By David Hucker

Youth Crash to Defeat at the New Windmill

After a run of four successive wins, Young Brakes crashed back to earth with a 2-0 defeat against Alvechurch.

Lee Scott returned to the side to partner Ben Webster and Tim Green in the centre and with James Taylor also slotting in at fullback, this was on paper a strong home defence. However, after not conceding a goal in their winning run, Leamington were undone by two first-half strikes.

Despite having more of the play in the opening half, Lee van der Heyden was beaten in the eleventh minute by a low drive from the right. A fine cross from Josh Tolley six minutes later was met by Tom Rudge who saw his shot cleared off the line. To rub salt into the wounds, Alvechurch broke away on 27 minutes to score again with another low shot into the corner, this time from the left.

The second-half was notable more for the action off the ball than for the play. On 65 minutes, Lee Scott was sent off for retaliation after a sustained period of niggling and fouling by Alvechurch. The player deemed by the referee to be the initial offender was merely cautioned. The officials seemed to lose control of the situation and ultimately the match and, in this spectator's view, Lee can rightly feel hard done-by. Most of the 41 strong crowd (not bad for a midweek match when the first team was also playing) would support this view although, like me, they are slightly biased.

To make matters worse, Ben Webster went off after only 27 minutes with a groin strain, although Matthew Mellings helped bolster the defence to repel the visitors even when they had numerical supremacy.

Neil Stacey was injured playing last Sunday and missed the match. However, good news for goalkeeper, Umbi Sidhu, who is in line for his first-team debut against Cadbury Athletic.

Leamington: Lee van der Heyden; James Taylor; Nick Collen; Tim Green; Ben Webster (Matthew Melling 27); Lee Scott; Mark Beezley; Jimmy Claridge; Leigh Martin; Josh Tolley; Tom Rudge