Young Brakes Deserve Better in Spirited Fight-Back at 100% Borough

Leamington have now played four away games against three top teams and this result against 100% Borough shows that they are getting there. In fact young Brakes were well on top in the second half when, for the second week running, they somehow failed to score at the death from a glorious chance. But after conceding an early goal in the 5th, McCarthy equalised and Brakes overcame the disappointment of two sloppy reverses in a minute to "win" the second half with a powerful Powell header and, so nearly, the game.

The first of three eminently avoidable goals conceded by Brakes was in the 5th minute when a Borough forward simply ran through and tapped home with some Brakes defenders counting the crowd, 1-0. But young Brakes are made of sterner stuff these days and fought back magnificently being rewarded with a 22nd minute equaliser when McCarthy powered past three defenders to slot home after an excellent cross from James, 1-1.

Yet all seemed undone with two sloppy Borough goals in the 34th and 35th, the first from a free kick, the second a weak shot, both of which should have been cleared by a hesitant defence, 3-1. Brakes current frailties seem to stem from defence; they are too vulnerable to both a quick break and to set pieces. But both these areas can be sorted and the front runners are looking capable of beating any side in the division.

Brakes could have been disheartened by the way they had gone behind but, instead, they made the second half theirs. Though Heath had to make a tremendous save to keep them in the game soon after the restart, a McGarvey free kick in the 54th just slipped wide then Powell scored his second in two games in the 55th with a power header from another James cross, 3-2.

Bhangal replaced the limping Urquhart, who joins Jamie Webb with possible ligament problems, and Hobbins came on for the tiring Rellis as Brakes turned the screw and sought the equaliser their second half performance deserved. But it was not to be though Powell was very close to his second after good work by McGarvey and McCarthy had a glorious opportunity in the final minute.

Leamington Youth: Tom Heath; James Footman; Tom James; Jason Bradshaw; James Lockyer; Anvinder Thiara; James Urquhart (Paramdeep Bhangal 66); Kevin McGarvey [Capt]; Sean McCarthy; Sean Rellis (Luke Hobbins 74); Ashley Powell
Subs Not Used: Lee Sherry; Adam Sutton; Mark Griffin

Other News: Please note that the next match is rearranged from Wed 9 November and is next Monday 26 September ko 7:30 away to Sutton Coldfield Town Youth; there is a coach.