Brakes overcome heat and higer-rated opponents to score impressive win
Sun, 27 Jul 2008 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Solihull Moors (3-1). Pre-season Friendly. By D Hucker. A perfect summers day at the New Windmill Ground, not a hint of a breeze as the players and match officials put on a five star performance much to the delight of most fans making up the 360 crowd, writes Paul Vanes.
Referee Paul Salisbury set the game in motion and the lively Jake Edwards fired in a first time shot an inch wide of the far post. Leamington took the lead after two minutes when Jamie Towers crossed beyond the far post where Josh Blake guided the ball back in to the six yard area and a touch from Luke Corbett set up Mark Bellingham who netted a poachers goal from close range.
The lead did not last long as Jason Moore crossed for Darren Middleton to direct his header inside the post giving keeper Richard Morris little chance to save.
It was good to see pocket battleship Marcus Jackson back in Leamington colours following his lengthy training sessions with Hinckley United, but his afternoon was effectively over when he ran into an accidental elbow and, despite trying to continue, was substituted by Liam Reynolds after 12 minutes. Josh Blake fired wide as the game ebbed and flowed, Corbett flicked a header over the defenders but keeper Daniel Crane read the situation to collect the ball off Bellinghams toe.
Brakes had a let off on 30 minutes following an inch prefect cross from Edwards, Junior English should have done better than hitting the outside of the post with his header and they were made to pay for this error within sixty seconds as Moors hoisted a ball out of defence only for Martin Hier to send a towering header over the centre circle and, despite Theo Streete grabbing a handful of his shirt, Mark Bellingham accelerated away from his marker to gleefully send the ball past Crane giving Leamington the lead again at 2-1.
Deflections came to the Solihull rescue as first a shot by Adam Cooper went out for a corner then Reynolds effort flew into the grateful arms of Crane and a typical piece of Blake persistence bought the half to its close after riding tackles before sending in a shot that cleared the bar.
Leamington introduced Ryan Parisi straight after the break and, on 50 minutes, Mark Bellingham was gifted his hat trick when Crane fluffed a clearance allowing the experienced striker to run past him, work away from an acute angle on the bye line to open up the goal and shoot home despite a valiant attempt to clear by Streete.
With the sun blazing down, both sides made changes and the high tempo began to slow, but ground passes were still flying in all directions. Both Bellingham and Corbett were substituted to great applause but, if the Solihull defenders thought they were going to get some respite at last, Shay Morgan soon dispelled that beating two defenders then shooting narrowly wide.
Another flowing Brakes move saw Blake thump a low cross towards the far post which was cleared. Moors Andy Ritchie shot goalwards and Hier slid the ball away for a corner and the same player headed down for Peter Faulds but his drive was a foot wide.
A James Husband free kick found Blake who header went over as substitute keeper Adam Rachel left his line and at the other end Morris had to be alert racing out to nick the ball off the toe of Gary McPhee to bring the entertainment to an end.
Referee Salisbury made frequent use of water breaks and it was good to see a member of the Moors staff trot across the pitch to the Sheepside to give assistant referee Duncan MacAulay his share of the precious liquid as it was that kind of afternoon. Visitor Phil Hiscox, secretary of the Carlsberg South West Peninsula league of Devon and Cornwall took a break from the nearby FA seminar conducted by Non League supremo Mike Appleby to cast his expert eye over the proceedings and he left suitably impressed by what he had seen.
We cannot leave this report without a word to Amy and James, who by the time you are reading this on Sunday, will be Mr. and Mrs. Husband and I am sure I speak for everyone connected with Leamington Football Club in wishing them a very happy long life together. I suppose this is one occasion when a wife can be a husband too? I bet they wish they have a penny for every time someone says it!
Brakes Richard Morris, Jamie Towers, Martin Hier, Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders (Capt.) Marcus Jackson, Steve Palmer, Luke Corbett, Mark Bellingham, Josh Blake, James Husband.
Subs Used: Sean Brown, Shay Morgan, Ryan Parisi, Liam Reynolds, Glenn Webb.
Subs Not Used: Dean Pennells
Solihull Moors Daniel Crane (Adam Rachel 77), Simon Travis, Carl Mottram, Lee Collins, Theo Streete, Tim Gould (Joe OToole 60), Jake Edwards (Gary McPhee 65), Darren Middleton, Jason Moore (Peter Faulds 60), Andy Ducros, Junior English (Andy Ritchie 70)