Game of Two Halves, Brian

Young Brakes made all the early running sweeping into a 3-0 first-half lead but, inevitablty perhaps, allowed Rugby back into the game in the second half as they rang the changes to give everybody a run-out, for some their first visit to their home ground. An excellent crowd of 70 had plenty to cheer in a performance that promised well for the season.

Brakes were 1-0 up in the 1st minute, after only 45 seconds, when a Leaver free-kick was expertly knocked over the 'keeper by Kitchen. Brakes were camping out in the Rugby half and threatened to increase their lead with flowing football up-front. After one such move McGarvey slotted home a cross by Cromwell to make it 2-0 in the 19th.

But it wasn't entirely one-way traffic and 'keeper Morgan pulled off two excellent saves before the impressive Cromwell blasted home from 25 yds with a dipping shot to make it 3-0 in the 37th. There were impressive displays up front with Cromwell, McGarvey, Leaver and Sheppard the pick, and the defence was in control with the tall newcomer, Lockyer, a commanding figure and Coleman and Morgan carrying on the good work from last season. Morgan tipped over the bar as the whistle went for the end of a half where Brakes could have scored even more.

Early in the second half Cromwell could have put the game beyond recall, first using his speed to force a 'keeper error in the 50th then seeing a header cleared off the line from the resulting corner. A 53rd minute move saw Cromwell and Leaver combine to nearly poach a 4th but Morgan had to make a point-blank save to keep a clean sheet.

A flurry of changes took their toll in the last half hour with Rugby scoring direct from a corner in the 68th, 3-1 and then an excellent goal in the 75th, 3-2. In between Morgan made another excellent save as Rugby took command but Brakes looked to have done just enough before an 86th minute penalty, for a foul in the area, was slotted home to level it at 3-3.

Leamington Youth Started: Richard Morgan; Paz Bhangal; Jamie Coleman; James Lockyer; Dave Ward; Ashley Kitchen; Jac Sheppard; Sean Rellis; Kevin McGarvey; Tom Leaver [Capt]; Will Cromwell
Came On: Ben Langley; Kyle Crowley; Vinny Thiara; Mike Aulak; Manni Dhaliwal; Dave Callaghan; Chris Lewis [Capt]

Team News: Luke Evans and Curtis Jackson not there (holiday?)