By Roger Vincent

Rampant Brakes Crush Wilmcote

Brakes started this match at a furious pace with the determination and spirit of a team that feels it has something to prove. All four goals were superb strikes with two in the first half from Benson Miyoba and Si Wickson followed by Steve Thompson and Nick Mort in the second. Two further "goals" were disallowed. Wilmcote's reply to make it 1-3 was well-taken but the defence was outstanding with Fabrizio Tosti pulling off a couple of stunning saves.

Mort shot just wide within a minute and Miyoba powered through twice soon after only to see one shot spin past the post and the other saved. With Thompson controlling the wing and getting over crosses Brakes were dominating play and forced several corners against a disconcerted Wimcote. On 30 Billington ran in from the wing and chipped just over.

A Thompson shot went close before McGovern pushed a ball through to Billington on the right who crossed for Miyoba to drive in a superb shot on 35 followed 2 minutes later by Simon Wickson who turned the defence with seeming ease and drove in a screamer from fully 30 yards to make it 2-0 to Brakes.

Wickson was everywhere, driving forward one moment, winning the ball in defence the next and winning everything in the air. With Dhesi prompting and controlling the flow of the game, Thompson motoring down the wing and Miyoba always dangerous up front Brakes were making this game their own. The half closed with Thompson driving over after the ball bobbled just before he hit it.

Some stout Wilmcote defending saw Dhesi limp off on 55 to be replaced by Jonny Burgess who marked the moment by driving just over from 25 yards soon after. With the defence in control Liam McGovern came forward to hit a fierce shot on 65 that was just tipped over by the goalie. Wickson continued to force the pace and Billington was showing good control, holding the ball to good effect.

On 73 and 75 Brakes netted twice through Burgess, disallowed for an infringement, and Mort who was given, very dubiously, offside. But on 78 Thompson made it 3-0 when he ran in from the left and hit a beautiful shot into the far corner. With Wickson limping off on 80, to be replaced by James Edwards, the only concern for a rampant Brakes was the number of injuries being picked up.

Another superb goal came in the 86th when a swift break down the right followed by an unstoppable shot into the corner saw Wilmcote pull one back to 3-1. However, the fairer margin was restored within minutes by the magnificent Mort who jinxed and turned several defenders before driving in a well-deserved goal to make it 4-1 on 90. With several minutes played for stoppages there was still time for Tosti to pull off a brilliant block when Wilmcote broke through and for Perry to come on for the much-appreciated Miyoba.

Leamington Fabrizio Tosti; Ian Billington; Will Payne (captain); Liam McGovern; Guy Rippon; Simon Wickson (James Edwards 80m); Harji Dhesi (Jon Burgess 54m); Benson Miyoba (Neale Perry 90m); Nick Mort; Mark Simmonds; Steve Thompson