Battling Brakes Best Borough but Settle for Draw

Leamington Youth put the past few performances behind them and came out fighting to the delight of most of the crowd of 85 on a bitter, cold evening with the frost crumbling on the barrier rails by the end of the game. This was a rip-roaring game played at a frenetic pace but with some very good football. Brakes were desperately unlucky not to get all three points as Borough defended in depth, but Borough also had some fast, skilful players who kept Brakes' defence on their toes.

Josh Tolley, who played 90 minutes in an excellent 1-0 win for the Birmingham County FA Representative side against Herefordshire County FA the day before, was rested and Andy McKinley, who came off the bench in that game, started on the bench for this match. Martin Groves was also in the County XI squad but didn't get a game. This is the downside of having players good enough to be selected for representative games (especially playing on Mondays) but Alex Ferguson has the same problem and seems to cope.

Howell was just wide on three minutes after good work by Iain Groves and Thompson was creating huge problems for the Borough defence. With Anderson prompting and probing, and the return of the influential Elkington, this was a promising start by on-song Brakes. Howell ran into the area in the 22nd and was just robbed and an Anderson free kick in the 25th was close. With Brakes dominating the game Iain Groves was unlucky to be slightly off balance when he struck a rising shot over the bar in the 37th.

Brakes were unlucky not to have something to show for the first half effort but Borough had some fast, skilful players up front and there was always a danger of a break with Brakes pushing up so much. But the defence was in command with 'keeper Cole, though having little to do, gathering cleanly when called upon and coming out well to preempt the more dangerous moves. In fact the defence as a whole was working well together forcing attackers wide, tackling hard and covering for eachother. What a difference a week makes.

Chris Lewis came on in the 57th replacing Kyriacou who had been perpetual motion up front. Ben Rowan was making inroads and a shot from distance in the 58th curled just past the top corner. Within two minutes Howell headed just past the post from a free-kick and Iain Groves had a tremendous shot turned round the post in the 67th as Brakes turned the screw and seemed certain to score.

Yet there were a few nervous moments, especially from those of us who had seen the late goals conceded from Sutton, Kidderminster and, worst of all, WBA. But this was a sterling defensive performance. McKinley came on for Anderson in the 78th as Brakes kept plugging away. Thompson sped down the wing in the 87th and ran inside to crash his shot narrowly wide for what would have been the goal of the season and Alex Taylor headed just over after a cross from the right on the 90 as Brakes fought, as they had all match, for that final, incisive pass that would lead to that final, decisive goal.

Leamington Youth: Luke Cole; James Taylor; Martin Groves; Iain Groves; Ben Elkington [Capt.]; Mark Anderson (Andrew McKinley 78); Philip Thompson; Ben Rowan; Nik Kyriacou (Chris Lewis 57); Ryan Howell; Alex Taylor
Sub(s) Not Used (3 From 5): Kyle Crowley; Jamie Coleman; Ben Halstead-Smyth

Team News: Luke Moulding still injured.