By David Hucker

Baggies Beat Battling Brakes

Another wet and windy night in old Kenilworth Town greeted the 126 fans who braved the elements to see Young Brakes succumb to the might of West Bromwich Albion.

Coming into the match with a 100% record in six Premier Division outings and wide-margin wins against Racing Club Warwick and Bedworth United, the visitors showed why they are such a potent force opening up a 3-0 lead at half-time. The goals were scrappy, rather than classic, and the third came with the last kick of the half.

A fourth on 74 minutes put the match beyond doubt but Brakes stuck to their guns and scored six minutes later when Jimmy Claridge capitalised on some good work by Paul Wilkinson. The fifth and final goal for the Albion came at the start of a long period of injury time and was scant reward for an outstanding performance from Lee van Der Heyden, again standing in for Neil Thornton who was on Academy duty in the afternoon. He certainly chose a good time to impress Director of Football, Dave Draper, who was watching alongside both first-team managers.

Up front, the industrious Josh Tolley again impressed and overall the side were a credit to the management team.

Leamington: Van Der Heyden, Taylor, Poole, Green, Scott, Mellings, Beezley, Webster (Wilkinson 65), Grainger (Claridge 58), Stacey (Kyriacou 75), Tolley