Mikes Announce Intent

There was a distinct chill in the air with the pitch already whitening by kick-off and a good crowd (for club’s other than our own of course) as Brakes, in all-white, made the early running. James seemed able to ghost past players at will and he set up Harri for a chance in the 9th and, though slowed by a leg injury ten minutes later, recovered sufficiently to impose his will on Brakes’ left side throughout the game.

But it’s up front where Brakes need something to make things happen. Deas, in only his second game for Brakes, and only his second at this level, will, I’m sure, be an asset and get goals once he gets accustomed to thinking that little bit quicker so that he reacts before the event rather than after it has happened and there needs to be a little more savvy about the offside rule which Mikes played to perfection.

On the half-hour Deas used his strength and skill to get down the left to put in a perfect cross that was wasted and Luke Hobbins, after an uncertain start, came into his own as Brakes pressurised a panicky defence but too often ran out of ideas where it counts or exercised the linesman’s flag arm.

The half ended with Harri twisting and turning into the box to earn a corner which should have been converted from a perfectly flighted cross by Ellis.

Mikes showed that they were still in the game forcing Heath to make a superb save in the 47th but Thiara drove just over from distance almost immediately at the other end after good work by Footman and Harri. Walker, on for Ellis, cleared firmly and Lockyer cleared off the line in what was now a pulsating cup-tie with good football from both sides.

But, just as I was noting that Brakes had reasserted their dominance, they fell to the classic sucker-punch with a deflected shot creeping into the corner in the 60th for 1-0.  The ecstatic celebrations by the Mikes’ youngsters showed how much victory would mean to them but Brakes came back with James running past everyone to force another corner.

However, in the 74th it was 2-0 with an excellent strike by a Mikes’ player after some uncertainty in the Brakes’ defence. McCarthy came on for Jordan as Brakes committed to all-out attack and the rest of the game was about (mostly) missed chances with the impressive Walker, on his debut, doing as much as anyone to force Mikes onto the back foot. In the 81st Brakes forced a succession of corners with the ball ping-ponging around the Brakes’ goal area and Lockyer was unfortunate to see his header skim just wide as he rose a foot above everyone else in a crowded area.

But it was substitute McCarthy who slotted home for 2-1 in the 83rd, after good work on the left, and set up a pulsating final 12 minutes, with five added for stoppages, as Brakes constantly moved forward but failed to overcome an obstinate defence and an eagle-eyed linesman.

Leamington Youth: Tom Heath; Henry Jordan (Sean McCarthy 76); Tom James [Capt]; James Footman; James Lockyer; Anvinder Thiara; Mike Ellis (Luke Walker 55); Ashley Powell; Mike Deas; Alex Harri; Luke Hobbins (Barry Hobbins 89)
Subs Not Used: Luke Streeter; Mark Griffin

Players’ News:
Sean McCarthy had expected to miss for “up to 6 weeks” with knee ligament problems after his injury last week but decided he was fit to play after all; he didn’t start as a precaution in case his recovery was a false dawn.

Birmingham County FA team now take on Bedfordshire County FA in the 4th Round of the FA County Youth Cup after they knocked out holders Suffolk in a high tempo game at County HQ 10 December with Leamington’s Tom James playing the full 90 minutes.