‘Church Recovery Denies Brakes Top Spot

Brakes eased into a 3-0 lead by the 47th minute with two headed goals from Knight, his first for the club, sandwiching a delightful chip from Herlihy’s first of the season. But with Brakes well on top and showboating Alvechurch threw on two substitutes and Brown pulled one back six minutes after coming off the bench. Rostill added two more to earn Alvechurch an unlikely point, and deny Brakes top slot in the table. Many Brakes fans would have settled for a draw before the game started but this was deeply disappointing after Brakes total dominance of the game at 3-0.

An astonishing sight greeted 305 fans, the large majority Brakes’, who realised that the Alvechurch pitch was made of grass! But it was a while before Brakes settled on the bumpy surface though, with the defence once again in superb form, there was little early danger from a ‘Church attack that included ex-Brakes striker, Ben Usher.

With 25 minutes gone Brakes started to dominate the game and Towers and Mackey combined well to create a chance for Towers before Towers earned a free kick near the right touchline. He took it himself and his long, raking cross was met by Knight who thundered a header into goal from 10yds for 0-1 in the 31st.

Frustrations surfaced as ‘Church struggled to contain the ebullient Brakes and Herlihy could argue that he was felled in the area minutes later, indeed did so argue and received a yellow card along with his adversary.

But there was no denying the strong Herlihy and a superb ball from Blake put him through in the 39th. He drew the ‘keeper and chipped the ball into the net for a delightful goal, 0-2.

Within 2 minutes of the restart Brakes scored a third that many fans missed as they filed back from the bar. With Jon Adams and Blake almost toying with the ‘Church defence Blake got in the final cross from the left that was met by Knight at the far post who stooped to head the ball home from close range, 0-3 in the 47th for his second goal of the match and his Brakes’ career.

‘Church threw on two substitutes two minutes later in what looked, at the time, desperate measures. Jon Adams lobbed the ‘keeper in the 51st as Brakes, enjoying almost total dominance, turned the screw. It seemed a mere hiccup, an annoyance at not keeping a fourth clean sheet, then that one of the ‘Church substitutes, Brown, moved up to rattle home an excellent drive in the corner for 1-3 in the 55th.

For a while Brakes continued to dominate with Knight rising high seeking his hat-trick and good approach work, that had the ‘Church defence in disarray, leading to a ferocious drive from Jon Adams from 35 yards that rattled the underside of the bar and bounced down onto the line in the 73rd.

And that was the defining moment that marked the end of Brakes dominance. One minute later, in the 74th, Rostill nodded a raking cross wide of Morris for 2-3 totally against the run of play. But now Alvechurch re-emerged with renewed self-belief and Brakes confidence crumbled. Two ‘Church corners in quick succession led to a third and Rostill drove home to level it at 3-3 in the 79th.

Now it was Brakes who had a late surge and Pearson threatened in the six minutes he was on the pitch with a shot in the 88th from a Dutton pass going agonisingly just past the far post whilst Knight nearly broke through for his hat-trick just as time ran out.

Alvechurch have done well against the leading clubs already and a point would have seemed a good result before this game started. But Brakes dominated Studley at 3-0 as well and nearly threw that away. Cadden could be heard giving some strong advice in the centre of the pitch after the final whistle and it may be that a lesson has been learnt here that will stand Brakes in good stead over the season.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Adam Cooper; Ryan Parisi; Adam Knight; Martin Hier; Craig Dutton [Capt]; Stuart Herlihy (Dave Pearson 86); Jamie Towers (Morton Titterton 66); Jon Adams; Ben Mackey (Martin Thompson 80); Josh Blake
Subs Not Used: Ben Adams; Jason Pearcey

Alvechurch: Tim Clarke; Gareth Davies; Lee Millard; Brendan Kelly; Simon Redhead; Adrian Parkes (Leon Brown 49); Callum Gittings; Jamie McWilliams [Capt]; Ben Usher (Ian Millward 49); Keith Rostill; Lee Chilton
Subs Not Used: Sam Chatwin; Andrew Cook; Anthony Sutton

Attendance: 305

Photographs from the match here»