Excellent Performance by 1st Year Brakes Nearly Pulls It Off

Apart from an attack of the yips that saw three goals leaked in five minutes either side of half-time this was a very creditable performance by the 1st Years, i.e. those youth players who will be eligible next year and several the year after as well.

Remarkably a crowd of 76 braved what promised to be a very wet night and saw a very young Brakes side, with little or no experience of playing together, initially struggle against a Stratford side that had six regulars. Brakes' 'keeper Morgan made the first of many good saves in the 17th but a nervous Brakes seemed to have weathered the storm when Stratford slotted goals in the 42nd and 44th minutes to go in at the break 2-0 and added a third soon after, in the 47th.

But, commendably, young Brakes rallied and man of the match Crowley slotted home in the 72nd to make it 1-3 nearly getting another a minute later. Now Brakes took off their more senior players and played the last 35 minutes with the entire team eligible for the next season. And what an excellent performance this was with Stratford pressed back into their own half and the earlier, defensive frailties now put to rest as the attack went close several times and, with a little more luck, could have levelled it on the night - heartening indeed for their futures and that of the senior side two years down the line.

Several players caught the eye. Aulak was unlucky to see his shot kicked off the line in the 29th and both Sherry and Morris performed heroics at a time when Stratford were threatening to make their greater experience count. Ford, no doubt, will be an asset next season and Bhangal looks a very promising player, setting up Crowley for his goal with a perceptive through ball. Both Dhaliwall and Thiara, who came on in the second half, slotted in well and played major roles in Brakes' dominance in the last 35 minutes.

Leamington 1st Years (+): Richard Morgan; Gary Morris; Jamie Coleman [Capt]; Lee Sherry; Andy McKinley; Nik Ford; Pas Bhangal; Ben Halstead-Smyth; Chris Lewis; Arron Reynolds; Michael Aulak; Manny Dhaliwall; Vinny Thiara; Kyle Crowley; Josh Tolley; Mark Anderson