Moor Get Rub of the Green as Brakes Slip to Second Defeat

A balmy evening at the home of Solihull Borough with both sides desperate to make a mark, Brakes to overcome the memory of that opening defeat and Moor Green after two opening games without scoring to break their duck. And, to an extent, both achieved their aims; Moor Green scored, twice, and Brakes were their match apart from a five minute spell when they conceded both goals. The main problem Brakes have is the same as at the start of last season, an inability to take their chances. The opening, heavy defeat can be "written off" as mostly due to one exceptional player who added four more this week, against Kidderminster, to his five scored against Brakes.

It was a scrappy start but Urquhart showed considerable promise on his debut (as indeed you must if you wear red boots) and Sherry, making his first start, looked in control at the back. But Moor had the clearer chances though 'keeper Heath saved well with his feet in the 17th and was off his line with superb judgement in the 24th to run 30 yds and clear upfield.

McGarvey, captain for the match, received the first of two Brakes' yellows in the 34th as frustration got the better of caution and, in a half with few chances, the industrious Powell nearly brought off a shock goal when he ran down the Moor's 'keeper's clearance in the 38th only to watch the rebound squirm agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

Ellis, feeling the continuing effects of a "dead leg", was replaced at half-time by Thiara who made an immediate impact down the right as Brakes sought to break the deadlock but it was Moor who did so, twice, the first an excellent drive after a striker ran through mostly unchallenged, 1-0 in the 50th, followed by an even better goal from a power header in the 55th for 2-0.

This was a test of character for Brakes, who had conceded several goals in quick succession after early strikes in the second half of their first game, but they met the challenge well. McCarthy replaced Powell, who has had better games he will admit, in the 59th and Sutton came on for Webb in the 66th immediately making an impact, winning the ball and setting up a chance for the forwards.

Indeed the quiet industriousness, and positional sense, of Sutton pointed the problem that Brakes have in that the midfield was mostly missing before he came on and that too many players are lacking confidence and not looking for the ball leaving any players in midfield with too few options. The net result is that players bunched either in defence or in attack leaving little recourse other than the hefty boot upfield.

Brakes threatened more now than at any stage in the game without ever looking as if they could provide the killer touch. McCarthy headed just over from a Rellis cross in the 72nd and also hit the post with five minutes left. In between these events Sutton received a yellow for an over-zealous interpretation of the rules of winning the ball. But there was more bite about Brakes now and although Sherry had to recover well to keep Moor away they didn't look likely to concede further even with only 10 men for the final 10 minutes as Urquhart finally succumbed to a nagging injury and limped off with all the substitutes used.

Leamington Youth: Tom Heath; James Urquhart; Tom James; Lee Sherry; James Lockyer; Jamie Webb (Adam Sutton 66); Mike Ellis (Anvinder Thiara 46); Kevin McGarvey [Capt]; Sean Rellis; Ashley Powell (Sean McCarthy 59); Mike Aulak
Subs Not Used: Mark Griffin; Jamie Foster