Brakes back on the winning trail as league action resumes
Sat, 22 Dec 2007 @ Creasey Park Drive, Dunstable. vs Dunstable Town (2-0). British Gas Business Football League Midland Division. By D Hucker. After a series of postponements, Brakes finally played a match, returning to league action against a much-improved Dunstable side. The two clubs had not met since the 1974/75 season when Brakes won 5-3 at home, but lost 0-5 away.
With three players suspended, manager Jason Cadden included new signings Vijay Sidhu and Guy Sanders in the starting line-up. In the absence of Arron Parkinson, goalkeeper Richard Morris, who according to the manager had been nagging him for a while to made captain, was given the honour for the day and Marcus Jackson switched to a midfield role in place of Stuart Herlihy.
Despite the changes, Brakes settled quickly into their stride and took the lead on 8 minutes through Josh Blake. Home 'keeper, Paul Taylor. had made a brilliant one-handed save from Sidhu but, from the resultant corner taken by Jamie Towers, Blake rose to head home powerfully.
James Husband had a couple of shots rebound off defenders before Taylor was called into action again to scoop a goalbound shot off the line in the 15th minute as Brakes pressed for a second. Dunstable were restricted in their efforts by a solid Brakes defence with Aaron Flood's shot over the bar and a later effort struck straight at Richard Morris being the closest that they came in the first half.
The match was effectively all over by the interval, as Brakes had doubled their lead when Blake got his second in the 38th, the move starting with a free-kick taken by Morris deep in the visitors' half. It could have been three, but Taylor dived full length to save a Jackson strike from a well-worked free kick after Blake had been upended by Leigh Harington.
Dunstable nearly pulled one back on 56 minutes, but Stuart Deaton's header came back off the bar with Morris well beaten. Then, Jack Nelly found the net with a header from a corner, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Morris.
Sidhu went on a run past two defenders, but his shot lacked power and Taylor gathered easily. Then, right at the end, substititute Dale Jones had a great chance to mark his debut with a goal, but somehow missed from close range.
Dunstable finished with ten men after Harrington, who had been booked for a foul on Towers, was sent off for deliberately handling the ball to prevent Sidhu having a clear run on goal and Brakes comfortably got back on the winning trail after the disappointing defeat by Romulus who they meet again on Boxing Day.
Manager Cadden said "We came to do a job, which was to get three points. Considering we haven't played for two and a half weeks, I was pleased with the performance, especially in the first half. The new players fitted in well and the only downside was a couple of silly bookings."
Dunstable Town Paul Taylor, Michael Moss, Leigh Harrington, Stuart Deaton, Jack Nelly, Stephen Pratt [Capt.], Ross Hanley, Daniel Picknell, Neal Perrin, Chris Marsh, Arron Flood.
Subs Not Used: Matt Baldry, Nick Nolan, Shane Wood, Michael O'Neill, Lee Burgoyne
Brakes Richard Morris [Capt.], Jamie Towers, Ryan Parisi, Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders, Liam Reynolds, Marcus Jackson, Josh Blake (Craig Dutton 71), Vijay Sidhu, Russell Dunkley, James Husband (Dale Jones 81)