Report

By Max Passantino 

Brakes ended a great season with a memorable victory at the St Andrews home of Birmingham City in the Final of the Birmingham Senior Cup.

Paul Holleran had to draft in Joe Magunda, James Bowen and Anthony Dwyer from their dual registration deals as they made the bench up along with Ben Newey and youngster Connor Carson.

The first action to mention in a cagey first half was on the 15 minute mark, as Callum Gittings made some space for himself about 25 yards out, but leant back whilst taking the shot and it sailed over the bar.

10 minutes later it was time for the first Nuneaton attack, but Tony Breeden easily caught Taylor Allen’s cross, this was followed by another Borough cross, that somehow managed to go through everyone in the box and Leamington cleared up the pitch to ensure safety following a good run by Kelly-Evans down the left hand side to get the cross in.

With neither team looking able to break the deadlock, Callum Gittings rushed through and tried to slot the ball under Cameron Belford from the edge of the box, but Belford held his shot low.

Taylor Allen was involved again for Nuneaton, as he got down the byline on the Leamington right side once again, and sent a fizzing cross into the box, which Luke Barlone agonisingly watched evade his outstretched boot in the most clear cut chance for Nuneaton in the first half.

Straight after the restart, Colby Bishop looked like he was through on goal but Curtis Obeng managed to get back in time and dispossess Bishop about 10 yards from goal and pass back to his goalkeeper who was able to clear.

4 minutes later though, in the 52nd minute, the Brakes finally broke the deadlock. Junior English got down the right and played a low cross into the box, pinpointed on Colby Bishop who cooly volleyed it past Belford in the Nuneaton goal to get the Brakes off to a quick start.

Callum Gittings had another chance to get on the scoresheet on the hour mark, but his shot was agonisingly deflected over by Morrison in the Borough back line. The corner from Reece Flanagan flew straight into Belford’s hands.

5 minutes later, Nuneaton equalised as Ryan Edmunds got down the right to cross, which was missed by everyone except from the onrushing Taylor Allen who slid to bundle the ball past Tony Breeden and into the goal to cue celebrations in the Nuneaton end.

Those celebrations were still going on a minute later, as Ahmed Obeng found space in the box and shot; the initial shot hitting the post but ricocheting off the back of the Nuneaton goalkeeper and into the back of the net to make it 2-1, with two goals in the space of as many minutes.

8 minutes later, it was three; as Colby Bishop found some space for himself on the edge of the box and allowed himself to turn to have a first time strike, following Reece Flanagan’s lay off, at goal, which flew into the top corner with Belford stranded.

Brakes seemed to like the habit of scoring goals at St Andrew’s on Thursdays as Ahmed Obeng found some room on the edge of the box three minutes after Colby Bishop’s goal, and calmly curled the ball into the bottom corner of the goal - to put the game out of Nuneaton’s reach.

Brakes made two changes in the last 10 minutes of the game, Anthony Dwyer coming on for an injured Junior English, and Ahmed Obeng made way - with a standing ovation - for 18 year old Connor Carson: who had only made 2 previous Brakes appearances before the final, those being substitute appearances in the quarter final against West Brom and the semi final against Aston Villa.

Josh Lundstram had the game’s last chance mid way through the last 10 minutes, as his shot was deflected behind for a corner. From the following corner he got on the end of it, but his volley flew over into the stand behind the goal.

After three minutes of added time were up, referee Rob Daddley blew the full time whistle to cue celebrations in the Brakes end. Special congratulations to Sally Ellis, who won the Birmingham FA volunteer of the season award.

Jubilation followed as Tony Breeden alongside Jamie Hood lifted the oldest football trophy in the world to the Brakes fans who were in fine voice throughout the match. It was then time for the mastermind of Paul Holleran to raise the trophy to chants of ‘Viva Holleran’ from the Spion Kop Stand, which housed the Brakes fans.

Attendance: TBC

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English (14 Anthony Dwyer 82), Jack Lane, Joe Clarke, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Connor Taylor (15 James Bowen 76), Reece Flanagan, Colby Bishop, Callum Gittings, Ahmed Obeng (16 Connor Carson 84).

Subs not used: 12 Joe Magunda, 13 Ben Newey.

Nuneaton Borough: Cameron Belford ©, Curtis Obeng, Rhys Sharpe, Luis Morrison, Miles Addison, Lee Hildreth, Taylor Allen, Josh Lundstram, Luke Barlone, Devon Kelly-Evans, Ryan Edmunds.

Substitutes: 12 James Baxendale, 14 James Caton.

Referee: Mr Rob Dadley

Assistant Referees: Mr Joshua Hackett & Mr Darren Laska

Fourth Official: Mr Richie Watkins

Brakes Man of the Match: Colby Bishop