After an opening first half livened up only by two incidents of note, this turned into a pulsating cup tie in which Brakes ran out worthy winners to become the first team to complete the league/cup double in the 13-year history of Midland Football Alliance.

 

In doing so, Brakes capped an incredible season that few could have predicted back in August when it took a Josh Blake goal deep in injury time to beat a stubborn Oadby Town at the New Windmill. Since then, Jason Cadden's team have broken record after record and it was fitting that this win came in front of the largest crowd to have watched a league cup final.

 

Anyone who doubts the effect that a vibrant and colourful crowd can have on the course of a match should have been at Walsall's Bescot Stadium. The wave of support and encouragement from the Brakes faithful transmitted itself to the team who tore forward in attack after attack, seeking an equaliser to Nicky Campbell's 39th minute goal for Tipton.

 

Three times Brakes were denied by the woodwork. Jamie Towers' perfectly flighted free-kick around the wall on 52 minutes hit the post, as did Stuart Herlihy's powerful shot and then Adam Knight saw a header rebound off the crossbar into the arms of 'keeper Danny Watson. But the fans and Brakes were not to be denied and substitute Avun Jephcott crashed the ball into the net with two minutes remaining to send the tie into extra time.

 

As well as being resilient, this Brakes side is the fittest in the league and so it proved in the added 30 minutes as the Tipton players visibly wilted. Captain Ross Miller had suffered with cramp before going off on 79 minutes and a number of his team-mates also seemed to be in distress. Not so Brakes' Andy Gregory, who surged forward in the 96th minute to send a low shot past Watson into the corner. Even this normally dispassionate scribe was moved to his feet in celebration and, after taking the lead for the first time, there was no possibility of Brakes surrendering their advantage.

 

All had seemed so different in the first half when a subdued Brakes didn't seem to fire. Watson's save from Josh Blake's header two minutes before half-time was just about the only chance that came their way and it looked as if Campbell's goal, which came after Richard Morris had failed to hold Martin Myers' shot, could be enough to decide the match. Tipton certainly had chances to add to their tally with Morris denying Campbell in the 48th and then Scott Stevenson with a fingertip save five minutes later.

 

However, once Brakes took the match by the scruff of the neck, only an outstanding performance by Watson, with the help of the woodwork, denied Brakes until Jephcott's timely strike. In defence, Gregory, Adam Knight and my Man of the Match, Martin Hier, were superb. In midfield, Stuart Herlihy, Morton Titterton in his last match and Jon Adams ran their hearts out. Josh Blake covered an enormous amount of ground down the left side stifling the ever-threatening Marcus Jackson.

 

The final word, as always, goes to the manager who said "There was not a lot to shout about in the first half when we cancelled eachother out and, despite all the pressure in the second, I thought that we would never score. I sent Avun on to get us a goal and, once we scored, there was only one team likely to win. This was the perfect end to a season to remember."

 

Brakes Richard Morris; Jamie Towers; Martin Hier; Adam Knight; Andy Gregory; Morton Titterton [Capt.]; Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams; Ben Mackey (Dave Pearson 84) (Craig Dutton 120); Martin Thompson (Avun Jephcott 79); Josh Blake

 

Subs Not Used Adam Cooper; Jason Pearcey

 

Tipton Town Danny Watson; Marcus Jackson; Brett Love; Scott Stevenson; Hardip Dhanada; Ross Miller [Capt.] (Ben Smith 79); Troy Douglin; Martin Myers (Danny Bragoli 92); Nicky Campbell (Lee Rollason 102); Ashley Langford; Danny Coates

 

Subs Not Used Tim Johnson; Matthew Osbourne

 

Attendance 946

 

Man of the Match Martin Hier