Mackey withdrawal adds to Brakes’ injury worries

With Paul Holleran’s squad already resembling the walking wounded, there was more bad news for Brakes as they played out a draw on the newly laid 3G pitch at Coles Lane, writes Paul Edwards.

Ben Mackey sprained his ankle and had to be substituted with barely ten minutes played, providing a further blow to the striking options with Jacob Blyth already sidelined.

Jamie Hood and Scott Lycett still remain out of action, while Stephan Morley, Alex Taylor and Lee Downes were not risked at Sutton, having picked up knocks.

It got so bad on Saturday that players who were substituted were sent back on later in the game to give others a breather.

The synthetic surface will surely provide Sutton with a good foundation to launch a promotion challenge in the Evostik Northern League Division One South this season.

That said, Brakes settled down after a shaky start and proved equally adept at zipping the ball around in sweltering conditions.

In the early exchanges, Tony Breeden was almost caught out by a long-range effort from Danny Lennon but recovered to palm the ball away at the expense of a corner.

Another strike from Sutton’s recent signing from Evesham United bounced and struck a post, with the same player putting the rebound wide.

Leamington began to find their way back into the game and a dangerous ball in from the left by Tom Bates was headed wide by Michael Tuohy.

Tom Berwick then surged forward and drove a shot across the face of goal.

The hosts took the lead in the 37th minute, Craig Marshall made some space to head a right-wing cross past Breeden.

Sutton keeper Niall Cooper was forced into action at the other end when he pushed a fierce free-kick from Bates over the bar, but he could do little about the equalising goal on the stroke of half-time.

A left-wing corner found its way to Liam Daly at the back post, who steered his header in off the woodwork.

The game was being played at a reasonable pace despite the hot conditions and continued in the same vein after the break.

Tuohy headed wide from a James Husband cross and Marshall latched on to a huge kick from his keeper to stab a first-time effort wide at the other end.

Daly sent an acrobatic effort over the bar and a lengthy passing movement through the Sutton half ended with Bates curving an effort just wide.

Sutton Coldfield: Nial Cooper, Nicky Dodd, Matt Jackson, Phil Male, Zac Costello, Ross Miller, Matt Dodd, Jon Jones, Craig Marshall, Danny Lennon, Jimmy Quiggan. Substitutes: Stuart McNaught, Chris Milner, Warren Booke, Karl Johnson, Josh Palmanto, Ben Lund, Andy Ling.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, Michael Tuohy, James Husband, Craig Owen, Kyle Cartwright, Liam Daly, Fazel Koriya (Tom Bates, 66), Jamie Sheldon (Fazel Koriya, 78), Tom Berwick, Ben Mackey (James Mace, 7), Tom Bates (Richard Batchelor, 52). Subs not used: Alex Taylor, Lee Downes.