Brakes overcome wind and mud to advance to semi-final

Brakes comfortably booked their place in the semi-final of the Midland Alliance League Cup with first-half strikes from Jamie Towers and Martin Thompson securing victory in the Potteries.

The pitch had been passed fit following a morning inspection, but it was very holding, making playing up the slope even more heavy going than usual. With a brisk wind adding to the difficulties, this was not a match for the faint-hearted and, in captain Craig Dutton, Brakes had just the player to pull the strings and lead by example.

In the absence of hotshot Ben Mackey, Dave Pearson got his chance in the starting line-up, partnering Martin Thompson. It was all Brakes right from the kick-off and Pearson had the first real chance, just pulling his shot wide. Towers was causing Biddulph real trouble down the right flank and, when one of his runs took him into the penalty area in the 8th minute, Tim Alcock upended the Brakes wing-back. Towers himself stepped up to take the spot kick and, although home 'keeper, Daniel Read, went the right way, he could only push the ball onto the post and into the net to give Brakes the lead.

Tom Bates then shot wide for Brakes before a foul by Towers on Edward Hope on 11 minutes gave the hosts their first opportunity. However, Richard Morris, making his 199th appearance in goal for Brakes, easily gathered the free-kick.

A superb pass from Dutton set up Bates and his shot was beaten out by Read, only for Martin Thompson to steer the ball through a crowded defence to double Brakes advantage in the 15th minute.

It looked as if the returning Andy Gregory had made it three in the 26th when he headed home Towers' inswinging corner, but the referee spotted an infringement, disallowing the goal for pushing by Thompson on a defender.

It was on the half-hour that Biddulph had their first chance in open play, but the lively James Marrow's header from a good cross from the left went well over the bar. With half-time approaching, Read again came to Biddulph's rescue pushing a fierce Towers shot to safety and Brakes went into the dressing rooms very much in the ascendency.

Biddulph did make more of a match of it in the second half, starting with a cross cum shot from the right by captain Scott Burge that Morris watched land on top of the crossbar. Morris then miskicked a back-pass from Adrian Fuller in the 64th although, luckily for Brakes, it only resulted in a corner which came to nothing. Substitute Jon Adams was then denied when the ball ballooned up off the surface as he was about to shoot and, at the other end, Adam Cooper had to make a timely intervention to thwart Biddulph's Jonathon Dawson in the 66th.

There were few chances in the final twenty minutes with Scott Darroch for Brakes and Marrow for Biddulph coming the closest. Morris had to make one more save with six minutes remaining to deny substitute John Paul Jones.

So, at the final whistle, two goals were enough to secure Brakes' twenty-first consecutive win in league and cup and Jason Cadden's side have a fighting chance of completing the Midland Alliance double.

Despite the changes from last week's team, this match showed the strength in depth of this Brakes squad. With Adam Knight suspended and Martin Hier still injured, manager Jason Cadden was still able to put out a defensive line-up of Adrian Fuller, Adam Cooper and Andy Gregory which was full of strength and class. Dave Pearson up front and Craig Dutton in midfield also add Southern League experience that is making all the difference this year. With Martin Thompson enjoying an injury-free run and looking really sharp, even the absence of the iconic Mackey wasn't noticed.

Manager Cadden admitted that the wind and the pitch had made life difficult, adding "We had a high-tempo start and put our two goals away well. However, it became a bit scrappy after the break and we defended well when needed. It was hard to string passes together on the pitch and we had to sometimes dig the ball out of the mud. It was a tough match, but we are delighted to be in the semi-final."

Whilst Brakes were on cup duty, league title rivals Tipton Town lost to Barwell and Stratford Town were held to a draw by lowly Westfields. All in all, a good day at the office.

Biddulph Victoria Daniel Read; Scott Burge [Capt.]; Tim Alcock; Christian Morris; Stephen Jardine; Lyndon Hall; Matthew Platt (John Paul Jones 78); Aaron Kelter (Martin Heath 79); James Marrow; Jonathon Dawson (Ashley Lawton 76); Edward Hope
Subs Not Used: Christopher Lawton; Shaun Mould

Leamington Richard Morris; Jamie Towers; Adrian Fuller; Adam Cooper; Craig Dutton [Capt.]; Stuart Herlihy; Tom Bates (James Husband 79); Martin Thompson (Scott Darroch 74); Dave Pearson; Josh Blake (Jon Adams 60)
Subs Not Used: Tom James; Tom Cudworth
Attendance 152

Author's Man of the Match Craig Dutton