Brakes dumped out of Trophy by Hyde

Brakes wasted an excellent opportunity to progress in non-league football’s premier cup competition, conceding a last-gasp winner to their ten-man visitors, writes Paul Edwards.

The contest started brightly enough for the home side, with Hyde keeper Russell Saunders having to be alert to beat Luke Corbett to a James Husband cross.

Liam Daly was forced to cut out a low ball into the penalty area at the other end, and Tony Breeden got enough on a free-kick from Matty Burke to see the ball away from his goal.

Marcus Jackson came close to opening the scoring when James Rowe’s cross found its way to him at the far post, but his low drive was saved by Saunders.

The pace of Rowe was creating all sorts of problems for the Blue Square Bet North strugglers and he opened the scoring with a goal out of nothing.

Accelerating towards the left side of the area, Rowe forced his way between two defenders before placing a shot around Saunders and into the far corner of the net.

The visitors were foiled again by Breeden when he parried an effort from Dean Stott and Rowe was almost in when Michael Taylor left a high ball for his goalkeeper, but the angle was too tight for a shot.

Stephan Morley struck a swerving drive that was spilled by Saunders, but the keeper gathered it at the second attempt with Corbett closing in.

Another goalbound shot from the visitors was diverted away from goal by an acrobatic Lee Downes, while Corbett shot straight at Saunders after being set up by the ever-willing Rowe.

The ex-Canvey Island striker was causing havoc with his darting run, and was unlucky to see another effort bend the wrong side of the post.

Whatever manager Neil Tolson said to his players during the interval, it certainly had the desired effect as the Tigers emerged with far more bite for the second half.

Breeden did well to adjust and save a swerving shot with his legs, before the visitors were denied an equaliser after the referee spotted an infringement.

Rowe lashed a shot across goal after a weaving run, but it was Hyde who were now on top.

Breeden had to save an effort on the turn from Dale Johnson before the visitors lost midfielder Matty Burke to a straight red following a crude challenge on Scott Lycett.

Sanders deflected a Jackson strike wide of goal before Hyde pulled level with 20 minutes remaining, Andy Smart crashing a stunning first-time drive inside the angle of post and bar.

The Tigers’ tails were up and Dale Johnson’s charge towards the Leamington penalty area was 
halted by another save from Breeden.

Corbett was inches from regaining the lead for Brakes when his downward header from Alex Taylor’s cross bounced past the angle of the goal frame.

Daly saw his header saved as Leamington applied some late pressure but the FA Trophy dream was to end in heartbreaking fashion as the visitors pulled a rabbit out of the hat with less than a minute of normal time remaining.

There were claims from the home support that Jackson and Daly were impeded as the visitors bore down on goal, but these mattered little as Dale Johnson lifted the ball over Breeden and into the net to spark delirium among the travelling support.

There was still time for Breeden to head well over and Jackson to fire wide as the home side threw everyone forward in a desperate attempt to salvage a draw.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, Scott Lycett, Stephan Morley, Lee Downes, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Marcus Jackson, Matt Lewis, Luke Corbett (Jamie Sheldon, 81), James Rowe, James Husband (Alex Taylor, 42). Subs not used: Guy Sanders, Craig Wilding, Michael Tuohy.

Hyde: Russell Saunders, Dean Stott, Andy Smart, Steve Halford, Michael Taylor, Scott McNiven, Mark Lees, Matty Burke, Dale Johnson, Shaun Whalley, Tom Manship (Scott Mooney, 65). Subs not used: Lee Rick, Ben Morris, Chris Rimmer, Marcus Calvert.