Brakes beat Stourbridge not once but twice

LEAMINGTON returned to the top of the Southern League Premier Division on Saturday with a thrilling victory over their Black Country rivals.

An absorbing first half gave way to a roller-coaster second 45 minutes as Leamington had the game sewn up, threatened to throw it away and then went on to win it again.

Paul Holleran paid Stourbridge the ultimate compliment by switching his side’s formation to 4-5-1 to match up with the visitors’ congested midfield, with Luke Corbett as the loan frontman.

Liam Francis made his debut in the heart of the defence after signing on Friday from Tamworth, with James Mace taking his place on the bench after recovering from an Achilles injury.

Corbett was the first to have a clear sight of goal, with his free-kick from an acute angle punched clear by Lewis Solly. Stephan Morley screwed the follow up wide.

Lee Evans dealt comfortably with a tame shot from Ryan Rowe at the other end before Corbett used his strength to set up a shooting chance for Craig Owen, whose shot from the edge of the box drifted wide. While there was plenty of endeavour from both sides, quality was at a premium. However, that was quickly delivered in spades, with a stunning 26th-minute opener from the home side.

A difficult ball to the edge of the box was controlled on the chest of Alex Taylor, who in one fluid movement swivelled to volley the dropping ball over Solly and in off the crossbar.

It was a goal to light up any game and deserved to be seen by more than the 511 at the New Windmill, swelled by a 50-strong travelling support.

And those who had foregone the action for a spot of Christmas shopping were to miss out on further goal-of-the-season contenders after the interval.

Four minutes in, a slick move involving James Husband and Corbett ended with the latter’s cross being half-cleared to the penalty spot, where the following up Husband was on hand to cushion a volley into the back of the net.

Batchelor dinked an effort on to the top of the net after evading a challenge in the box, but seemingly content with their two-goal cushion, Brakes began to withdraw deeper and deeper.

Former Brake Leon Broadhurst was denied by a point-blank save from Evans and the lively Rowe drew a fine diving stop from the Leamington number one as Stourbridge grabbed the initiative.

Leamington were made to pay in the 64th minute when Aaron Drake produced a finish to rival Taylor’s, cutting inside and feigning to shoot before rifling a fine shot across Evans and into the far corner.

Two minutes later, Stourbridge were back on level terms.

Sam Rock’s excellent cross was met at the far post by Broadhurst, who headed in from close range to the delight of the travelling Stourbridge contingent.

Substitute John Griffin twice shot straight at Evans as play became stretched and it was the visitors who looked the most likely recipients of the three points.

However, a goal straight off the training ground allowed Leamington to regain their lead.

Owen was felled just outside the box and with everyone expecting Morley to take a strike on goal, the left-back slipped the ball to the advancing Michael Tuohy who drilled his shot across Solly and into the far corner of the net.

Brakes restored their two-goal cushion three minutes later, with Taylor’s subdued celebration after seeing the ball rebound in off the far post leaving no one in any doubt his intention had been to cross.

Corbett had a chance to seal a selfless display of front-running with the goal his display deserved, but dragged his shot wide after a Mace ricochet had sent him clean through, while Evans was called on to produce another reaction save after Drew Canavan’s free-kick was deflected into the path of Nathan Bennett.

Evans was then adjudged to have held on to the ball longer than six seconds, which gave Stourbridge a free kick eight yards out. However, the shot was blocked.

Drake was unable to repeat his earlier heroics when flashing a shot wide in the dying seconds, but Stourbridge already looked a beaten side. It is just a pity Brakes had to do it twice.

Leamington: Lee Evans, Michael Tuohy, Stephan Morley, Lee Downes, Liam Francis, Asa Charlton, Alex Taylor (Sam Adkins, 90), James Husband (James Mace, 71), Luke Corbett (David Kolodynski, 87), Craig Owen, Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Dior Angus, Arthur Byrne.

Stourbridge: Lewis Solly, Sam Rock (Sean Evans, 81) Aaron Griffiths, Paul Lloyd (John Griffin, 54), Sean Geddes, Nathan Bennett, Sam Smith, Leon Broadhurst, Ryan Rowe, Ben Billingham (Drew Canavan, 65), Aaron Drake. Subs not used: James Dyson, Josh Craddock.