By David Hucker

Time Runs Out in Brakes' Fightback

Once again, Leamington Youth came up against an older and more experienced side in Rugby Town and went down to their third consecutive defeat.

First-choice goalkeeper, Neil Thornton, played for the Academy in the afternoon and was replaced by Lee Van Der Heyden. Despite sharing the possession in the first half, the team found itself trailing by one goal at half-time. Clear cut chances were proving hard to come by as play seemed to break down in the penalty area. Two further strikes, ten and twenty minutes into the second half, saw the young Brakes facing an uphill struggle with a 0-3 scoreline. However, rather than be overawed, this seemed to spur them into action and goals by Nick Collen (82 minutes) and Ben Webster (89) reduced the arrears. Time then ran out for an equaliser.

The match was played in torrential rain and one could only feel sympathy for the players as they were called back from a warm dressing room to have the after-match inquest on the pitch. The 51 spectators (your reporter included) showed no such dedication, running to the bar or their cars as soon as the match was over!