Brakes were hoping for better times following the appointment of Jimmy Knox as manager in March 1973. ‘Talk to Jimmy Knox on the field and you will find him soft-spoken with a realistic approach to soccer. Ask him what he wants from his players, and he’ll tell you in one word – WORK. And don’t the Lockheed players know it!
Ever since Knox took over at the Windmill four games ago, the Lockheed players have earned their money – by hard graft. They have not lost under Knox, and capped a promising fortnight with the midweek win over Borough in the Birmingham Senior Cup. And they did that by combining their skill with sheer hard running.
Says Knox: “I insist on fitness and the players are finding it out. I was pleased with the way they worked against Nuneaton, but they were feeling the effects in the closing stages. Players should come off the field knowing they have been in a match. They should work on the field, and if they do, it’s half the battle.”
Since Knox took over, Brakes
have drawn at Bury, beaten Corby and Nuneaton, and drawn at home to
Enderby. And if Tuesday’s match is
anything to go by, I am convinced the team have had almost 300 minutes of
non-stop running. For they applied
pressure on a Borough side, even though below par, should have been capable of
snatching at least a draw. In reality,
they were beaten by a stronger, better, more purposeful side.
It’s this attitude,
instilled in them by Knox, which might carry Brakes into a far higher position
in the First Division table next season.
As Knox says: “It’s no use just consolidating. We must aim to do as well as we can in every
game.” And that means a lot of hard
work in store!’
‘Jimmy Knox’s revitalised s Lockheed side tore Corby to
shreds with an impressive showing at the Windmill. Two goals clear at the interval, Brakes
played with pace and fire to put an end to Corby’s promotion hopes. It was encouraging for the new Lockheed
manager, who has seen his side take three points from two games. They ran themselves into the ground and with
a little more steadiness would have doubled their tally. Leading scorer Dennis Walker put them in
front with a fine goal against his former colleagues after 36 minutes. Walker blasted home after Barry Whitlock’s
shot had rebounded from the bar. And
four minutes later Tom Sweenie placed a fine pass in front of John Moreton to
hit the target from close range.
Lockheed remained on
top in the second half and Whitlock’s goal three minutes from the end was fully
deserved. The tall striker, drafted in
to replace Graham Jessop, took full advantage of Walker’s quick thinking and
beat Dennis Hill for a neatly taken goal.
Corby were rarely given a look in against a composed home defence and
Sweenie and the aggressive Keith Shrimpston pulled the strings in midfield to
lay the foundations for a promising success.’
‘Disappointing Lockheed boobed against Enderby – two
penalties in the last four minutes enabling the visitors to snatch a shock
point. Brakes never got going, but were
still good enough to ease into a 2-0 lead.
John Moreton rammed them in front on the half hour with a neatly taken
goal. Back-to-form striker Barry
Whitlock capped a sharp display with a well-struck goal.
Peter King conceded the first goal when ending a poor
personal display with a rash tackle and injury time brought a second penalty
when Mel Davis handled the ball.’
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