Tue, 29 Apr 2008 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Rushall Olympic (1-0). British Gas Business Football League Midlands Division. By D Hucker. Brakes progressed to the Midlands Division Playoff Final against Stourbridge thanks to a Guy Sanders goal early in the second half.
This was a match featuring two of the meanest defences in the league and they cancelled eachother out in a first half with few clearcut chances.
Brakes could have taken the lead in only the first minute when a clearance by visiting 'keeper, Tony Breeden, hit the advancing James Husband, but Breeden gathered at the second attempt. The best chance fell to Neil Barnfield, who was clear through on goal with only Richard Morris to beat, but the Rushall striker put his shot wide of the far post. In stoppage time, Sanders sent a free-kick wide after Ben Mackey had been fouled.
The decisive strike came on 49 minutes when Rushall failed to clear a Jamie Towers corner from the left and Sanders was on hand to smash the ball into the net.
The rain, which had been persistent from the start, became even heavier, making controlling and passing the ball difficult for both sides. Despite the conditions, Morris made two fine saves to deny Junior Brown and Lee Gough.
In a last throw of the dice, Breeden came up to join the attack for a free kick by Dave Haywood, but put his header wide.
In the end, it was a deserved win for Brakes, but praise is also due to the 783 spectators who braved the elements and were rewarded by a close and competitive encounter which, like the previous two between the sides, was settled by a single goal.
After the match, League Chairman, Ken Turner, presented runners-up medals to the players and management team and the trophy to stand-in captain Richard Morris. Spare a thought for Arron Parkinson, who has been a rock in the Brakes defence all season, but missed the tie with a chest infection.
Manager Jason Cadden said "there was nothing in it tonight and, with two good defensive sides, it always looked like one goal would win it. Playoffs can be cruel and it was a pity that one side had to lose, but I was proud of the team's performance in difficult conditions."
Brakes Richard Morris [Capt.], Jamie Towers, Martin Hier, Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders, Marcus Jackson, Scott Hadland, James Husband, Justin Marsden, Ben Mackey, Ryan Parisi
Subs Not Used: Liam Reynolds, Shay Morgan, Josh Blake, Martin Thompson, Andy Harper
Rushall Olympic Tony Breeden, Lee Gough, Dave Haywood, Richard Brown, Lee Barrow [Capt.], Niki Preston, Phil Rowe, Richard Beale, Craig Marshall (Grant Beckett 78), Junior Brown, Neil Barnfield (James Knott 78)
Subs Not Used: Ian Cooper, Rob Holdcroft, Karl Johnson