Brakes move up to second without hitting the heights

Brakes returned to league action after a gap of nearly three weeks and recorded a comfortable victory in the New Forest against Bashley, writes Paul Edwards.

Though they did not hit the heights, this was an assured and workmanlike display that stretched their impressive run in the Premier Division to 21 games without defeat.

Bashley had been the last team to defeat Paul Holleran’s side, back in February, but they never looked like repeating the feat in this contest.

But although debutant keeper Niall Cooper was only seriously tested on a few occasions over the 90 minutes, the outcome was not certain until Leamington substitute Alex Taylor bagged the decisive second goal three minutes from time.

A scrappy opening period saw both sides giving the ball away and neither particularly making any inroads in the attacking third of the pitch.

Cooper did well to cut out a low cross after Brakes had given the ball away in defence and Tom Berwick was driven too wide from Ricky Johnson’s through ball at the other end.

Charlie Knight curled a shot just over the bar for the home side before Matt Dodd tested the reflexes of keeper Stuart Moore when he drove the ball into the near post. From the resulting corner, Liam Daly’s downward header was saved on the line.

Brakes certainly looked the more threatening of the two sides and confirmed this as they moved in front in the 27th minute.

A smart turn in the area allowed Berwick the space to drive forward and slot the ball across the goalmouth, where it was crashed into the roof of the net by Matt Dodd at the far post.

Cooper made two superb saves to show why Paul Holleran rates him so highly, first getting down to a powerful low drive soon after Leamington had gone in front, and then springing from his line to thwart another effort on his goal with a fine block.

In between, Berwick broke clear down the right but was unable to set up Lee Chilton for an effort at goal.

Stephan Morley cracked a long- range drive just wide as the second half got under-way, but there were precious little scoring opportunities for either side.

A Bashley free-kick sailed over the bar and Lee Moore headed over from a good cutback by Morley.

Sam Adkins, hard working and industrious on his first start of the season, drove a shot over the bar after emerging from several tackles with the ball.

Brakes continued to look the more likely to score, barely allowing their opponents a sniff of goal, and they eventually made the game safe with three minutes to play.

Dodd, who had made a nuisance of himself all afternoon down the right, clipped the ball in to Alex Taylor inside the area, who turned and arrowed a low shot inside the near post to make for a relaxing final few minutes for the Brakes support.

Bashley: Stuart Moore, Harrison Bell, Ian Oliver, Brad Strickland, Gary Middleton, Ian Richardson, Josh Casey (Rob Gradwell, 64), Tom Hill, James Stokoe (Carl Foster, 81), Andrew Jenkinson, Charlie Knight. Subs not used: Matt Vokes, Matt Finlay, Stewart Kearn.

Brakes: Niall Cooper, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Matt Dodd, Lee Chilton (James Husband, 74), Tom Berwick (Lee Moore, 67), Ricky Johnson (Alex Taylor, 84), Sam Adkins. Subs not used: Martyn Naylor, Joshua Tiff.