This is the match report that I have waited twenty years to write. An almost flawless win against a young and inexperienced Racing Club side saw Brakes lift the Polymac Services MFA title and, with it, a place in step 4 of the non-league pyramid.

 

Hopefully, this will be in the BGB Southern League where history and geographical location suggest that it should be. However, that is out of the club's hands, as the additional division in the Unibond is to be kick-started with three clubs from the MFA and the FA will not announce the placings until May.

 

The possibility of a title-deciding match had brought a crowd of 1,151 crowd to the New Windmill to enjoy the fine Bank Holiday weather and see Brakes get the three points that they needed to lift the crown. In a mainly one-sided contest that was effectively all over by half-time, there was never any doubt as to the outcome and the Brakes team made a lap of honour after the final whistle to deserved acclaim.

 

After dominating the opening exchanges, Brakes opened the scoring on 29 minutes when former Racer, Ben Mackey, conjured a goal out of nothing with an unstoppable shot from the edge of the penalty area. This was Mackey's 29th strike of the season and, like many of his other goals, this one took the breath away and, when on song, he delights the crowd as only a good striker can.

 

Midfielder Jon Adams did a pretty good job of stealing some of the limelight for himself, doubling the lead six minutes later with a low strike from even further out that evaded 'keeper Tom Farmer and went into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. The scoring was completed four minutes before half-time when Jamie Towers sent over a deep corner from the left which was headed back across the goal to Adams who nodded in his second and Brakes third.

 

Although Farmer had been by far the busier of the two goalkeepers, Richard Morris needed to be at his best just before the interval, stopping a good shot by Tom Leaver. However, this was the closest that Racing Club had come and they were to fare no better in the second half when only the heroics of Farmer stood between them and a heavy defeat. He thwarted Mackey and Morton Titterton within ten minutes of the re-start and then made two more good stops to deny Mackey again, the second one with his feet.

 

The only real chance for Racing Club came with six minutes remaining as Josh Blake was adjudged to have handled the ball, but substitute Lee Constable blasted the free-kick high and wide. In injury time, Blake had a good chance to make it four, but was equally wayward with his shot.

 

This win equalled Stourbridge's record of 31 set in the year 2002/03. It also took Brakes closer to the points record of 101 set by Stourbridge in the same year. Two more wins out of the last five matches will set new standards that will be hard to beat. This is will keep the interest alive until next Saturday at least when the trophy will be presented at the New Windmill.

 

Racers manager, Bobby Hancocks, was cursing his luck afterwards, being in charge of the opposing team for the second time when Bakes claimed a league title, having been with Alveston when the Midland Combination crown was won in 2005. In the short time that he has been in charge, points have been won towards achieving safety from relegation and his team conducted themselves with credit on and off the field. Captain Michael Heyden is only 18 and Tom Farmer showed that he is a goalkeeper with a future at the age of 20.

 

It ws fitting that Dave Draper was at the match to report for BBC radio. At the end of 1999, he was appointed as Director of Football and laid the foundations for the current success by recruiting manager Jason Cadden and putting together a side to win the Midland Combination Division 2 that set the bandwagon rolling. After just seven years back in action, Brakes are now in the position of having the finance, facilities and fans to go even further and who knows where it will all end?

 

For manager Cadden, this was a dream come true. He said, "it has been a smashing effort from everyone. To win any league with five matches left is an achievement and, although this part of the job is done, the season isn't' over yet as we have more targets to chase."

Richard Morris; Jamie Towers; Martin Hier; Adam Knight; Andy Gregory; Morton Titterton [Capt.]; Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams; Ben Mackey (Dave Pearson 74); Avun Jephcott (Martin Thompson 65); James Husband (Josh Blake 78)

 

Subs Not Used Craig Dutton; Adam Cooper

Tom Farmer; Jacob Sammon (Lee Constable 58); Lee Hunt; Martin Hutchcox; Damian Gariff; Phil Daly (Luke Edwards 78); Dave Care; Ben Clay; Ubong Umotong; Michael Hayden [Capt.]; Tom Leaver

 

Subs Not Used Jamie Hammersley; Tom Reynolds; Stuart Adamson

Man of the Match Jon Adams

 

Match Sponsors Bablake Wines and InBev Uk

 

Match Ball Sponsors Pinner & Sons