Young Brakes Pull Out the Stops

The ever-improving Deas slotted his first for the club and it was good to see joint leading striker, Sean Rellis, back in the team after recent traumatic events with a tremendous third goal to make the win secure, a goal he asked to be dedicated to his good friend Jack Macleod.

Both teams badly needed the points to climb out of the relegation zone and there was an edge to the play with a few bookings for either side. Vale were first to threaten in the 1st minute but Russell blocked well. The Vale defence looked prone to panic under pressure but they were quick on the break and took a 0-1 lead in the 15th minute after a defensive error.

But with the growing confidence that comes with a few wins under the belt Brakes shrugged off this minor inconvenience and attacked an increasingly ragged defence. The much-improved Deas had a real chance in the 41st which was blocked but, undeterred, he strode through a minute later to make it 1-1 in the 42nd with a tremendous drive wide of the Vale ‘keeper.

Brakes started the second half where they left off and Deas again found space to break on goal in the 55th and was unlucky not to double his tally. But the pressure told and a Vale defence in disarray handled in the area to allow Walker to despatch the perfect penalty for 2-1 in the 58th.

This was now an excellent footballing display by young Brakes with superb performances throughout the team. Thiara, and Rellis in a welcome return after too long away, came on to join in the fun in the 68th and helped instigate a purple patch with Brakes camping in the Vale final third but a goal needed to allay those ever-present fears of a quick breakaway and a sucker punch.

And it came, appropriately and deservedly, from Rellis who made it 3-1 in the 87th driving the ball in the net after good control. After the game Sean asked for his decisive goal to be dedicated to his close friend, Jack Macleod, whose body was recovered from the river Leam last week after his disappearance at the beginning of December.

With any Vale sting now plucked it was turkey-shoot time and Brakes turned on an exhibition that led to a late goal in added time after the 90th by Powell who smashed the ball in the net for 4-1 after good work by James.

Brakes have a chance of the double when they play Gornal at the NWG on Monday as they were Brakes’ first scalp this season in an away win in November. The youth table is a table of two “halves” and Brakes will do well to break into the top 7 who are some points ahead of the bottom 5 with games in hand. But, whilst they mustn’t be complacent (and who’d have thought we’d be saying that after the first eight games), on this performance there’s no reason why they shouldn’t achieve that.

Leamington Youth: Dylan Russell; James Footman; Tom James [Capt]; Luke Walker; James Lockyer; Barry Hobbins; Mike Ellis (Vinny Thiara 68); Ashley Powell; Sean McCarthy; Mike Deas (Sean Rellis 68); Henry Jordan (Alex Harri 88)
Subs Not Used: Mark Griffin; Luke Hobbins

Castle Vale Youth From: Ben Howard; Joe Morris; Andy Todd; Tom O’Callaghan; Chris Fitzgerald; Anthony Savin; Alex Dewar [Capt]; Martin Smith; Joe Smith; Ashley Crossling; Tom Campbell; Reece Styche; Liam Godwin; Andre Campbell; Gavin Rickus

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: Some games, postponed earlier in the season, have been rescheduled into March. The w/b 30 January is currently free but watch this space.