Festive season does not stop Brakes progress

There were concerns about whether the players might over indulge during the festive season.  However, their performance away at Lord Street, this time in the league, allayed any concerns: ‘Judging by the way the Town forwards and halves rushed about, they must have rigidly eschewed the various good things with which we generally overburden our digestive organs at this period of the year.  Whether the Leamington team’s obvious superiority was due to their absteimousness this festive season I do not know.  At any event we know that boys will be boys, especially Coventry “bhoys”.  ‘Nuff said.

’The next fixture was at home to Cradley Heath in the Birmingham Junior Cup.  They were seen as being formidable opponents, having lost only one game in their league all season and having knocked out a team that won the cup twice in an earlier round.  Town started to kick towards the Municipal School end and ‘it was one of the toughest struggles we have seen at Leamington this season. 

It was not a brilliant or scientific game by any means.  What was the point of trying to do clever things with a ball that rarely bounced, and utterly failed to respond to those delicate touches necessary for good dribbling?’    The score was 0-0 at half time, but in the second half Town ‘had the better end for shooting’ and their star striker Gathercole pounced to make it 1-0.

Then disaster struck.   The outside right for Cradley had a violent collision with Jonas and broke his left leg.   An immediate collection was taken for him and raised £3-12-6d which was made up to £4 by Town players.  (Nearly £500 at 2021 prices).   However, Cradley then refused to continue playing and the match had to be abandoned, to the considerable annoyance of the large crowd of spectators.    The referee insisted that he had nothing to do with the decision. 

Cradley refused to concede the fixture and it had to be played again.  In the first half Leamington provided ‘a lot of clever passing’ and Gardner dribbled well. He might have scored if he had shown ‘more energy and dash’.   However, both goalkeepers were on top form and there was little to choose between the two teams with the half ending goalless.    

The crowd, however, remained quietly confident, knowing that Town were ‘great stayers’ and generally put in a better second half performance.    ‘Leamington gradually asserted their superiority after the interval and the ball was kept well within the visitors’ territory. 

 Town’s superior fitness levels decided the day with them winning 2-0.  ‘Cradley were played almost to a standstill at the end of the game and the poor backs had hardly a kick left in them.   The Town players, on the one hand, showed splendid stamina, keeping up the same fast pace throughout the game.’