Young Brakes Moment of Truth at Lye Town

No amount of training can overcome a month without playing as a team and Brakes were on the back foot at 1-0 in the 1st minute, 39secs to be exact, when they failed to clear a corner. Youth-watchers feared the worse, a return to the early days of this season, with young Brakes second to every ball when it came their way and ball-watching when it didn’t.

Yet there were good things in this period and two excellent headers in the 13th and 18th, from newcomer, Deas, would have beaten most ‘keepers but not the spring-heeled Lye ‘keeper who turned both round for a corner.

James continues to impress, and must surely grace a bigger stage one day, but it was Heath who saw more action keeping out the Lye forwards with several Brakes players yet to get a touch as they waited for the ball to come to them rather than making things happen.

There was a feeling of inevitability about things when Brakes conceded twice in six minutes, the first stroked in for 2-0 in the 31st with the defence unable to clear and another Lye forward lashing home, unmarked, for 3-0 in the 37th.

The nurturing of this team to the point where they won three matches in succession between the 2 and 14 November had been lost by not playing since. Surely something has to be done about a set up that puts youth matches at the bottom of every agenda.

But there were heartening signs that the momentum built, then lost, was reinstating itself as Deas drove just over and a sweet move involving James, McCarthy, Hobbins and Powell ended, with the first half, with Powell’s shot just spinning wide.

Although Lye could, and probably should, have added to their tally, particularly near the end when they hit every part of the goal except the back of the net, Brakes came back into this game to bring real hope that they can re-establish the authority they played with before the enforced long lay-off.

McCarthy went close before having to be carried off, Ellis also threatened and Deas continued to look dangerous in a promising debut. There were two more debuts: an impressive performance from Luke Hobbins’s older brother, Barry, who threaded some astute passes through which will be even more effective when his new colleagues are on the same wavelength and a late appearance by Luke Streeter.

Another potential debutant, Luke Walker, waits in the wings; formerly with Rugby Town, where he was captain, Luke II was cup-tied for this competition only. So Brakes bow out of this competition but remain on course for the Birmingham County FA Youth Cup, R3 next Monday, and, of course, to add to their win in their most recent league match, now over six weeks ago, when they entertain 100% Nuneaton Borough at the beginning of January.

Leamington Youth: Tom Heath; Henry Jordan; Tom James [Capt]; James Footman (Luke Streeter 83); James Lockyer; Anvinder Thiara; Mike Ellis; Ashley Powell; Sean McCarthy (Barry Hobbins 66); Mike Deas; Luke Hobbins (Alex Harri 59)
Subs Not Used: Adam Sutton; James Urquhart

Players’ News: Tom “TJ” James played for the Birmingham County FA U18s in their 4-2 victory over Suffolk County FA U18s in the FA County Youth Cup R3 last Saturday. They now meet Bedfordshire County FA in the next round. A report is on the BCFA website www.birminghamfa.com

Sean McCarthy may have cracked an ankle bone, no prognosis yet. Sean Rellis missed for personal reasons.

Other News: There will be a coach for the match at Boldmere St Michaels in R3 of the Birmingham County FA Youth Cup next Monday 19 December, ko 7:30, leaving the AP car-park at 5pm.

The new year match at home to Nuneaton Borough will be Wednesday 4 January not our usual Monday as that is a bank holiday.