Tipton Tamed As Brakes Take Control

Almost the last kick of the game denied Brakes a fifth consecutive clean sheet in the league but on a warm, sunny day there was much to please a good crowd of 629 with a comprehensive victory over the second-placed team from Tipton. New signing, Tom Bates, was introduced late on in the game for an impressive start and Cadden’s only real problem at the moment seems to be how to juggle an embarrassment of riches.

In the match at Tipton, just over a month ago, the home team matched Brakes in the first half falling away in the second. Brakes, kicking towards the Harbury Lane end where they score most of their goals, seemed determined to put the game to bed this time before the break.

Knight moved up to join the attack as shots rained in on a nervous Tipton defence. In the 9th minute Herlihy was denied by a beleaguered ‘keeper who saved with his feet and Husband’s goal bound drive was hacked clear three minutes later with Tipton ‘keeper, Wes Cox, well beaten.

Adams blasted over from distance and Titterton was close twice before a succession of corners around the half hour seemed certain to produce a goal with a scramble in the goalmouth and Cox on the ground. But the deserved breakthrough finally came courtesy of Martin Thompson who ran powerfully at the Tipton defence and denied himself a scoring chance unselfishly squaring the ball inside for Jon Adams who slid the ball in the corner for 1-0 in the 37th.

The half ended with Brakes well on top forcing more corners from one of which Knight was unlucky not to convert a Towers cross.

Tipton threatened briefly at the start of the second half and Titterton headed well back to Morris in goal to relieve the tension before Morris made his first save of the match in the 57th from a shot that had little sting.

With the Brakes defence again in superb form there seemed little danger that Tipton would get back into the game and their task became even harder when Towers picked up a loose ball freeing Blake who tricked the advancing ‘keeper before making it 2-0 with a coolly taken drive in the 60th.

Mackey replaced the industrious Thompson, who left the field to appreciative applause, and started demonstrating his different skills to which a fast-tiring Tipton defence had no answer. It was all Brakes now and in the 73rd it was 3-0 when Mackey dribbled round two defenders in the box before releasing an angled drive into the corner with the bemused ‘keeper seemingly rooted to the spot.

Tom Bates came on for his debut in the 78th and immediately made an impression seizing the initiative when Tipton had a free kick in front of goal and bringing the ball well out of defence. Morris made his second save of the match, this time a difficult one, before normal business was resumed with Mackey, Pearson and Blake combining well to set up a chance that Adams headed over the bar. With three minutes of added time already on the clock Campbell slotted home for 3-1 with almost the last kick of the game after a rare mix-up in an otherwise solid defence.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Jamie Towers (Tom Bates 78); Martin Hier; Adam Knight; Adam Cooper; Morton Titterton [Capt]; Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams; Martin Thompson (Ben Mackey 64); Josh Blake (Dave Pearson 74); James Husband
Subs Not Used: Craig Dutton; Tom Cudworth

Tipton Town: Wes Cox; Craig Love; Richard Walker; Lee Rollason; Martin Myers; Ross Miller; Matthew Bytheway (Dan Bragoli 64); Chris Smith; Scott Voice [Capt] (Michael Allen 74); Ashley Langford (Jayson O’Kelly 64); Nicky Campbell
Subs Not Used: Tim Johnson; Danny Watson

Attendance: 629