson was bustling to good effect at the other end and Brakes could have scored in the 14th when Morgan headed over from a Blake free kick. There was a lengthy delay whilst Chasetown replaced their ‘keeper, who looked to have some damage to his hand, but before the new man could be tested Chasetown pegged Brakes in their own half and forced an astonishing five corners between the 23rd and 29th minutes. With everyone back in defence Brakes seemed unable to escape and a goal seemed inevitable.

But Herlihy was having none of that and Brakes came closest to scoring when they escaped the siege, courtesy of a free-kick, and Herlihy charged down a loose ball setting up Martin Thompson who ballooned the ball over the bar from in front of goal in the 33rd.

And now Brakes had a bit of a purple patch: Blake slipped on the soggy turf as he prepared to shoot and Rodman got down the right but could have done better with his cross. Another let-off for Brakes in the 41st, when the ball hit the intersection of bar and post rebounding to a forward who headed straight at Morris, seemed to rejuvenate Brakes and both Jon Adams and Rodman had chances before Chasetown broke on the right crossing low and hard for Turner to head home for 0-1 in the 45th.

But Brakes came back with spirit and Rodman, Jon Adams and Morgan combined well to make inroads in the Chasetown defence before half-time that unsettled the Scholars’ defence into earning a yellow card.

Brakes were first to show in the second half when Rodman and Jon Adams combined well to release Herlihy who dragged his shot just wide in the 48th; then Chasetown forced two corners before Blake shot powerfully at the other end when it might have been better to pass to the unmarked Rodman.

This was now a humdinger of a cup-tie, not pretty but chances at both ends. Chasetown were not so in control as previously but, paradoxically, they now created better chances and first Stacey headed off the line then Jon Adams cleared from his own goalmouth in the 54th.

Martin Thompson may not be having much luck with his goal efforts at the moment but his contribution was supreme and earned the approval of the fans. Not only was his bustling strength up front important in preventing Brakes being swamped but he turned up in defence as well when necessary in as hard-working a performance as I’ve seen for a long time.

Though Brakes were still under pressure there was a feeling a corner had been turned; a little more desperation was creeping into Chasetown’s efforts as the clock ran down. Around the hour mark they’d used all their substitutes in a last, desperate throw of the dice with no contingency plan for possible extra time. Morgan missed a chance to put the game beyond their recall in the 65th with a delicate lob over the ‘keeper, but also over the bar and Martin Thompson was just wide minutes later with another real chance.

Then Blake pulled up when running back to help the defence and hobbled off but, as the tension mounted, Brakes had the perfect foil for a game like this with the welcome return of Steve Thompson after too long an absence. Howell had also come on minutes earlier and his strength and freshness with the industry and know-how of Steve Thompson started to turn the game round as Brakes, though missing Husband, began to look more like the team of the 1st leg second half.

There were a few handbags thrown with 10 minutes to go but nothing serious in a game that, though not for the purists, had been cleanly fought. Adams and Howell pushed up the right and Brakes were now, for the first time perhaps, on top for an extended spell. Care came on in the 88th but, with six minutes added, time to make a contribution. But despite a wasted free kick in front of the Brakes’ goal, which would have made the final two minutes of added time interesting, Chasetown had all but conceded defeat by now.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Alex Rodman (Ryan Howell 70); Adrian Fuller; Neil Stacey; Ryan Parisi; Morton Titterton; Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy (David Care 88); Leon Morgan [Capt]; Martin Thompson; Josh Blake (Steve Thompson 73)
Subs Not Used: Andy Crabtree; Paul Shepherd

Chasetown: Martin Taylor (Simon Bryan 17); Matt Bytheway [Capt]; Mark Branch (Neil Aulton 63); Richard Huckfield; Kevin Thompson; Steve Ulfig; Sam Smith; Nicky Harrison; Danny Smith; Steve Ball (Neil Granger 58); Andy Turner
Subs Not Used: John Newell; Lee Parsons

Attendance: 520

Players' News: Adrian Fuller is on loan, still with Banbury United; Josh Blake felt a hamstring go, could be several weeks; James Husband could also be out “weeks” with twisted knee; Neil Stacey 35 days suspension starts Monday 17 April for first red card.

Other News: Arrangements will be made for trip to Bescot; note 7:30 ko, a little earlier than our norm, perhaps to allow plenty of time for Leamington to be presented with the cup.

The flask found at the ground after the RC Warwick game has been claimed; the watch has not – details to secretary@leamingtonfc.co.uk.

There is a POSTER advertising the final on www.leamingtonfc.co.uk, the official website, that you are asked to print off and put up in your local shop, pub, workplace, etc.