Sat, 01 Mar 2008 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Dunstable Town (2-1). British Gas Business Football League Midlands Division. By D Hucker. With leaders Evesham United losing, Brakes got the win that they needed to close the gap at the top to four points, although it took a stunning late strike from Ben Mackey to see off plucky Dunstable.
It was another blustery afternoon at the New Windmill and the visitors stunned the crowd of 560 with a goal after only three minutes when captain Stephen Pratt rose high to head home a cross from the left.
Brakes almost drew level in the 9th minute as Josh Blake's header was taken by the wind towards the top of the net, but 'keeper Paul Taylor just managed to punch the ball over. At the other end, Michael O'Neill shot over the top and Brakes 'keeper Richard Morris watched helplessly as Chris Marsh's effort came back off the crossbar as the visitors threatened to heap more misery on their championship-chasing hosts.
Pratt got another free header at goal on 25 minutes, before Brakes got the equaliser as Mackey threaded a pass through the Dunstable defence to Blake who slid the ball under Taylor. Blake might have had a second, but Taylor got down well to cut out Marcus Jackson's cross with the Brakes striker poised to shoot
Dunstable kept up the pressure at the start of the second half and Morris saved well from Neal Perrin. Too many of the Brakes players were not firing on all cylinders, but man-of-the-match Ryan Parisi continued to create opportunities for Mackey and Blake.
As always, Mackey was tightly marked, but he did escape the defence in the 76th minute to create a scoring opportunity, only to send his shot high over the bar. Craig Dutton and substitute Keith Rostill then combined well to set up Blake, but Taylor again get down well to save.
On 82 minutes, Jamie Towers sent in another corner from the right which Dutton flicked on to Guy Sanders, who was unable to get his shot on target. The nearest that Brakes came to scoring was when defender Ross Hanley almost turned a Towers cross into his own net with four minutes to go, until Mackey struck with an unstoppable shot from the edge of the penalty area to seal the win.
Manager, Jason Cadden, admitted that it wasn't the best of performances, but added "They were difficult conditions, but we kept up the pressure and got the win we deserved. Sometimes, you have to grind out a result and Ben got a priceless goal to close down Evesham at the top."
Brakes Richard Morris, Jamie Towers, Arron Parkinson [Capt.] Guy Sanders, Martin Hier, Craig Dutton, Stuart Herlihy (James Husband 69), Marcus Jackson (Keith Rostill 53), Josh Blake, Ben Mackey, Ryan Parisi
Subs Not Used: Adam Cooper, Martin Thompson, Andy Harper
Dunstable Town Paul Taylor, Ross Hanley, Stuart Deaton, Jack Nelly, Nick Nolan, Stephen Pratt [Capt.], Russell Preston, Danny Ryan, Neal Perrin, Chris Marsh, Michael O'Neill
Subs Not Used: Lee Burgoyne, Ross McLaughlan, Leigh Harrington