In a match never short of drama or incident, Brakes booked their passage to the Midland Alliance League Cup Final with a gritty performance at Sheepy Road.

 

Leading 3-1 from the first leg at the New Windmill, Brakes went into this match with the advantage and it was a surprise that the Adders starting line-up didn't include the prolific strike force of Chris Partridge and Roy Dunkley; youth team players, Gareth and Mark Williams, being preferred. However, manager Jimmy Ginnelly rang the changes at half-time and both players came out for the second period and scored. For Brakes, Jon Adams was making his 150th appearance in league and cup matches.

 

Brakes had some early chances through Jamie Towers and Martin Thompson, but came nearest to scoring in the 12th minute when a Jon Adams shot cannoned off Towers into the arms of 'keeper Richard Williams. Cameron Stuart sent a free-kick just wide for the Adders before Danny Gaunt struck to give them hope, pouncing on a Martin Hier back-header which fell short of Jason Pearcey.

 

However, the joy of the home supporters was short-lived as Martin Thompson met a Towers cross at the near post to level on 31 minutes. Brakes comfortably played out the remainder of the first half knowing that, if the scores stayed level, the Adders would need three goals to win the tie outright in normal time.

 

The decisive strike came within a minute of the restart when the ball fell loose in the Adders penalty area and Martin Thompson rifled an unstoppable shot past Williams to give Brakes a 5-2 lead on aggregate and, crucially, two away goals. However, everything changed on the hour with a flurry of red cards that saw Avun Jephcott and Thompson sent off for Brakes and Jamie Hood (who had been booked on 57 minutes) given his marching orders for Adders. This is not the place to debate the rights and wrongs of the dismissals, other than to say that the club will not contest either of them and the management team dealt with matters inside the dressing room after the match.

 

When Roy Dunkley met a free-kick from the right to score in the 65th minute, Adders were on the way back and he almost scored a second, but Pearcey flew across his goal to save one-handed. However, with eight minutes of normal time remaining, Danny Haynes' cross from the right was met by Chris Partridge, whose bullet header gave Pearcey no chance. Despite further Adders pressure, the clock ticked away and time ran out for the home side to get the goals that they needed.

 

After the sendings off, Brakes put a stirling rearguard action with Andy Gregory, Adam Knight and Hier all playing their part. Captain, Morton Titterton led by example, rolling back the years in his last season as a player and Josh Blake ran up and down the left side until ready to drop. Choosing a Man of the Match was again a near-impossible task but, as with Saturday's encounter at Rocester, Gregory covered an enormous amount of ground and was always in the right place at the right time.

 

Brakes now have the chance to make another piece of history by becoming the first team in the MFA's thirteen year history to do the league-cup double. Those players who remain from last season's final know all too well that the side didn't perform against Barwell and there is every incentive to put the record straight and carve out their niche in Midlands non-league football.

 

Assistant Manager, Darran Tank described the match as "heart-stopping," adding " their first goal was sloppy and we had words with the players at half-time. After that, we were coasting until the sendings-off when we lost the plot. The nine that remained were tremendous and we are very pleased to have made the final again."

Jason Pearcey; Jamie Towers; Martin Hier; Adam Knight; Andy Gregory; Morton Titterton [Cap.]; Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams (Ben Mackey 76); Avun Jephcott; Martin Thompson; Josh Blake

 

Subs Not Used Dave Pearson; Craig Dutton; Adam Cooper; Tom James

Atherstone Town :

 

Subs Not Used Alan Carlborg; Callum Clark; Dave Barford

Man of the Match Andy Gregory