Wed, 23 Jul 2008 @ The Dog & Duck, London Road, Wellingborough. vs Wellingborough Town (4-0). Pre season friendly match. By P Edwards.
Brakes travelled to Northamptonshire to take on a Wellingborough Town side who were regular opponents in our Southern League infancy. Both clubs joined the league in 1971. The Doughboys, as they are known, after a local delicacy, were reformed in 2004 by a group of dedicated supporters much like our own, after they had folded just two years earlier. One of their number told us that Wellingborough were our last opponents under the A.P moniker. Whether that is correct i am not sure, but it could explain why we were down as A.P Leamington on their website!
The neutral follower would have been spoilt for choice on this warm summer evening, as UCL Division One side Whitworths, whose ground is quite literally over the fence, were also playing a friendly. The better entertainment would surely have been viewed at this game though, as at times Brakes played some cracking stuff, carving open their opponents almost at will. The home side started brightly, but after the opening spell they spent the majority of the first half on the back foot, struggling to get the ball out of their own half.
Liam Reynolds set the tone for the evening, shooting just wide early on. Shay Morgan was unlucky not to connect with a good cross from Luke Corbett, after some good link up play with Jamie Towers. Martin Hier almost became an unlikely goalscorer, when he ghosted into the box to connect with a wicked free kick from Towers, only to see his powerful first time effort cannon back off the crossbar. An opportunity for the first goal of the night was presented on a plate to Leamington by the referee, who ruled that Josh Blake had been pushed in the penalty area. Towers stepped up, but sent his kick straight down the middle, and into the grateful arms of former Woodford United keeper Matt Finlay, who guessed correctly.
Richard Morris got his first real touch of the ball with over twenty minutes played, calmly dealing with a free kick played in from the right. Wellingborough attacks were very thin on the ground, as Brakes continued to plough forward in search of the first goal. It was not long in arriving, as just after the half hour, Martin Hier sent a searching ball into the area, and Shay Morgan nodded it past Finlay into the net. There was a real fluidity about some of Brakes' play, with some excellent passing and movement, which was great to see so early into the pre season warm up. 'Liquid football', i was told to call it! Steve Palmer was biting into tackles, and Luke Corbett was linking up well with James Husband on the left. Husband had a fine game, and sent a shot inches wide after a corner was only half cleared.
The home side had their only real effort of the half, when their number 10 went shoulder to shoulder with Neil Stacey, and squeezed in a shot that ran across the face of goal before being played to safety. Leamington rounded off a strong first half with the goal of the game, as Luke Corbett smacked a dipping volley into the far corner from just outside the box.
Mark Bellingham replaced Josh Blake at the beginning of the second half, as Jason Cadden resisted the urge to make any wholesale changes. It was Bellingham who had the first shot of the half. Brakes were soon back on the goal trail, when just after the hour Jamie Towers sent in another perfect free kick, which was powered home by the head of Liam Reynolds. Bellingham was unlucky not to add a fourth when he touched on a shot by Adam Cooper, but Finlay stretched out a palm to touch it round the post. Shay Morgan headed a Husband cross into Finlay's hands as he was falling to the ground, and Husband then saw a powerful shot fizz across the face of goal.
It is not difficult to see how Mark Bellingham has scored so many goals during his career, as pounces to take half chances that some players would not even think to try and attempt. He saw a clever effort well saved by Finlay again, although he was subsequently adjudged to have been offside, to the bemusement of the travelling support. James Husband struck the crossbar with a vicious effort from fully 30 yards, before Bellingham finally did get his name on the scoresheet with around ten minutes to play, showing the poachers instinct to steer a flick on from Glen Webb into the net.
The hosts had what was only their second shot of the game, in the final minute, but it was dealt with comfortably by substitute goalkeeper Dean Pennells.
This was a totally dominant performace by Brakes, and although it is better not to read too much into pre season games, it is pleasing to see the team playing so well, with the new faces who have shown up so far, fitting in as if they had been team mates for years. Cadsey is sure to have a few selection headaches if the preparations for the new season continue to go this well.
As a side note, we have finally discovered where our old midfield star Leon Morgan has disappeared to. I found a newspaper cutting in the Wellingborough clubhouse with a picture of him playing for them in their game against Leyton last Saturday. He was nowhere to be seen last night, but i am sure that Wellingborough will have a solid season with him in their side. Good luck to them.
Leamington: Richard Morris (Dean Pennells, 75), Jamie Towers, Ryan Parisi, Neil Stacey (Adam Cooper, 55), Martin Hier (Guy Sanders, 60), Liam Reynolds, Steve Palmer (Dean Ashton, 71), Luke Corbett (Glen Webb, 67), Josh Blake (Mark Bellingham, 46), Shay Morgan (Sean Brown, 67), James Husband.