Bomber Lays Waste to Bishops Cleeve Ambitions

Bishops made the early running and old problems looked to be re-emerging when a clumsy clearance laid off a ball to Hammond, in front of goal, who had little trouble smacking in the opener for 0-1 in the 4th. A spectacular save by Heath from point-blank range in the 23rd kept Brakes in the game and they looked in trouble when Bishops forced three corners in succession, each taken short with the Brakes defence taken by surprise each time.

But Brakes started to fight back without really looking like scoring. A Powell break ended in a 35yd free kick and Rellis was starting to get past defenders deserving better in the 42nd when a run and cross was just cleared for a corner. Another corner on the cusp of half-time, from Ellis, brought an excellent save from an excellent ‘keeper, starting to look unbeatable in the Bishops goal.

If Bishops edged it in the first half it was young Brakes’ turn at the start of the second when they seemed to do everything but score with James and Rellis running the game. But the breakthrough came in the 76th when Rellis made it 1-1 after a defensive blunder had exposed Greenhouse in the Bishops goal though he still got a hand to a very good chip over as he advanced on the energetic Rellis.

On a very cold night with the visitors a long way from home the crowd started thinking about extra time and penalties. But Brakes lead was short-lived when a free-kick from the right was volleyed home by James Pickup to restore Bishops’ lead at 1-2 in the 78th. Rellis, dismayed, received a yellow for sharing such opinions with the referee.

Sutton came on for Lockyer in the 84th and was almost immediately clattered to the ground earning a yellow for the transgressor. Bouncing to his feet he was back in the thick of events that, now, were all taking place in front of the Bishops goal. A neat passing movement released the ball towards Harri in the 88th and he struck it low and hard into the net for the equaliser at 2-2.

The referee had a quiet word with Harri about removing his shirt in celebration but no sooner was it back on than it was off again. A superb through ball from the lively Sutton led to a free kick for offside by Bishops but they failed to clear their lines and with time creeping beyond the 90th the ball fell to Harri on the right who joyously crashed the ball into the top left corner for 3-2 and a yellow for exposing himself once more to the elements which all sane people in the near zero temperature, and the referee, decided was a strip too far.

Leamington Youth: Tom Heath; Henry Jordan; Tom James [Capt]; James Footman; James Lockyer (Adam Sutton 84); Anvinder Thiara (Alex Harri 65); Mike Ellis; Ashley Powell; Sean McCarthy; Sean Rellis; Luke Hobbins
Subs Not Used: Mark Griffin; James Urquhart; Dylan Russell

Bishops Cleeve Youth From: Dan Greenhouse; Mark Connolly; Alex Cheal; Dan Mason; Will Pugh; Nick Rhodes; Liam Scott; James Bayliffe; Jamie Hammond; James Pickup; Jamie Lock; Henry Gwilliam; Mike Tambling; Carl Griffiths; Mike Brown; Sam Gilder

Players’ News: Tom “TJ” James has been selected for the Birmingham County FA team:
v Shropshire County FA Saturday 19 November 2005 at the Walter Goodman Stadium, BCFA County HQ ko 2pm and
v Huntingdonshire FA Sunday 27 November 2005 at St Neots Town FC ko 2pm.

James Lockyer went off after a bang on the head but was limping at the end. There’s no truth in the rumour that he twisted his ankle trying to avoid being hugged by his delighted mum at the final whistle; mum hugged chairman Mick Brady instead and he didn’t run away.

Other News: The two, consecutive home matches v Moor Green and Quorn are most likely to be on Thursdays 8 and 15 December 2005 (not Mondays 5 & 12) as the seniors play at home on both Tuesdays; yet to be confirmed with those teams but assume Thursdays unless told otherwise.

Young Brakes are drawn away at Boldmere St Michaels in R3 of the Birmingham County FA Youth Cup, to be played on or before Friday 30 December 2005.