Midland Fllodlit League Cup 2nd Round
Phillips 66 Community Stadium
Wednesday 25th October 2017

Young Brakes suffered a rare defeat at the hands of a workman like Gloucester City youth team in the second round of the Midland Floodlit League Cup at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium.

With the pitch looking respledant on a surprisingly calm evening following the recent gales and with both sides being depleted due to the half term break, the game began with Brakes kicking toward the Harbury Lane End.

Gloucester, in their white away kit were first to show as early as the 4th minute as their giant number 9 Oridia Ochigia burst through the Brakes defence only to shoot tamely when well placed. Quartermaine and Nicholson fired in shots themselves from distance for the Brakes but were well off target.

A first time effort from Patryck Swiercz produced a confident save from the Tigers keeper following good work down the left flank from Quartermaine.
On 13 minutes the talented Cam Willes rounded his marker and placed a neat finish past the Brakes keeper. 1-0 City.

A minute later it was almost two as Ochigia burst through on the right forcing a good save from Kollie only for the deflection to fall into the path of City's no 6 who fired wide.

However The Brakes whose style of play was being hampered by a well drilled Gloucester midfield that was closing down quickly and catching Brakes in possession came back with a neat five man move which produced a confident save from Winman in the City goal.

On 34 minutes Ochigia burst through the Brakes defence outpacing his marker to place the ball past the stranded keeper. 2-0 City.

The half came to a close with Swiercz ,missing his goal scoring partner, Winiarski ,going on a run across the box culminating in another confident save from Winman.
Half time: Leamington 0 Gloucester 2.

A free kick was awarded to Brakes and it was played into the 6 yard box at the North Bank end only for the City stopper to take safely under the post whilst under pressure. Another good run from Quatermaine set up Shay Nicholson who misplaced his final pass to Zefi who was closing in on goal. Brakes Luke Dodd was spoken to by Referee Nick Metcalf following a proffesional foul on Obi who had jinked past two players and was through on goal.

Swiercz made another of his characteristic across the box runs to test the City keeper and Shay Nicholson sent in a superb cross that needed just the faintest touch to beat the on rushing keeper, eluding Zefi by a hairs breadth. It was better football from the hosts who had struggled to get their normal flowing game together mainly due to the excellent work of the Gloucester number 8 who was playing some fabulous balls for the speedy substitute wingers to chase in the last quater of the game.
Brakes keeper ,who's handling and distribution of the ball had been excellent all night was called upon to make two good saves as Brakes chased the game with time running out.

Conner Burke missed a good chance to pull one back firing his effort past the upright on 78 minutes.But 2 minutes later Swiercz was rewarded for his nights work when pulling a goal back ,first beating 2 defenders and then firing in a shot which deflected off a defender and trickled across the line. 1-2 .

Shay Nicholson, who had been shooting at long distances to no avail all night unleashed two such efforts in 2 minutes, both going aganisingly close. However,with Brakes pushing on Gloucester were holding onto the ball and Dodd received a yellow card from the referee for lunging in in frustration to get possession of the ball in the dying seconds.

Full time Brakes 1 Gloucester 2.

Keith Hancock