Midland Floodlit League Eastern Division
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Wednesday 6th December 2017 

Young Brakes put in their best performance to date and had to dig deep against an impressive Sutton Coldfield team in the eagerly awaited clash of the leagues only two teams with 100% records and sitting first and second with Brakes 6 points clear at the top but Sutton breathing down their neck with two games in hand.

The rain that had threatened all afternoon duly arrived as the winds began to pick up heralding the arrival of hurricane Caroline. The Brakes, in their gold and black home strip kicked off towards the Harbury Lane End with Sutton Coldfield in their all blue strip.

Leamington were getting the better of the early exchanges in a lively start and on 10 minutes a lovely through ball from Swiercz set up Jack Winiarski who was denied twice by a brave double save by Haywood in the Town goal. The game had an to end cup tie feel to it as Will West tested Kollie in the brakes goal with an 18 yard power drive and Winiarski duplicated the move in the same minute at the other end.

The Brakes defence stood firm as the play switched to the North Bank end when a dangerous cross caused chaos in the box but the ball was eventually cleared only for the ball to fall to West whose 25 yard lob incredibly bounced on the 6 yard line and over the empty goal!

The excellent Ross Quartermaine went close with a 20 yard effort flying just past the upright. Again play switched to the other end and Kollie got down to make a confident save from a well hit shot from Sutton's Mason Hughes. Kollie was called upon again to fist away a good cross as Sutton pressed forward, then straight from the clearance the Brakes put together the best combination of passes of the night, in an Arsenal-esque move on the left of the penalty area a five pass move culminated in a shot from Winiarski which drew a good save out of the Sutton keeper.

Brakes were putting some good combinations together and Swiercz turned his marker superbly to set up Winiarski who finished at the second attempt to make it 1-0 on 30 minutes..

The lively Max McNulty went on a 40 yard run only for Shay Nicholson to bravely close down the shot, and again play switched to the other end as Winiarski cleverly set up Zefi whose shot was closed down by some smart defending. Sutton's tricky number four Powney was upended on the edge of the box following a 40 yard run, Brakes centre half Luke Dodd receiving a lecture from the referee after a repeat of the previous play two minutes later.

Half Time Leamington 1 Sutton Coldfield 0.

Straight from the restart Brakes Zefi broke through wide left to fire in a shot on target from a tight angle which Haywood did well to tip over the bar. Brakes were guilty of some sloppy play early in the opening exchanges of the second half, needlessly giving the ball away and Sutton took advantage forcing a rare corner. And from the corner came a goalmouth scramble and Cameran Walker picked up a stray clearance to equalise with a confident finish from 15 yards. 1 -1 49 minutes.

Sutton were now in the ascendancy as the ball was cleared off the line from an excellent cross and Kollie pulled out a super save to deny Hughes' goal bound rocket at full stretch to the keepers bottom left hand corner which he incredibly held onto with both hands.

In a ten minute spell of pressure from the visitors the Brakes defence stood firm as McNulty went close in quick succession. Brakes began to build again from midfield with the introduction of Nathan Dodd and good work again from Winiarski let in his strike partner Swiercz who shot was well saved by Hayward, but a poor clearance from the keeper let in Winiarski who bagged his second of the night with a class finish from a tight angle with his back to goal in the six yard box, flicking the ball over the keeper at the near post. 2-1.

There was a lengthy stoppage minutes later as Hayward and Zefi collided in a 50/50 challenge in the box. It was end to end stuff and the Brakes defence stood firm as the impressive four man Sutton attack threw everything at the Brakes goal. Patryck Swiercz went close in a Brakes counter firing over from close range.

On 87 minutes an excellent piece of refereeing from Mr Nick Metcalfe who had kept the game flowing and had been up with play on all of the important decisions as the assistant flagged Winiarski offside the referee being close to the play saw that the striker had received the ball from a back pass, the Brakes number 9 rarely misses 1 on 1's with the keeper and duly completed his hatrick to place the ball into the right hand corner. 3-1, 87 minutes.

Sutton were not done yet and the excellent Kollie pulled out another world class save on 90 minutes to save another goal bound shot diving low to his right hand corner and superbly holding onto the stinger with both hands.There was 8 minutes of time added on in this enthralling game, there was a booking for Brakes Lewis Annals for not retreating 10 yards and Suttons' centre back somehow escaped a straight red when clattering Winiarski into the hoardings in the last minute of play.

Full time ..Leamington 3 Sutton Coldfield Town 1. A great advert for youth football played at 100 miles an hour. Spills, thrills and skills. Brakes extend their lead at the top to 9 points, and on this form are looking a good bet for the title.

Keith Hancock