Young Brakes Get Going at Gornal

Young Brakes recorded their first win of the season with a stunning team performance that showed commitment and skill. Goals from Powell and Hobbins, his first for the club, set up a 2-0 half-time lead and though Brakes threatened the Gornal goal throughout the second half they couldn’t add to their tally.

Fireworks provided a constant barrage in the background, whether for Diwali, premature 5 November celebrations or simply to mark this Brakes’ performance I cannot say. But the rain held off, unlike in Leamington, where it was torrential I understand, though the pitch was muddy and heavy from earlier downpours.

Lockyer made two, timely saving tackles in the first quarter of an hour but there was a different feel about this game from the start with the Brakes’ youngsters scampering around the pitch, backing up for each other and chasing everything.

Two corners in a minute clearly worried a Gornal defence who looked taken-aback by the intensity of play from the bottom club. “TJ” James was everywhere but linking well with a rejuvenated Powell, Rellis in sparkling form running down lost causes and McCarthy lurking predatorily in the middle.

A Powell shot in the 29th deserved better but he got his reward in the 32nd minute when he made it 0-1 running through the defence and placing a shot in the corner. And it got even better soon after when Powell accelerated down the right to send over a hard cross that was beaten out to Hobbins. He smashed the ball into the net for his first Brakes’ goal, 0-2 in the 36th. Thiara so nearly finished from a James cross as the half wound down, which would have killed the game.

With Ellis supreme in the centre, Lockyer commanding as ever and Footman playing magnificently as if his life depended on it this was as heartening a performance as I’ve seen from a beleaguered Brakes’ side that perhaps always needed that first success to help them get started.

There were chances in the second half but no further goals. Rellis was robbed as he pulled the trigger and Powell ran half the length of the pitch before crossing for McCarthy who was desperately unlucky not to connect nearly on the hour. James jinxed his way past several defenders shortly afterwards and was brought down just outside the box as Gornal became more desperate.

They packed their goalmouth to keep out the marauding Brakes and cleared off the line in the 69th as they struggled to stay in the game. Ellis received a yellow in the 70th, along with a Gornal player, as some tension surfaced in a frustrated Gornal side that probably was panicking at the reception due from their manager whose half-time “talk” could be heard from afar.

Harri replaced a hobbling Hobbins in the 75th but Brakes were in little danger of conceding this game and continued to dominate without adding to their first-half goals though McCarthy was again unlucky with a late attempt.

There was no one star in this Leamington side as they played as a team, battled throughout and covered for each other so that the occasional, inevitable mistake didn’t turn into a costly, “silly” mistake. A performance to be proud of as Brakes start their move up the table though two cup matches in the next two games will delay that until Worcester City at the NWG on the 21st.

Leamington Youth: Tom Heath; Henry Jordan; Tom James [Capt]; James Footman; James Lockyer; Anvinder Thiara; Mike Ellis; Ashley Powell; Sean McCarthy; Sean Rellis; Luke Hobbins (Alex Harri 75)
Subs Not Used: James Urquhart; Adam Sutton; Mark Griffin

Other News: Main youth team sponsors, Chartered Accountants, the Graham Fulford Partnership, will bring about 60 guests to the NWG next Monday for the match against Redditch United with a meal beforehand. And after the match they will present awards to a player from each team and an overall player of the match.