By David Hucker

Goal-Shy Brakes Make It Three League Blanks In a Row

Despite a storming finish, Brakes went down for the second time in a week losing by the only goal of the game at Bolehall. Failure to find the net was again their undoing and the continuing absence of leading scorer Paul Nicholls is dashing early-season hopes of securing the ICIS Midland Combination Premier title.

Brakes had seventeen year old James Harri partnering Josh Blake in attack and Simon Wickson joining Darren Timms and Nick Mort in midfield. The defence was missing the experience of Simon Walker and, with Mark Rowland joining a young-looking back three, there were plenty of occasions when the fast Bolehall attack carved its way through to set up scoring opportunities.

Bolehall have risen steadily up the table over recent weeks and they were clearly fired-up for this one as they bombarded the visitors' goal in the first quarter of an hour. The first scare came after only three minutes when a low shot went just wide of the post. Then, three minutes later, a free kick rattled the Brakes' crossbar to reinforce the message that this was going to be a tough afternoon. The visitors did not mount an attack of any note until the seventeenth minute when central defender Andy Gregory came up field only to blast his shot over. Eight minutes later, a fine run by captain Steve Thompson saw the ball pulled back to Darren Timms who also shot high over the goal.

Having withstood the early pressure, Brakes were now coming more into game but suffered a setback on 37 minutes when a breakaway against the run of play saw Simon Meads shoot low into the net beyond the outstretched hand of Myles Day. From then on, it was an uphill struggle although the side that emerged from the half-time pep talk played with much more conviction and heart in the second period. Glen Webb started to move forward and featured in three moves within a ten minute spell that could have resulted in goals. The nearest that Brakes came at this time was on 64 minutes when Blake's shot rebounded off a defender to Harri whose hopes of a fairytale debut were dashed when his goalbound effort was cleared off the line.

Bolehall hero Meads then turned villain being sent off for a second bookable offence on 77 minutes, giving Brakes numerical superiority that they didn't capitalise on. Bolehall had two clear chances to score again before substitute Harj Dhesi nearly snatched a draw two minutes from time. However, this time the crossbar came to Bolehall's rescue and the Tamworth-based side held on to take all three points.

Nick Mort was booked for a foul and can feel some injustice at the inconstant refereeing that saw a number of Bolehall fouls, particularly on young Harri, go unpunished. The news on Nicholls is that his operation on a torn cartilage looks to have been successful but there will be no return until the end of the month at least. With Blake looking out of sorts and lacking the confidence that made him such a prolific scorer in the last two seasons, goals are proving hard to come by and Brakes need to sign a proven marksman and someone to take command of the midfield if their challenge is to get back on track.

Co-manager Jason Cadden was still upbeat afterwards. He said "I feel that we were unlucky not to come away with a point taking the ninety minutes as a whole. James Harri made a pleasing debut and, as a team, we are still learning."

Leamington: Myles Day, Glen Webb, Mark Rowland, Tom Sidwell, Andy Gregory, Darren Timms, Nick Mort, Simon Wickson (Harj Dhesi 74), Josh Blake, James Harri, Steve Thompson [Capt.]
Subs Not Used: Chris Hanrahan, Tom Saunders

Team News: Simon Walker and Baz Shearsby should be OK for Tuesday.