Bedworth Edge Out Brakes in 7-Goal Thriller

A depleted Brakes just lost out on their debut in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Premier Division going down to a fast and skilful Bedworth side.

In front of an opening match crowd of 90, Brakes had the first scoring opportunity as early as the third minute when a backpass from Bedworth's Shaun Thomas nearly let in Alex Taylor. However, reality soon set in as Brakes 'keeper Dan Kerr was forced into a double save in the eighth minute to deny Carl Farqurharson. Five minutes later, Bedworth took the lead when Gilbert Cummings was unchallenged as he slotted the ball into the corner of the net (0-1).

The visitors doubled their advantage on 18 minutes when, despite a clearance off the line by Alex Shaw, Callum Dempsey drove the ball home (0-2). Having fallen two goals behind, Brakes came back well and levelled the scores. Firstly, on 30 minutes, a free kick on the left by Josh Tolley was met with a fierce header from captain Andrew Mckinley (1-2) and then on 39 minutes Phil Thompson chipped the Bedworth 'keeper James Earl from the edge of the penalty area (2-2).

However, another Bedworth strike five minutes before half-time from Farqurharson put the Greenbacks ahead at the interval 2-3. Although McKinley got his second on 49 minutes to make it 3-3, Bedworth went ahead again within two minutes when the lively Farqurharson got his second and the visitors' fourth after Kerr had failed to hold his cross cum shot (3-4).

Bedworth substitute Lou Kiwzistt became the only booking of the evening for a foul on Tolley on 80 minutes. With a minute remaining, Adam Butcher replaced Alex Shaw for Brakes and nearly levelled it with his first touch of the ball. A draw would have been nice but unfortuantely, it was not to be.

Whilst disappointed with the result, manager Alan Stacey saw promise for the future saying "we acquitted ourselves well at the higher level and will learn a lot from this. I couldn't fault the commitment and determination that the team showed to claw their way back from a two-goal deficit. We gave a sloppy goal away to let them back into the lead at half-time and, although we played well in the second half, the pace of the game found some of the players out."

Leamington Youth: Daniel Kerr; Alex Shaw (Adam Butcher 89); Martin Groves; Iain Groves; Andrew McKinley [Capt.]; Ben Halstead-Smyth; Philip Thompson; Jac Sheppard; Nik Kyriacou (Chris Lewis 61); Alex Taylor; Josh Tolley
Sub(s) Not Used (3 From 5): Lewis Scott; Jamie Coleman; Luke Cole

Team News: Three lads on England trials and several more on holiday.