Chilton screamer makes for a happy holiday

Brakes completed their bank holiday fixtures with a fine win over North Warwickshire rivals Bedworth United, writes Paul Edwards.

Strikes from Tom Berwick and Lee Moore sandwiched an early contender for goal of the season from Lee Chilton and put the seal on another accomplished display by Paul Holleran’s side.

The hosts make a lively start and Jamie Hood was cautioned early on for a challenge that provoked the ire of the home fans on the bar side of the ground.

Matt Dodd continued where he left off from Saturday, darting between two defenders in the box to set up Tom Berwick, who side-footed wide under pressure from keeper Andy Kemp and a covering defender.

Bedworth then went close to taking the lead. Andy Spencer’s stinging drive was only parried by Kevin Sawyer, but fortunately for the Brakes keeper, Hood was in the right place to head the ball to safety.

Hood made his presence felt at the opposite end in the 22nd minute,, powering a header towards goal from Lee Moore’s corner, with Tom Berwick making completely sure on the goalline to poach his third of the season.

The goal allowed Leamington to assert control of proceedings and Kemp made a fine instinctive save from Berwick’s flicked header, while Chilton scrambled a shot wide at the far post minutes later.

Berwick was making a real nuisance of himself and came close again when a smart turn and volley was beaten away by Kemp.

In contrast it took almost 35 minutes for former Brakes striker David Kolodynski to get a sniff of goal. To his credit he did well to hold on to the ball inside the penalty area and evade a couple of chances before being crowded out.

Berwick almost capitalised on a defensive clearance that ricocheted back into his path, but fired his shot over the bar.

The second goal was not long in coming, though, and it arrived at a pivotal moment just before the interval.

Chilton responded to taunts from the home support when he had lost possession in the previous attack by picking up the ball some 30 yards from goal and advancing before unleashing a rocket of a shot that swerved viciously as it flew into the net.

Bedworth manager Steve Farmer reacted to the two-goal deficit by sending his side out well in advance of kick-off for the second half, but the goal clearly galvanised Chilton, who made a superb challenge on Ashley Spencer as the midfielder set off at speed towards the Leamington goal.

Kolodynski then drove high and wide from outside the box.

Bedworth were restricting Brakes without making much headway of their own, but they were caught out again in the 68th minute when a swift attack caused chaos in the penalty area.

Not for the first time in the game, Kemp was unable to keep hold of the ball and Lee Moore rolled it into the net from six yards for his second goal in as many games.

Moore had a low drive held at the near post by Kemp soon afterwards, while Loyiso Recci headed wide from a corner for Bedworth, but Brakes were able to see the game through to the final whistle with relative ease.

Bedworth United: Andy Kemp, Alex Dean (Chris Tullin, 70), Richard Wesley, Loyiso Recci, Melvyn Gourlay, Sam Belcher, Andy Spencer (Aaron Donaldson, 57), Ashley Spencer, David Kolodynski, Mitchell Piggon, Tom Byrne (Luke Keen, 57). Subs not used: Nathan Haines, Matthew Bannister.

Brakes: Kevin Sawyer, James Mace, Lee Chilton, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Matt Dodd (Craig Owen, 83), James Husband, Tom Berwick (Sam Adkins, 89), Lee Moore (14 Alex Taylor, 79), Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Michael Quirke, Stephan Morley.

 Brakes entertain a Cambridge City side tomorrow who will be looking for a response after a 5-0 mauling against St Neots on Monday.

Stephan Morley is pushing for a recall after making the bench against Bedworth, but Paul Holleran admits he is loathe to tinker with a winning side.

“It’s important we keep the momentum going,” said Holleran. “It was men against boys on Monday.”