Young Brakes Keep the Winning Habit Over Nuns

This was only Brakes second league win but it was the second in succession interspersed with two cup wins, then two cup defeats both after an enforced month of inactivity. Luke Walker, Barry Hobbins and 15-year old Dylan Russell in goal, all made first starts with Walker notching his first goal for the club in his second match.

Ice on the Sheepside rails at the start soon spread around the ground on, thankfully, a still night with a new moon over the clubhouse. A magnificent crowd of 87, given the freezing conditions, stood huffing in the cold air like boiling kettles. A minute’s silence was observed before the match in memory of 17-year old Jack McCleod whose body was found in the river Leam the previous day after he’d been missing for a month.

Joe Mellings in Nuns’ goal is the younger brother of James Mellings, former Brakes’ youth team stalwart, but it was 15-year old Dylan Russell, replacing the injured Tom Heath in Brakes’ goal, who was the first ‘keeper to see action when he came out well in the 7th then made another brave stop four minutes later as Nuns made the early running. A saving tackle from James was just enough to keep out a rampant Nuns’ forward line desperate to make amends after losing two matches recently to spoil their 100% record in their first six.

There was a more solid feel about the team as a whole with Walker and Barry Hobbins helping to shore up what has been a leaky defence at times and a forward line full of threat with Jordan looking the pick in the early stages. With the Brakes’ midfield fighting for every ball, and starting to dominate the game, high-flying Nuns seemed shaken by the bottom team.

In the 38th minute McCarthy put Brakes 1-0 ahead after a swift Brakes move down the right found Deas who nearly scored himself before releasing the ball for McCarthy to smash into the goal. Now Brakes were well on top as confidence grew and they scored a second before half-time when a James free-kick from the left was controlled beautifully by Walker who slotted home his first for the club in his first start, 2-0 in the 45th.

The fans dared to believe that Brakes would win by a big margin as they started the second half as they left off and only a Mellings’ finger-tip prevented Ellis scoring from a James’ corner in the 47th. But, as so often happens, nearly 3-0 became 2-1 soon after in the 50th when a defensive slip let in Nuns for a soft goal.

Nuns may have felt relieved with the removal of the aerial threat from the lanky Deas when he was forced to hobble off in the 64th but his replacement, Alex Harri, soon put paid to that. Three minutes after coming off the bench, Harri powered down the right touchline and slung a ferocious cross into the middle that defeated everyone except a defender rushing back who smashed it into his own net for an own goal and 3-1 in the 67th.

Now, surely, Brakes would take command so the crowd could relax and enjoy the remaining 20 minutes. But there is a perverse God who doesn’t approve of triumphalism and in the 70th it was 3-2 after two defensive errors allowed a Nuns’ striker to reduce the arrears once more.

Inevitably this stung Nuns’ into a period of renewed vigour and the fans to a frenzy of concern as what had looked like a convincing win for much of the game now seemed less convincing and, possibly, not a win. But the defence stood firm with Thiara, off the bench in the 76th, superbly complementing the assured James and Russell capping a magnificent starting debut with a command of his area that belied his tender years.

This was more than just a good performance. At times Brakes looked like champions and stood proud, tall and confident as Borough huffed and puffed to little effect. Even better they called to each other, played for each other, and looked like a team.

There were still moments of vulnerability and defensive naivety but in each of three home league games now they have scored three goals, and another three and a five in the two cup matches at the NWG. This is not a bad record for a team thought to lack firepower. A little more tightness at the back and we may well be celebrating a final position in the table that was unthinkable in those dark days at the start of the season.

Leamington Youth: Dylan Russell; James Footman (Luke Streeter 88); Tom James [Capt]; Barry Hobbins; Luke Walker; James Lockyer; Mike Ellis (Vinny Thiara 76); Ashley Powell; Sean McCarthy; Mike Deas (Alex Harri 64); Henry Jordan
Subs Not Used: Mark Griffin; Luke Hobbins

Nuneaton Borough Youth From: Joe Mellings; Tom Browett; Danny Pegler; Liam Baganskis; Danny Olner; Adam Nelmes; Matty Wood; Dave Barnett; Danny Edmonds; Nigel Julien; Alex Dean; Ellis Alleyne; Stefen McGrath; Kris Bryan; James Armson; James Ryder

Players’ News: Tom Heath is likely to miss several games because of a groin strain that has been limiting his movement for some time.

Other News: Castle Vale at home has been switched from 2 February to 12 January and is young Brakes’ next game. This is because Coleshill Town are in a cup. The w/b 30 January is currently free but watch this space.