By David Hucker

Brakes' Cup of Woe

On a night when even penguins thought twice about leaving home, Brakes' youth team were frozen out in their quest for Birmingham County Cup glory. More than a match for their more experienced hosts for eighty minutes, they were undone by a four-goal blitz in a ten-minute spell early in the second half.

Great Barr were formed from Holy Name Football Club two years ago and have teams for players from seven years and upwards. With three of their squad selected for the Birmingham County team, they proved too much for Brakes to handle.

In the first half, the visitors rode their luck as chances were created at both ends. The Great Barr goalkeeper was clearly carrying an injury, but Brakes failed to exert enough pressure to really test him. Mark Beezley was busy in the midfield creating numerous chances for the forwards and Neil Stacey's shot over the bar on 34 minutes was probably the best of them.

With the half deep into injury time, and the crowd looking forward to their half-time cup of reviving tea, Tyrone Barnett broke clear to drive the ball low into the corner beyond the outstretched hand of Lee Van Der Heyden.

Within a minute of the re-start, Brakes were level when a long kick from Van Der Heyden caused panic in the home defence and the ball crept into the net. Then the real action started. Neil Stacey was booked for dissent but, worse still, Great Barr tore the visitors apart in a spell when every attack looked like resulting in a goal. Four goals went in between the 51st and 61st minutes to put the match beyond Brakes' reach. Although substitute Josh Tolley pulled one back in the 69th minute, a sixth goal near the end put paid to any lingering hopes of a comeback.

Frozen fingers and toes were the order of the day for the spectators, whilst disappointment at not showing what they can do was the feeling in the dressing room. To have reached this stage of the competition in our first season was an achievement in itself and whoever faces Great Barr in the final will have a tough match on their hands.

Leamington: Lee van der Heyden, James Taylor, Stuart Poole, James Mellings [Capt.], Lee Scott, Ben Webster, Jimmy Claridge, Mark Beezley, Paul Wilkinson (Neil Grainger 65), Neil Stacey (Matt Mellings 74), Nick Collen (Josh Tolley 60)