Record Brakers

Brakes took the MFA record for consecutive unbeaten games from Shepshed Dynamo’s 1995-96 campaign with this comfortable win despite playing all but the first 20 minutes with 10 men after Martin Thompson was sent off for the first time in his career.

Although Brakes were only 1-0 up at the time, from a Towers drive three minutes earlier, Causeway still played cautiously and a late consolation goal from Jones after Blake, Mackey and Pearson had made it 4-0 was their only real shot on goal after which Blake added another in stoppage time to score five for the first time this season.

Adrian Fuller came off the bench for a confident debut and looks to be a classy signing by Cadden to add to his already solid defence and at the risk of tempting fate Brakes are looking to have the title in their grasp after Romulus’s defeat at Stratford.

Brakes needed 612 to reach the 10,000th through the turnstiles in league and cup this season and despite strong blustery wins fell only six short on a day so gloomy that the officials requested that the lights were on from the start. An award will be made next Saturday to the 6th person through the gates but please note that hot soup will not be provided for those queuing all night for the honour.

Strong winds rattled the panes and snapped the corner flags towards the North Bank with Brakes kicking towards Harbury Lane in the first half. Though Causeway broke quickly through Cox, leaving Cudworth on the ground, his cross cum shot sailed harmlessly wide and Brakes had the early chances with Towers and Thompson running powerfully into the wind before Towers rounded a defender to drive an unstoppable shot into the net from 30 yds for 1-0 in the 17th.

But Brakes’ dominance seemed to be threatened four minutes later when Thompson received a straight red for pushing Causeway’s Aston after receiving an elbow for which the Causeway no. 4 was cautioned. It was the bustling forward’s first ever sending off and introduced a niggling element that never completely disappeared.

But Causeway, whether through fear of Brakes’ strength or lack of confidence in their own ability, never seized the initiative offered them by this advantage to push forward and it was Brakes who seemed to have the extra man.

In the 25th Brakes were further ahead, 2-0, when Blake, reacting quickest to a Mackey thunderbolt from 20 yds that came back off the bar, sent a diving header into the net. Herlihy was lucky to receive only a yellow when he reacted to another niggling tackle as Brakes threatened to take control.

A Towers cross after a superb run down the right was well-controlled by Mackey who was denied by the ‘keeper who turned his shot round for a corner before a third excellent goal from a now-rampant Brakes. Adams ran across the pitch to release Blake down the left. His excellent cross was controlled beautifully by Mackey who turned inside and smashed the ball joyously into the roof of the net for 3-0 in the 37th. Mackey could have made it four when he rounded two defenders minutes later but his powerful drive was turned away for a corner.

At half time Mick Brady presented a cheque for £300 to Anita Burrows of Myton Hamlet Hospice, money raised by the raffle at the Romulus game over Christmas, and Brakes received the MFA team of the month award for December presented by MFA vice-chairman Michael Penn on behalf of sponsors Moldwel Products Ltd.

Knight became the third Brakes’ player to be carded when he received a yellow in the 53rd as tempers flared once more but Brakes, now playing with the still-strong wind, continued to dominate. Adams dipping shot was just over from fully 35 yds and Mackey, having done the hard work, tried to break the net in the 57th when his more delicate touch may have paid dividends.

New signing, Fuller, came off the bench for his first appearance as a full-time Brake and Blake was unlucky not to welcome his appearance with a goal two minutes later when his shot was deflected by a defender for a corner off the Causeway post with the ‘keeper well beaten.

Now Causeway entered their only period of ascendancy as the missing man took its toll but although Brakes were finding it difficult to break out of their own half the defence was still in control with Fuller and Knight supreme. Causeway, disheartened perhaps by making no inroads into Brakes’ lead despite their numerical advantage, gave away a loose ball to Pearson who rounded the keeper but was denied by a defender tackling back, forcing his shot onto a post. But Pearson reacted quickest and forced home the rebound for 4-0 in the 87th.

In the 90th minute a looping drive from Andy Jones gave Causeway some consolation at 4-1 but Bates sped down the left and crossed for Blake who showed superb control to score his second and Brakes fifth when he made it 5-1 in the 90+4th minute.

Leamington: Jason Pearcey; Jamie Towers (Tom Bates 66); Tom Cudworth (Adrian Fuller 62); Adam Knight; Adam Cooper; Craig Dutton [Capt]; Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams; Martin Thompson; Ben Mackey (Dave Pearson 72); Josh Blake
Subs Not Used: James Husband; Andy Gregory

Causeway United: Matt Sidaway; Hugh Sproston; Matt Hollis [Capt]; Matt Aston; Stuart Attewell; Lee Billingham; Simon Dixon (Andy Jones 62); Nathan Williams (Danny Priest 72); Chris Bladen; Ross Casey; Danny Cox (Gavin Winsper 39)
Subs Not Used: Sam Yafai; Mark Smith

Attendance: 606