Brakes Youth "To Concentrate on the League!"

Before the ball had rolled its circumference at the kick-off two Alfreton players were closer to the Brakes' goal than the half-way line, and this set a pattern that was to continue. Brakes looked good going forward but the Alfreton front-runners made Brakes defence look lethargic and uncertain.

In the 7th minute Alfreton were 1-0 up with a forward cutting in, unhindered, from the left along the bye-line for a simple tap-in. Although there was some promise from the industrious Howell and Lewis up-front Brakes were vulnerable to the fast-thinking Alfreton forwards who, unlike the ball-watching Brakes, were running into position off the ball and creating options for eachother.

Alfreton went further ahead when uncertainty in defence left a forward with space to run through and power a header past the helpless Kerr in the 31st for 2-0. Brakes' forwards were restricted to long-range attempts and a succession of wasted free-kicks. But there was some promise as the half drew to a close with Howell and Thompson both going close and Rowan nearly getting in on goal from an Anderson free.

There was a period of pressure from Brakes after the interval and Howell had a strong header well-stopped in the corner in the 61st and another one that hit the base of the post four minutes later. With the lesson about being quicker to the ball seemingly learnt there was real hope that, if Brakes could sneak a goal, they could could get back into this game. But that hope was dashed in the 83rd when, again, misunderstanding in the defence resulted in players standing, waiting for the ball to come to them after an Alfreton corner, apart from an Alfreton player who ran in, unchecked, from the left and smashed the ball in the corner, 3-0.

This was not a good performance from a team that can do much better and, clearly, there is work to be done, especially in the communication department. But there are good, strong and skilful players in the Brakes' squad and this may prove, in retrospect, to have been a timely lesson. With a little honing to increase sharpness, and some shouting practice, this youth team could still have a very good season; a wake-up call not a disaster.

Leamington Youth: Daniel Kerr; Alex Shaw (Josh Tolley 71); Martin Groves (Ben Halstead-Smyth 86); Mark Anderson; Andrew McKinley [Capt.]; Luke Moulding; Philip Thompson (Nik Kyriacou 78); Iain Groves; Chris Lewis; Ryan Howell; Ben Rowan

Sub(s) Not Used (3 From 5): Kyle Crowley; Luke Cole