Fear of Failure Undoes Brakes With Early Strikes

The fear of failure has gripped the heart of young Brakes and a Sutton goal in the 1st minute, actually 27 seconds, was executed before a Leamington player had touched the ball, 1-0. A sweeping movement not long afterwards was converted for 2-0 in the 4th with, again, some half-hearted tackles making it too easy for the home side.

This is not a bad Brakes' side. And if that seems over-indulgent towards a malfunctioning team consider this. Young Brakes have started the season with five away games, all but one against the league leaders at the time. The danger is that losing becomes a habit, an expectation, such that good players move away from what they now see as the inevitable. The first two goals here happened because players did not want it to be their fault and turned mentally inwards, and physically away, from what was happening; and this has been the case for several goals so far this season.

I am convinced that one victory, or even a draw, can change this side to a winning team. But it now has to come from the players who have to think the game as well as play it; there are only so many instructions that can be shouted from the touchline before they become repetitive and so unheard. Rellis nearly pulled one back in the 10th and then did so in the 13th when he latched on to a superb McCarthy pass to stroke home, 2-1, and Brakes were very much in the game at this point. James was unlucky not to equalise in the 15th when he spotted the 'keeper off his line and tried a 40yd shot which a fiercely back-pedalling 'keeper just tipped over. McCarthy again released the nippy Rellis a minute later but he was marginally offside.

This was good pressure from young Brakes and, although Heath had to make a good save in the 20th, Rellis, Powell and McCarthy combined well to set up Rellis with three runs on goal that were well kept out before a Sutton forward struck the best goal of the match, an unstoppable 25yd drive for 3-1 in the 35th.

This was the heartbreaker after so much pressure but Brakes were still in with a chance. They shaded the second half with Sutton looking vulnerable at the back though dangerous on the break. Rellis had several more chances made by some good midfield play and his incisive running and one day soon he will score prolifically. But, again, with Brakes dominating, Sutton broke though and did what Brakes are not doing, finished clinically for 4-1 in the 65th.

Leamington Youth: Tom Heath; James Footman; Tom James; Jason Bradshaw (Lee Sherry 79); James Lockyer; Anvinder Thiara; James Urquhart (Jamie Webb 65); Kevin McGarvey [Capt]; Sean McCarthy; Sean Rellis (Luke Hobbins 68); Ashley Powell
Subs Not Used: Paramdeep Bhangal; Adam Sutton