Tue, 29 Jan 2008 @ The Scholars Ground, Church Street. vs Chasetown (2-0). British Gas Business Football League Midlands Division. By D Hucker. One match doesn't make or break a season, but this was a polished performance from Brakes to beat the side that, along with Havant and Waterlooville, has flown the flag for the non-league in this year's FA Cup with such distinction.
The home side were quickly out of the blocks, although suffering a blow in only the third minute as Ben Steane went off injured to be replaced by Dave Woodvine. They could have taken the lead on six minutes when Guy Sanders failed to control the ball on the slippery surface, but Danny Smith shot straight at Brakes 'keeper, Richard Morris.
The visitors started to gain control and Lee Evans in the Chasetown goal had to be at his best to deny first Robbie Beard and then Ben Mackey, whose long-range shot was tipped over the bar. Evans palmed a Sanders free-kick around the post on 15 minutes, before again thwarting the lively Beard who made space to shoot, despite being closed in by defenders.
The Brakes pressure finally paid off in the 33rd minute as, from a four-man move, the ball came to Mackey on the edge of the penalty area and he drilled a low shot into the corner. James Husband, having his best game by far for some time, drew another good save from Evans and Brakes went in at the interval well worth their one goal lead.
Chasetown stepped up the tempo after the break and Morris did well to push a shot from Craig Holland round the post. But, Brakes dashed any hopes of a comeback by the home side when, on 55 minutes, Husband latched onto a superb through ball from Keith Rostill to score at the second attempt after Evans had blocked his first shot.
Chasetown were given a chance on 64 minutes with a penalty awarded against Morris, but leading scorer Dean Perrow blasted his shot high over the bar. The post also saved Brakes in the final Chasetown push, but they ran out comfortable winners to regain top spot from Evesham United, whose match at Chesham was postponed.
In a competitive, but far from dirty match, there were bookings for Adam Cooper (21 minutes), Mackey (30) and Jamie Towers (47). For Chasetown, both Nick Hawkins (23 minutes) and substitute Nathan Lamey (74) also received yellow cards.
Whilst Mackey and Husband were the goal heroes, Morris was commanding in goal and the back three worked tirelessly whenever Chasetown attacked. In midfield, Liam Reynolds was a tower of strength and the Beard/Rostill pairing looks promising.
It was an eventful day for Towers, having signed non-contract terms after the intended further extension of his loan period from Nuneaton was ruled out and we are grateful to the helpful Nuneaton officials for acting so quickly to allow the signing to go through in time.
Coach Morton Titterton summed it up neatly, simply saying "we were happy with the performance and a great result that gave us all three points."
Chasetown Lee Evans, John Branch [Capt.], Mark Branch, Todd Perry (Scott Clamp 77), Lucan Spittle, Joe Williams, Ben Steane (Dave Woodvine 3), Nick Hawkins, Danny Smith, Dean Perrow, Craig Holland (Nathan Lamey 63)
Subs Not Used: Philip Harris, Karl Edwards
Brakes Richard Morris, Jamie Towers, Arron Parkinson [Capt.], Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders, Stuart Herlihy, Liam Reynolds, Ben Mackey (Martin Thompson 80), Robbie Beard (Vijay Sidhu 84), Keith Rostill (Marcus Jackson 65), James Husband