Invading Romans beaten back as Brakes win again

One year ago, Brakes were playing Colchester United in the first round of the FA Cup. This year's venture had been well and truly scuppered at Rocester back in September, so it was fitting that the Romans were the visitors on a windy and chilly afternoon at the New Windmill Ground. In some small way, the record was put straight with a convincing win that kept Brakes at the head of the pack in the Polymac Services MFA.

Rocester have been having a bit of a lean time of late and lost their previous match by a five goal margin. Brakes were expected to win and, when Josh Blake opened the scoring in the 5th minute converting a cross from Jon Adams on the right, all looked to be plain sailing (1-0).

However, despite Scott Darroch causing visiting 'keeper Paul Wood some anxious moments with a long-range shot on 17 minutes, a second goal was proving elusive. That was until the 24th minute when Ben Mackey was fouled outside the penalty area and Tom Bates stepped up to smash the ball into the net past the helpless Wood (2-0).

Darroch could have made it three on 29 minutes picking up a low cross from Bates, but his shot went over the bar, leaving Brakes to settle for a two-goal lead at the interval.

The second half again saw Brakes with most of the play and Tom Bates increased the lead on 57 minutes when cutting in from the left and leaving several defenders trailing in his wake as he coolly put the ball past Wood into the corner of the net (3-0).

Brakes were denied a fourth in the 75th when Wood saved brilliantly, pushing Blake's goal bound header round the post and, with three minutes to go, substitute Jamie Towers put a shot just wide of the post.

Tom Cudworth was outstanding at the back and played what was, probably, his best game for the club. With two goals, Bates would qualify on most occasions for the Man of the Match accolade, but captain Craig Dutton was the quiet, but effective, driving force behind so many of the Brakes attacks and deserves special mention in what was another solid team display.

There were bookings for Ben Mackey and Rocester's Peter Johnson for a first-half disagreement.

Despite Brakes making it 11 league wins on the trot, manager Jason Cadden was a little disappointed with the result, saying "It was a comfortable win and I am satisfied with another 3 points. Although we did everything right, putting our chances away, we could have raised our game a bit more and will need to be on our best form for next week's FA vase tie."

Prior to the match, Brakes were presented with the Modwel Products Team of the Month trophy for October by League Secretary, Peter Dagger. Supporters Club Chair, Keith Hancock, also presented the Player of the Month award to Richard Morris before the crowd impeccably observed a minute's silence for Armistice Day.

Leamington Jason Pearcey; Jon Adams; Tom Cudworth; Adam Knight; Andy Gregory; Craig Dutton [Capt.]; Stuart Herlihy (Jamie Towers 76); Josh Blake; Scott Darroch (Dave Pearson 69); Ben Mackey (Martin Thompson 64); Tom Bates
Subs Not Used Adam Cooper; Richard Morris

Rocester Paul Wood; Peter Johnson (Tommy Hodkinson 46); Carl Allen; John Hassell; Wayne Johnson [Capt.]; Dave Brown; Chris Rowley; Chris Sumner (Richard Owen 76); Mark Hodson (Ben Carr 62); Rory Maxwell; Mark Hubbard
Subs Not Used Adam Alcock; Tommy Smith

Attendance 545

Author's Man of the Match Craig Dutton

Photographs from the match here»