Adams and Blake bury Barwell in brilliant Brakes show

Brilliant Brakes guaranteed fifth place in their first season the Harvey World Travel Midland Alliance with a clinical display against near rivals Barwell. These two sides will meet again next month in the Polymac Services League Cup at Walsall's Bescott Stadium and, whilst that match will start all square, Brakes have given their opponents plenty to think about.

Brakes nearly opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute, when an inswinging corner from James Husband was missed by 'keeper Glenn Ashton, only for a defender to clear off the line. However, it didn't take long for the first goal to come as, two minutes later, Josh Blake stole in to head home well-flighted Jon Adams free-kick (0-1).

Ryan Parisi was called upon to make a timely clearance in the 8th minute, but the home side were not really firing and Brakes got their second in the 11th. The nervous Ashton rushed from his line to the edge of the penalty area only to upend Josh Blake and Jon Adams made no mistake from the spot (0-2).

The assured Tom Cudworth, who is improving with every match, sent a long free-kick into the area, but Dave Care put his shot wide. Danny Spencer wasted one of a number of chances for Barwell, slicing his shot wide in the 22nd minute before Jody McKay lay the ball off to Husband who drew a good save from Ashton. With the interval approaching it was the turn of Richard Morris, who had been a spectator for much of the half, to tip a Barwell free-kick over the bar and Brakes went in at half-time two goals to the good and very much in the a ascendancy.

The second half started with Brake again taking the game to their hosts and, when on 52 minutes, Blake flicked the ball onto Jon Adams to race clear and beat a clutch of defenders, Ashton was left to pick the ball out of the net for the third time. Husband, who was causing considerable panic down the left side, was fouled off the ball by Dale Turner who was shown the red card, making Barwell's task even harder. Brakes were in no mood to ease off and, in the 64th minute, Leon Morgan rose to head an Adams free-kick against the post, but Blake reacted faster than everyone to put away the rebound (0-4).

There could have been a fifth on 76 minutes, but Ashton beat out McKay's shot and then near the end he got down well to deny Alex Rodman, who had come on for Morton Titterton.

This was a good team performance, built solidly from the back with Parisi, Cudworth and Mike Feely (who replaced Tom Sidwell) withstanding the Barwell attacks which got more frequent as the match wore on. Behind them, Richard Morris saved everything that came his way. Jon Adams, playing his 62nd match of the campaign, was back to his brilliant best after a couple of matches where the long season appeared to be taking its toll and the effervescent Blake was as fresh in his 58th match as he was back in August.

Jon Adams surpassed his brother Richard as the club's leading marksman for the season and described it as "a great achievement to beat a fine goalscorer." The retort from Richard was "I am not happy about that, at all" or words to that effect.

Assistant Manager, Darran Tank described the performance as "top notch" adding, "we were on fire from the outset and really wanted that fifth spot. We were a yard quicker to very ball and kept our discipline when the going got tough. That's ten league matches unbeaten now and we want to round off the season with the right result at home on Saturday."

Tom Sidwell has a slight back injury and there were bookings for Parisi, Titterton and Morgan.

Barwell Glenn Ashton; Dale Turner; Rich Masters; David Hart; Steve White; Karl Noble (Danny Kitching 78); Scott Clamp [Capt.]; Carl Adams; Danny Spencer; Craig Noble; Reece Lester
Subs Not Used Adam Cleater; Dean Sergeant; Nick Pollard

Leamington Richard Morris; Dave Care; Ryan Parisi; Tom Sidwell (Mike Feely 26); Tom Cudworth; Morton Titterton (Alex Rodman 66); Jon Adams; Leon Morgan [Capt.]; Josh Blake; Jody Mckay; James Husband (Ryan Howell 72)
Subs Not Used Paul Eden; Paul Shepherd

Attendance 302

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