After two successive cup defeats, Brakes bounced back to secure victory over a resilient Romulus side and take their unbeaten league run to ten matches.

 

Rivalry between the two sides goes back to their days in the Midland Football Combination when the Roms pipped Brakes to the league title by one point in 2003-04. The Coles Lane ground is never the easiest place to visit and, with the home side also being unbeaten this season, this was a match to savour and one that Brakes had to win. 

 

Although Roms were missing their leading scorer Tyrone Fagan through suspension, nobody was taking things for granted. Manager Jason Cadden had come in for some criticism over his line-up at Rocester last week, but reverted to a more familiar look here with Josh Blake and Martin Thompson up front. The defence had a solid look about it with Tom Cudworth, Martin Hier and Adam Knight being supported by captain Morton Titterton and, apart from a few scares, they were outstanding.

 

Hier and Knight would have qualified for the "Man of the Match" accolade in most circumstances, but it was goalkeeper Richard Morris who deserved the plaudits for some timely and fine saves to deny the Roms at crucial moments.

 

Special amongst them were a one-handed effort at the foot of the post to deny Colm Tiernan in the 26th minute and a finger-tip touch over the bar to thwart Daryl Lewin in the 48th as Roms attacked Brakes at the start of the second half.

 

Blake had two good opportunities to add to his impressive tally for the club, lobbing home 'keeper Matthew Harris in the 41st minute, only to see the shot go wide, and drawing a fine save from Harris at the death. However, it was James Husband who won it for Brakes with a fine strike into the roof of the net in the 24th minute from a Blake cross for a goal to grace any occasion.

 

In the early skirmishes, Jamie Towers created opportunities down the right and Jon Adams was clearly relishing his preferred role in central midfield. However, as the match wore on, Towers was increasingly caught in possession and twice Martin Hier had to clear the danger in the first fifteen minutes. Lei Brown was, as always a potent threat down the left for Roms and the lack of a specialist defender in this position could have proved costly.

 

As it was, Brakes had enough possession to blunt the Roms threat and, apart from a spell at the beginning of the second half when they sat back on the lead, always seemed in control. At least, that is how it looks now in the cold of light of day but, at the time, watching the match was a nerve-wracking experience and the three minutes of added time only added to the tension.

 

There were bookings for Adam Knight, Martin Hier, Martin Thompson and Morton Titterton. For Romulus, Jason Lanns, Michael Batchelor and Lei Brown also went into the book.

 

Assistant Manager, Darran Tank, was well satisfied, saying "We had a game plan which worked and we deserved to win. This was a quality performance, where everyone played their part and battled well, particularly in the second half. Josh Blake and Martin Thompson ran their hearts out up front and Richard Morris had a great game, making some important saves.

 

Romulus Matthew Harris [Capt.}; Colm Tiernan; Thomas Wilmore; Michael Batchelor; Melvyn Gourlay; Jason Lanns; Daryl Lewin; Lee Hatfield; Craig Thomas (Terence Carpenter 79); Matthew Robinson; Lei Brown

 

Subs Not Used Glen Jones; Richard Allen; Craig Haywood; Marcus King

 

Brakes Richard Morris; Jamie Towers; Tom Cudworth; Adam Knight; Martin Hier; Morton Titterton [Capt.]; Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams (Craig Dutton 81); Josh Blake; Martin Thompson (Dave Pearson 90); James Husband

 

Subs Not Used Neil Stacey; Adam Cooper; Tom James

 

Attendance 301

 

Author's Man of the Match Richard Morris

Photographs from the match here»