Gary Ingram's young Brakes turned in a devastating display of attacking football to run out 8-0 winners over a shell shocked Hinckley AFC Youth team who were playing their first competitive fixture, at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium on the opening day of the 2017/18 campaign, writes Keith Hancock.

Kicking off towards the Harbury Lane End Leamington indicated their intent as early as the 4th minute with the impressive Hamed Al- Amin finishing a jinking run with a blistering shot from a tight angle which the keeper did well to hold onto low at the near post. But on 6 minutes AFC's Matt Jelfs missed a golden chance to put his side ahead when he missed a header when unmarked in the box following a cross from wide on the right.

The referee Ian Croston had to intervene as handbags broke out near the dugouts following a tough challenge from a Leamington player. Both players escaped with a stern verbal warning on this occasion. Jack Winiarski's persistence and pace down the middle was causing problems for the Hinckley defence and a perfect pass set up debutant Patrick Swiercz who shot weakly with just the keeper to beat. It was another debutant who broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when Ross Quatermaine unleashed a super drive from the edge of the box following superb work from Al-Amin laying off a cross from the right wing, giving the keeper no chance.

Brakes were using the right flank to good avail and a good cross found Winiarski on the edge of the box to send a shot fizzing over the bar. Leamington were playing some fluid football at this stage and Al-Amin and Swiercz both went close on several occasions as young Brakes looked to extend their lead.

Brakes' Luke Dodd gave away a needless corner with a 35 yard back pass but the keeper made a confident save from the resultant corner. Hinckleys keeper was then immediately called upon at the other end to tip a blistering shot from the impressive Quatermaine onto the bar. AFC then went straight up the other end with a fine counter move when Jelfs sent in a fine cross to pick out the unmarked Jacob Searson who fired weakly when well placed in front of goal. A fine pass from midfield behind the defence saw Winiarski out pace the Hinckley fullback to make it 2-0 with a well placed finish. Straight from the restart Al-Amin latched onto a long ball from midfield to place a shot past a stunned Hinckley keeper for 3-0, and on the stroke of half time Al-Amin was there again unleashing a blistering shot to make it 4-0 at half time.

Such was the enthusiasum of the Brakes side that they came out 5 minutes early from the break to do a warm up routine in front of the dugouts! On 49 minutes Jack Winiarski evaded 2 tackles in a crowded box for his hat trick to make it 5-0 with a confident finish from 8 yards.
On 56 mins a delightful bit of football from Quatermaine found full back Will Evans wide on the left who played a super cross into the box for Winarski to send in a bullet header that the keeper did well to save under his crossbar. It was refreshing to see players running out of defence with the ball and getting the ball into the opponents penalty area and Brakes number 5 Luke Dodd made a sparkling 40 yard run only to be upended on the edge of the Hinckley box.The resultant free kick was squandered high and wide. On 68 the lively Patrick Swiercz was hauled down in the area for a penalty which Jack Winiarski gleefully accepted for his fourth of the night to make it 6-0, the keeper saved the penalty but Jack followed up to bury the rebound.

Hinckley responded with an attack from the restart as Searson evaded two strong tackles to fire in a shot which keeper Hopkinson confidently dealt with.

It was man of the match Winiarski again who finished a move with another unstoppable shot for his 5th on the night to make it 7-0. Three minutes later the luckless Hinckley skipper Callum White deflected a cross into his own net to wrap it up at 8-0 for the Brakes. In the final few minutes of the game the Brakes defence were called upon to keep the clean sheet as Hinckley forced a corner and the ball ping ponged around the area before it was cleared and the referee blew the final whistle to round off a great performance from the young Brakes. There were some excellent performances and it bodes well for the lads but there will be stiffer opposition to come.

Leamington: Kavan Hopkinson, Nathan Howell, William Evans, Ross Quartermaine, Luke Dodd, Jay Morgan, George Ingram, Adam Peepall, Jack Winiarski, Hamed Al Amin, Patryck Swiercz.

Substitutes: Bradley Owen, Lewis Annals, Marcus Miles, William Jarrett.