Shot-Shy Brakes Slip Up Against Stratford

This was always going to be a struggle with only James Lockyer from last season's regulars in the team plus 15-year old 'keeper, Tom Heath, who played towards the end of last term. In the circumstances the "new boys" performed well coming together later in the game after going two down to goals in the 18th and 28th by a much more experienced Stratford squad at a time when they were still trying to find their feet or, rather, the feet of their team-mates.

There was much to applaud for (an astonishing) 91 fans with some solid, committed performances from a very young team. Let's hope that last season's friendly programme, when weather wiped out much of it, is not repeated as this team, with the experienced players back from holidays and injuries, needs to gel and get sharper, which can only come from playing together.

And there is, perhaps, a need for a vital ingredient: a goal-scorer who can also hold up the ball; good approach play, followed by long shots, will rarely succeed even at youth level.

Leamington Youth: Tom Heath [GK]; James Urquhart; Tom James; Mark Griffin; James Lockyer [Capt]; Adam Sutton; Luke Hobbins; Jamie Webb; Sean McCarthy; Jamie Foster; Mike Ellis;
Sub(s): Dylan Russell [GK]; Lee Sherry; Purminder Sidhu; Chris King