Youth extend their stay at the top of the league
Young Brakes turned in another devastating performance to maintain their top of the table position, winning 7-0 at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium in front of a 100 plus crowd in a local derby against neighbours Racing Club Warwick.
On a surprisingly still evening following the recent strong hurricane conditions a goodly crowd turned out to witness what turned out to be a one sided affair with young Brakes demolishing a newly assembled first year Racing Warwick side with a confident display of free flowing football, netting 6 goals in the first half.
Kicking towards the Harbury Lane End Brakes started the very talented young Ross Quatermaine who was immediately involved in the first move of the game, sending in a super cross for Jack Winiarski to threaten with a header. On 7 minutes a flowing passage of passes found Patrick Swiercsz who made no mistake from 12 yards. 1-0 Brakes.
The Racers were soaking up pressure but a long clearance found the industrious Nick Wood whose jinking run was blocked out for a corner. Quartermaine went close with a couple of 20 yard drives that the keeper did well to hold on to, and the second well shut down by Roussel on the edge of the box.
Patrick Swiercsz was enjoying a more central role in the Brakes attack and was causing problems, going close on two occasions with shots inside a crowded area, but on 20 minutes he was rewarded when a third effort went in off the post in spectacular fashion.
The game was over as a contest a minute later as Lewis Annuls made it 3-0, finishing off a lovely one touch move by chipping over the keeper from 10 yards.
The Brakes were relentless in their hunger for yet more goals and Quatermaine was again the architect of the fourth in the 28th minute as Annuls finished the accurate cross.
Straight from the restart a mix up in the Racers defence let in poacher Jack Winarski who ran in to stab into an empty net, and one minute later with the Warwick side on their knees Winarski capitalised on another loose pass to slip through the defence and slide in the sixth of the night.
Racing made three immediate substitutions which steadied the ship somewhat as Warwick's Nick Wood finished a promising move at the North Bank End to fire a good shot over the crossbar. Half Time Leamington 6 Racing Club Warwick 0.
The Racers came out with much more resolve with an attacking 4-3-3 formation. Such was their enthusiasum that the Referee Paul Chislett was called upon to produce the first yellow card of a remarkably good natured game following a heavy tackle in front of the dugouts by Racers' Ross Nelson.
In the 49th minute the influential Lewis Annuls went close when his shot was cleared off the line following a corner and the Warwick keeper made heroic saves from Shay Nicholson and Jack Winiarski. However the Brakes number 9 would not be denied and completed his hatrick on 61 minutes as the nippy striker latched onto a long ball out of defence, neatly turned the marker with his first touch and ran into the box to place the ball hard and low into the corner of the net. 7-0.
Racing to their credit had worked hard in the second half and were almost rewarded with a goal at the Harbury Lane End when Harry Taylor went close with a good header from a well placed corner, and moments later Hopkinson in the Brakes goal was called upon to make a confident save at the feet of the advancing Alex Smith on the edge of the penalty area.
Full time: Leamington FC 7 Racing Warwick 0. Another clean sheet at home and a commanding performance from this Brakes youth team who are simply flying at the moment and remain top of the Eastern Division table with a fantastic start to the campaign. Played 3, won 3, goals for 18, against 1, points 9.
Keith Hancock
