By Roger Vincent

Brakes Make Hay and the Sun Shines

Youth team leading scorer, Josh Tolley, made an excellent debut and James Harri, another player from the impressive youth team, also came off the bench and had a hugely impressive 20 minutes. Brakes were lucky not to lose 'keeper Gettings, and concede a goal, after 40 seconds and, again, could have conceded in 5 minutes but they pulled themselves together and Cheslyn Hay never really threatened again. Brakes, once again, were let down by their shooting but Shearsby scored in the 9th, Nicholls from a penalty in the 53rd, and Eden's late strike in added time after 90 minutes gave the score a respectable look against the league's bottom side for whom Darren Walters in goal was magnificent. The sun shone on a muddy pitch and 142 spectators, a welcome relief from the freezing conditions of late.

On a bright, sunny day a muddy pitch showed why so many Cheslyn Hay home matches have been postponed. Within 40 seconds Brakes were lucky not to be a goal down or, at least, down to 10 men with an outfield player in goal as Gettings charged out to a breaking Hay player bringing him down on the edge of the box. Gettings was lucky to escape with a yellow and the free kick was wasted. On five minutes Gettings lost the ball in the area and Brakes were again fortunate that the shot was screwed wide.

It was a relief therefore when Brakes went ahead 0-1in the 9th minute from a Shearsby strike set up by Agar following a Mort corner. Brakes were now well on top but unable to put the ball in the net, a common failing of late. The uneven pitch was not helping as time and again they pushed forward to be thwarted by the pitch and an excellent Hay 'keeper. As the half drew to a close Eden pulled the ball back from the line for Nicholls to shoot wide then Nicholls repeated Eden's move only to see Timms slice his shot. Two brilliant saves at the expense of corners kept Hay in the game.

The second half started more promisingly and Mort netted from an Agar cross after a Thompson corner in the 48th only to be ruled offside. Two minutes later Eden crossed for Agar to head on goal and bring yet another magnificent save. Thompson was looking dangerous on the left and powered his way down the wing cutting inside to be brought down by three defenders in the box. Nicholls made it 0-2 with the penalty in the 53rd a well struck low shot right in the corner with the goalkeeper inches away.

Gettings, who had seen little of the game after the first five minutes, made a very good save in the 59th after a rare Hay attack but Brakes came back with Timms and Gregory both going close. In the 71st Harri came on for Nicholls and almost immediately turned brilliantly in the box to force a corner. His electric pace set up another three chances within the next five minutes that were lost through hasty shots, understandable in the circumstances but promising much with a little more experience.

The impressive Hanrahan replaced Timms in the 75th. Minutes later Adams, who had worked hard all match, robbed a faltering Hay defender and pulled back a ball for Agar to shoot on target from close range and bring another magnificent save from the Hay 'keeper. Then in the 81st Tolley made his debut replacing Agar. Tolley is a fast, left midfield/forward from the youth team who signed senior forms before the match. He is just 16, probably making him the youngest player to pull on a Brakes' shirt for the senior side, and has had trials with Wolves, Leicester City and Telford United; he is currently in the Warwickshire County u19s side. Almost immediately he showed great promise wriggling down the left and almost getting free in the box.

But it was the other youth team player, Harri, who came closest to scoring when, in the 89th minute, once again his power and speed took him clear of the defence. Unluckily, as he bore down on goal, the ball took a ferocious bobble at a critical moment and the Hay 'keeper took the ball off the youngster's toes. Then in the 90th minute, three minutes into added time, Eden, who had had a quiet game, made it 0-3 when he picked up a mishit ball and glided a superb shot inside the far post from the right of the box.

Leamington: James Gettings, Ben Adams, Paul Eden, Tom Saunders, Andy Gregory, Darren Timms (Chris Hanrahan 75), Nick Mort, Barry Shearsby, Brian Agar (Josh Tolley 81), Paul Nicholls (James Harri 71), Steve Thompson [Capt.]

Team News: Jonny Burgess is receiving treatment for a hamstring but was at the match as were Myles Day and Andy Biffin.