Oadby provided the opposition in the opening fixture at the New Windmill back in August when a late Josh Blake strike secured all three points. They went into this match having won five of their last six outings, a home defeat against Romulus being the only blemish, and duly turned the tables on Brakes who, at times, looked anything but the newly-crowned league champions.

 

It wasn't a lack of effort that let Brakes down, but a failure to take the many chances that came their way. On a hard and dusty pitch, controlling the ball at speed was never going to be easy but, even the usually razor-sharp Ben Mackey found hitting the post or missing the target altogether easier than scoring. When the woodwork didn't come to their rescue, Oadby had the excellent Laurie Pearson in goal to deny the Brakes forwards.

 

Those fans who had been waiting to see Jamie Towers in a midfield role got their wish as he exchanged places with Jon Adams who played at right wing-back. Craig Dutton came into the side in place of Morton Titterton, Martin Thompson took over from Avun Jephcott up front and Adam Cooper replaced Adam Knight in the other changes from Easter Monday.

 

Apart from an early Oadby attack which saw Ainsley Neckles shoot wide after good work by Joe Bishop and Andy May, it was all Brakes. Mackey and Towers hit the post and other chances went begging. Failure to convert at least one of the chances into goals was to prove expensive when, on 20 minutes, the defence played statues and Andy May rounded Richard Morris for the softest of goals.

 

James Husband got onto a Towers cross five minutes later, but somehow missed from right on the line, and then hit a good shot that Pearson saved well. For all their effort, Brakes went in a goal down and in need of an early strike after the interval.

 

However, as the second half got underway, it was Oadby that struck in the 49th minute when captain Tyrone Mintus headed home a corner from the right to make it 2-0. This seemed to give the home side belief and they pressed Brakes with both Andy Gregory and Cooper having to defend desperately at times. Martin Hier cleared off the line in the 66th and David Fisher's shot shortly after flashed across the face of the goal.

 

Just to prove a point, substitute Dave Pearson rattled the crossbar with a shot in injury time and it was one of those nights when the ball just wouldn't go in.

 

Thanks go to the Oadby officials for their warm welcome and for the players who applauded the Brakes team onto the field, a really sporting gesture. The match was played in a competitve, but fair way and it was a pity that Adam Cooper and Oadby's Ainsley Neckles were booked for a heated disagreement that was over almost as quickly as it started.

 

Manager Jason Cadden described himself as "disappointed" with the result. He added "we created a lot of chances in the first half and should have gone in at the interval in front, not behind. We just didn't fire in the second half and got what we deserved. We had a good talk in the dressing room afterwards and the players will put it right on Saturday."

Richard Morris; Jon Adams; Martin Hier; Adam Cooper; Andy Gregory; Craig Dutton [Capt.]; Stuart Herlihy; Jamie Towers; Ben Mackey (Dave Pearson 77); Martin Thompson (Avun Jephcott 61); James Husband (Josh Blake 71)

 

Subs Not Used Liam Reynolds; Tom James

Laurie Pearson; Danny Hodgkinson; Steve Fenton; Tyrone Mintus [Capt.]; Gene Carlton; Lee Miveld; Andy May; James Miller; Joe Bishop (Jorge Jiminez 77); David Fisher; Ainsley Neckles

 

Subs Not Used Adam Laywood; Keiron Heaney; Steve Jones

Man of the Match Adam Cooper