Brakes negotiate tricky cup hurdle

Leamington negotiated a tricky cup hurdle with a nap hand at the New Windmill, writes Paul Edwards.

Visitors Boldmere restricted their hosts for long periods without posing any problems themselves, but the two-division gap eventually shone through, with three late goals adding perhaps a little more gloss to the scoreline than it deserved.

Paul Holleran had demanded a response from his team after the 4-0 home defeat to Bedford and they kicked off in determined fashion.

Liam Daly’s header just cleared the bar after Chris Gibson, who spent a season with Brakes in their Midland Alliance days, came off his line but failed to claim the ball.

The visitors, who also had another former Leamington player in their starting line-up in Ben Usher, settled into the game after the opening exchanges and began to see more of the ball, but it was the home side who were creating the chances.

With a quarter of an hour played, Gibson saved Richard Batchelor’s header and the follow-up from Craig Owen was also blocked before Jacob Blyth blasted another effort high over the bar.

The youngster was involved again as his intelligent knock-down saw Batchelor lash in a stinging volley that Gibson did well to hold on to.

Leamington made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute. David Kolodynski weaved towards the penalty area before slipping a neat pass in for Batchelor, who cut through the Boldmere defence and lifted the ball over Gibson and into the net.

Kolodynski cut a frustrated figure after seeing two penalty shouts ignored by the match officials and Tony Breeden had his first shot to save when he fielded a long-range effort from Simeon Tulloch.

Brakes really should have doubled their advantage when James Mace exchanged passes with Owen on the right and played in a cross to the back post, but James Husband could only head wide of a gaping net.

Breeden got down to save a low drive from Tom Overfield before half-time, but Brakes continued to carve out chances to extend their lead.

Batchelor almost got on the scoresheet again early in the second half, but his header was cleared off the line and behind by Andrew Lewis.

From the corner, another effort from Kolodynski was also cleared away from the line.

Alex Taylor replaced Husband just past the hour-mark and quickly made an impact, darting into the penalty area and winning a penalty after Boldmere skipper Neil Watkins hauled him to the ground. Blyth stepped up and smashed the spot kick home.

Daly saw a header saved by Chris Gibson before a flurry of goals in the last ten minutes.

Kolodynski opened his account in the 83rd minute, robbing a defender before taking the ball around Gibson and slotting into an empty net.

Three minutes later, Taylor showed great perseverance to force his way into the penalty area and delivered an inch-perfect cross which Kolodynski touched in from almost on the goalline.

The striker was claiming a hat- trick in the final minute, but Sam Adkins’ first-time drive from the edge of the box was credited to the substitute, despite Kolodynski appearing to get the faintest of touches.

Kolodynski almost did grab a third when he was just beaten to Tom Berwick’s pass by Gibson, who clattered into him after clearing the ball, but by that stage the result was a foregone conclusion.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, James Mace, Michael Tuohy, Lee Downes, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Craig Owen, James Husband (Alex Taylor, 62), Jacob Blyth (Tom Berwick, 75), David Kolodynski, Richard Batchelor (Sam Adkins, 85). Subs not used: Lee Williams, Dior Angus, Stephan Morley, Scott Lycett.

Boldmere St Michaels: Chris Gibson, Lyndon Weller, Ben Ushe (Jozef Jakab, 70), Tom Stevenson, Neil Watkins, Andrew Lewis, Simeon Tulloch (Stuart Capaldi, 60), Joseph Smith, Tom Overfield, Kirk Smith, Keiran Robinson (Matthew Hawker, 46). Subs not used: Sean Butler, Leon Weller, Stuart Grosvenor.