First For Cudworth as Brakes’ Run Continues

Westfields, in the third relegation slot, were desperate to continue their recent good form at a blustery New Windmill and become one of only three clubs ever to have done the double over Brakes after their late, late winner in Hereford a month ago.

Brakes long, long season has taken its toll but former favourite, Ben Adams, paid a flying visit from his new home in London to help Brakes stretch their unbeaten run, in the league, to seven. Morgan scored a spectacular goal just after the half-hour then Brakes had a let-off with Hibbard shooting tamely for Morris to save a penalty a few minutes before Cudworth scored his first for the club with a superb header on the stroke of half-time. But Hibbard did get on the score sheet glancing a header past his own ‘keeper as Brakes tied things up five minutes before the final whistle.

Westfield’s striker, Paul Burton, may be longer in the tooth than in days of yore but he still looked the part and Morris saved from him onto the bar in the 5th minute. The strong wind was a spoiler blowing strongly, mostly across the pitch, into the faces of the Sheepsiders. It slightly favoured Westfields, kicking towards the North Bank, in the first half and Ben Adams had to be alert as the ball threatened to run away from him.

Brakes were having more of the play and Howell stretched for a chance in the 19th with a Jon Adams shot swept wide by the wind. But the main danger came from Rodman who was getting down the left to send dangerous crosses into the goalmouth. McKay was showing his worth with flicked headers into danger errors but it was a pass in the 22nd that nearly brought Brakes’ first when he released Rodman down the left who crossed low and hard, a chance missed by everyone when only a touch was needed.

Cudworth was having a superb game controlling the left side of defence and sending raking crosses into the Westfields area rarely mishitting a ball swirling in the wind. Morgan was troubling the defence and the ‘keeper needed two attempts to thwart him from another Cudworth cross. A trademark McKay flick looked to have released Howell who was unlucky not to earn a free kick for obstruction.

Westfields attacked intermittently but seemed to run out of ideas in front of goal and it was mostly sustained pressure now from Brakes driven by the engine-room of Titterton and Herlihy. After a succession of corners the ball came out to Morgan on the edge of the box and he juggled the ball superbly before lashing home an unstoppable shot for 1-0 in the 33rd. Howell should have doubled the lead two minutes later from a Care cross as Brakes sought to put the game to bed but Morris had to save with his feet from Burton in the 37th then again saved with his feet in the 42nd but caught the attacker instead. He redeemed himself with a save to his right as Hibbard tried to side-foot the penalty into the corner but with no force.

This let-off seemed to rejuvenate Brakes as, first, Cudworth set up McKay whose angled drive skidded across the goal-line before Rodman sped down the left and pushed the ball through a defender’s legs only to be obstructed as he headed goalwards. He took the free kick from the goal line, five yards from the corner flag, and Cudworth thundered a header into the roof of the net for 2-0 in the 45th and his first goal for Brakes.

With another midweek game on Thursday the second half was mostly about harnessing resources and keeping free of any more injuries. But Brakes had a period of sustained pressure with Morgan penalised for climbing as he sought an early goal to settle any nerves. The strength of Herlihy and Howell was a huge bonus and it took two defenders to halt Howell’s run on goal in the 60th.

Eden came on for McKay and, without their target man, Brakes started to stroke the ball around well playing off the skilful Eden. And it was Eden who looked to have got the clincher when he pounced on some defensive uncertainty in the 79th and lobbed the ‘keeper magnificently. With the ball seemingly over the line a defender ran back and hooked it clear as it was caught by a gust of wind and the “goal” was disallowed.

But, though Eden was denied Brakes got that third all-important goal when a long, searching cross from Coleman far out on the left was heading for Howell when Hibbard, under pressure from the tenacious Howell, met it with his head and glided it post his own, advancing ‘keeper, 3-0 in the 87th.

Leamington: Richard Morris; David Care (Jamie Coleman 74); Ben Adams; Morton Titterton; Tom Cudworth; Leon Morgan [Capt] (Steve Thompson 83); Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy; Jody McKay (Paul Eden 67); Ryan Howell; Alex Rodman
Subs Not Used: Martin Thompson; Paul Shepherd

Westfields: Rory Hollingshead; Nicky Welch; Mark Hibbard; Alec Winstone; Jon Hill; Wayne Hoskins; Alex Hunt; Dan Moon; Paul Burton (Paul Jones 79); Mack Davis [Capt] (Chris King 63); Matt Beale (Carl Preece 79)
Subs Not Used: Mark Hopkins

Attendance: 387

Players' News: Mike Feely Knee, unknown; Tom Cudworth and Morton Titterton miss Thursday, working; Ben Adams returns to London for new term starting Wednesday; Ryan Parisi possible return Saturday 22 April.

Match photographs»