Young Brakes Turn It On To Draw at Unbeaten Bedworth

Young Brakes penned likely champions Bedworth into their own half for much of the first 45 but the hosts showed why they are unbeaten this term by keeping their goal intact though, at times, it seemed that Brakes must score. Two minutes into the second half Bedworth's Cummings let fly with a 30yds screamer that gave Morgan no chance and put Bedworth into an unlikely lead at 1-0. But with Bedworth aiming to take top place and getting more into the game it was Kyriacou who scored next, coming off the bench to slot the equaliser five minutes later in the 81st minute to earn his side a point in a 1-1 draw that could, so easily, have been three points for a battling Brakes full of self-belief.

Recent results diminishing the spectre of relegation or a growing belief in their abilities may have played a part but, whatever it was, this was a very different side from some we've seen at away matches this season - and that was before the kick-off. Young Brakes positively bounced onto the pitch and with Bedworth United, unbeaten in the league and looking to go top, also in effervescent mood this promised to be fast and furious, and indeed it was.

Morgan gathered confidently in the Brakes' goal early on but mostly the ball was in the Bedworth half. The front line was buzzing with the midfield feeding through balls in as fine a team performance as I've seen all season, at any level. The defence was able to push up as Brakes totally dominated play. Bedworth reeled under the pressure and gave away an extraordinary number of free kicks as they fought to stay in the game.

Lewis drove into the box in the 32nd and was unlucky to be penalised. Alex Taylor, Lewis, Rowan and Howell peppered the Bedworth goal in the 36th with the ball pinging back off bodies and eventually cleared by an instinctive block from a very good 'keeper. Minutes later it was nearly the Groves' show as Iain sent a long ball into the path of Martin who was unfortunate, with little time and space, to spoon the ball over the bar from close range. When Bedworth did break Moulding and McKinley were rocks in defence with captain Anderson prompting and cajoling his team.

Then, soon after the restart, Bedworth made it 1-0 in the 47th minute when Cummings latched onto a loose ball 30yds out and whacked an unstoppable shot into the top corner, a cruel blow for all Brakes' efforts and territorial advantage. Heads went down a little and Brakes never again enjoyed the almost total dominance of the first half but their defence showed its worth as a fast and furious game moved up another gear. Martin Groves shot at an angle from an Anderson pass in the 54th and McKinley rose high to nod just wide in the 64th; but Morgan brought off a tremendous save from a free-kick in the 67th as Bedworth started to make chances. Brakes still had more possession but the tall, Bedworth defence was demonstrating why the Greenbacks have such a good defensive record.

Howell, again, went close and Lewis, Alex Taylor and Rowan combined well with Brakes starting to dominate again as the last 15 minutes approached. An Anderson free-kick in the 75th was met by Howell's head and could, so easily, have gone in. Kyriacou came on for tiring legs a minute later and started to run at the Bedworth defence. He got his reward with the equaliser in the 81st minute knocking home through sheer dogged persistence to make it 1-1. Brakes stuck to their task creating late chances but Tolley's introduction in the 90th minute, which may have borne fruit against a faltering Bedworth defence, was thwarted when the referee brought procedings to a halt after barely two minutes of added time.

Leamington Youth: Richard Morgan; James Taylor; Martin Groves; Iain Groves; Andy McKinley; Luke Moulding; Mark Anderson [Capt]; Ryan Howell; Chris Lewis (Josh Tolley 90); Alex Taylor; Ben Rowan (Nik Kyriacou 76)
Sub(s) Not Used (3 From 5): Alex Shaw; Jamie Coleman