Sad end to the season for below-par Brakes

Just when the occasion demanded a performance par excellence, Brakes put on one their worst displays of the season to lose the Polymac Services League Cup Final to a determined Barwell side.

After Jon Adams had collected a Ryan Parisi cross to make Brakes' first attempt on goal in the 3rd minute, Barwell 'keeper David Sharpe had little to do for the remainder of the first half. In fact, it wasn't until on the stroke of half-time when Josh Blake headed just wide from another Parisi cross that Brakes again threatened the Barwell goal.

By contrast, Barwell had numerous chances to sew the match up in the first period. Their opener came in the 12th minute when Daniel Spencer beat two defenders before unleashing a shot that rebounded off Richard Morris into the path of Karl Noble who made no mistake (0-1).

But for the efforts of Morris, Brakes would have gone into the interval more than just one goal down. A fingertip save from Craig Noble on three minutes, a good stop from Scott Clamp in the 23rd and a save with the feet from Reece Lester in the 30th were but three of the many chances that Morris thwarted.

The Brakes' fans (who were in magnificent voice throughout the match) must have been hoping that the second half could not be as bad as the first and a brief flurry of activity at the restart offered hope. However, an almost carbon copy of the first goal saw Stephen White follow up after the ball came out from Morris's grasp to score the second in the 59th minute (0-2).

Clamp the hit the underside of the bar and it looked all over for Brakes until a goalmouth scramble saw Barwell's Adam Cheater knock the ball into his own goal on 71 minutes to cut the deficit to 1-2.

However, thoughts of a comeback were cruelly dashed in the 78th minute when Spencer went over Mick Feely's legs and the referee adjudged the tackle to be unfair. Up stepped Karl Noble to score his second goal from the penalty spot (1-3).

Too many players were below par and Barwell, who defended well and broke quickly, were ready to avenge the 4-0 home beating administered by Brakes in the penultimate league match. If, as believed, this was the last time that we will see Jon Adams in a Brakes shirt, it was a sad way to end and no player could have felt the pain of losing more than he did. Even for someone of his ability and energy, 64 competitive matches plus friendlies is a lot to ask and he was outstanding throughout the season, emerging as the Club's leading scorer.

So, with the first match report filed from Southam United on 19th July, we come to the end of a long season. Roger and I hope that everyone has enjoyed reading of our view of the matches. With my grandfather clock striking midnight, it really is time to put the notebook away and dream of what is to come next time.

Leamington Richard Morris; David Care (Alex Rodman 69); Mick Feely; Morton Titterton; Ryan Parisi; Leon Morgan [Capt.]; Stuart Herlihy; Josh Blake; Ryan Howell (Martin Thompson 84); Steve Thompson (Jody McKay 58)
Subs Not Used: Adam Knight; Paul Shepherd

Barwell David Sharpe; Adam Cheater; Richard Masters; David Hart; Stephen White; Karl Noble; Scott Clamp [Capt.]; Andrew Tiday (Nicholas Pollard 88); Daniel Spencer (Carl Adams 80); Craig Noble; Reece Lester
Subs Not Used: Danny Kitching; Dean Sargeant; Glenn Ashton

Attendance 720

Match photographs»