Hat-trick hero Berwick strikes fear into Terras

A Tom Berwick hat-trick gave Brakes their second successive league win on Saturday.

However, the game was much closer than the scoreline suggests, with the outcome hanging in the balance until Stephan Morley fired home Brakes’ third in the 86th minute.

The home side made one change from the one that beat Arlesey, with Michael Tuohy coming in for Alex Taylor, who dropped to the bench.

After an impeccably observed minute’s silence for former Brake Roger Brown, the home support had to wait until the seventh minute for the first goalmouth action.

Liam Daly met Morley’s corner with a firm header which was well claimed by Terras keeper Nick Jordan and play quickly transferred to the opposite end where Tony Breeden comfortably held on to a Warren Byrely effort.

A congested midfield was making it difficult for either side to gain the upper hand, but just after the quarter-hour, Leamington took the lead.

Morley’s long ball out of defence was headed down by Richard Batchelor to Berwick, who cushioned the ball on his thigh before steering it past Jordan.

Less than 60 seconds later, Brakes were 2-0 up and the same three players were again involved.

Morley cut infield and fed Batchelor, who glided past his marker before laying the ball through to Berwick, who drove home from the edge of the box.

The two-goal cushion should have been the cue for Brakes to take the sting out of the game, but they were caught napping just three minutes later when Weymouth were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out.

The ball was played short to Stephen Reed and, with no one closing him down, he was able to pick his spot just inside the far post, with Breeden’s right hand only helping it into the corner.

The flurry of goals led to both teams tightening up defensively and there was little for either keeper to do for the rest of the half.

In fact, the next serious effort on goal was not until the 53rd minute, when Tuohy did well to keep the ball in play on the right flank before cutting into the box and dragging his shot past the near post.

Weymouth enjoyed spells of pressure, but rarely threatened, with Rob Wolleaston’s deflected effort, which narrowly cleared the bar, the nearest they came to restoring parity.

Any fears of an nerve-shredding finale for the home fans, however, were allayed with four minutes remaining when, following a bout of pinball in the box, Morley stepped up to drive the loose ball into the net.

As the game entered injury time, Berwick added gloss to the scoreline with another well-taken goal.

Following a spell of keep-ball in the corner, the ball was worked to the young striker, who turned his defender in the box before flicking the ball past the advancing Jordan.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Lee Downes (Craig Owen, 27), Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Michael Tuohy, James Husband (Alex Taylor, 67), Jacob Blyth (Jamie Sheldon, 87), Tom Berwick, Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Kyle Cartwright, Lee Williams.

Weymouth: Nick Jordan, Thomas Lang, Lewis Tasker, Byron Napper, Tim Stephenson, Sam Poole, Ryan McKechnie (Kyle Bassett, 76), Rob Wolleaston, Matt Groves, Warren Byerley, Stephen Reed. Subs not used: Scott Dixon, Mitch Conning, Brendan King, Tom Manley.