Heroes to Zeros

The second highest attendance for a evening league match at the NWG (only bettered by the 701 for Rugby Town in September 2003), nigh on perfect conditions and Brakes (three wins thus far) widely expected to maintain their 100% record vs Stratford (two draws and a defeat) with Brakes main sponsors, BPS, there to savour the occasion….

Enough said I think: on the plus side Brake’ defence registered a clean sheet for the third match out of four but the attack made little headway against a good Stratford defence who have now conceded only two goals in their four games.

More worrying is that Brakes, who played some delightful football against clubs from higher levels in pre-season, seemed to run out of ideas up front and resorted to the speculative long ball or “go it alone” attempts to beat all the defenders single-handed.

They missed Husband, who is on holiday and misses the next three games as well, and Blake, suffering from a back strain, couldn’t provide the missing width when he came on. Even Herlihy, coming off the bench for his 100th appearance in all seasons, couldn’t work that missing piece of magic.

But it is not doom and gloom; Brakes had by far the most possession and new players need more time to knit together. And 10 points from four games is an excellent start.

Mackey and Titterton made first starts and the swashbuckling Jon Adams sported a white bandage around his head that only lacked a feather. Brakes kicked off towards the North Bank but the early play was shaded by a Stratford outfit that took the game to Brakes pinning Adams and Towers back in defence.

Their speed and determination seemed to unsettle Brakes who were second to every ball. Two defensive blocks showed that the Brakes defence had the measure of the Town attack and, gradually, Brakes imposed themselves on the game. But their good, approach work foundered with long balls into the area that were dealt with easily by an excellent ‘keeper. In frustration the Brakes forwards, Mackey in particular, tried to wriggle past the packed defence, with inevitable results.

Yet it seemed for a while that the attempt to bludgeon Stratford into submission would work just by constant pressure and the 20 minutes up to half-times saw a succession of Leamington corners with the promise of a breakthrough in the second half. Indeed Titterton could have scored in the 45th and he held his head in his hands as a close-range shot was beaten out.

Probably the best chance fell to the perseverance of Jon Adams in the 54th as he ran down a speculative through ball and reached it before the onrushing ‘keeper nodding it over his head – and inches the wrong side of the left post.

But there were chances for Stratford and there seemed to be little protection down Brakes left flank as wingbacks pushed up to score the all-important first goal. Martin Thompson was having a torrid time against a referee who deemed his bustling style to infringe the rules on many occasions and there were too many stops and starts to call this a classic game. The crowd grew silent and frustrated with occasional cries of “come on” and “get on with it” splitting the still of the evening.

The frustration seemed to spread to the players who started to give the ball away as Stratford sensed that victory was possible and pressed Brakes for the final 10 minutes though the defence held firm once again prompted by the excellent Dutton.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Jon Adams; Tom Cudworth; Adam Knight; Andy Gregory; Craig Dutton [Capt]; Morton Titterton (Stuart Herlihy 81); Ben Mackey; Dave Pearson (Josh Blake 70); Martin Thompson; Jamie Towers
Subs Not Used: Martin Hier; Adam Cooper; Jason Pearcey

Stratford Town: Mark Sheils, William Dunn; Ryan Mahon; Daniel Hicks; Nigel Niblett; Kirk Miller [Capt]; Mark Beddowes; Mark Faulds; Michael Stephenson (Leon Thomas 77); James Wood (Dennis Bailey 71); Matt Hawker (Craig Pountney 71)
Subs Not Used: Ian Mitchell; Scott McGregor

People News: Brakes Tom James, still only 17, has been selected for the Birmingham County Football Association Representative squad for their FA County youth match vs Hednesford Town FC on Saturday 26 August, ko 11am. The match is at the BCFA County Ground, Ray Hall Lane, Great Barr, Birmingham.

Leon Morgan has re-signed for Brakes.

Sports Therapist, Dean Merrick, has moved to a new job in London and our best wishes go with him. Jemma Holt and Natalie Wilson who have been understudying him step into the breach.

Attendance: 657

Photographs from the match here»