Jimmy Knox tried to remain calm and carry on after a series of setbacks in September 1975. Nevertheless, he ‘was an angry and disappointed man as he watched his side tumble to their first defeat of the season’ losing 1-2 at home to Merthyr Tydfil. ‘And although Merthyr deserved full credit for their talented, positive display, it is hard to argue with Knox’s caustic summary: “We made it easy for them.”
Brakes were subdued and sluggish, especially in midfield
where Micky Boot never got going and Bobby Horne was unable to repeat the form
he showed in the home cup leg against Witney last week. The strikers were thus denied a good service
– and they seldom looked capable of carving their own openings. Mick Keeley was caught in possession far too
often; Adrian Stewart produced his usual admirable work rate, but failed to put
away two good chances; and Ivor Talbot scored one superb goal but also fell
well short of his true potential.
One has to look to the back four for any AP heroes. And here at least there was rich consolation
for Knox in the splendid displays of Roger Brown and Tony Bowden. The two big stoppers have already forged a
fine understanding, and but for them, Brakes would have been completely
swamped. Brown missed nothing in the
air, Bowden’s covering was first class, and they showed the heart and
commitment that was in such short supply among their colleagues.’
Brakes went ahead in the 20th minute, but
‘Merthyr, who showed a refreshing willingness to attack throughout the game,
finally claimed their deserved equaliser three minutes before half time.’ Sullivan put Merthyr ahead with ‘a glorious
drive into the corner. Bowden came
closest to snatching a point, weaving past four men before he was finally
blocked.’
Brakes then suffered a 3-1 Southern League cup defeat at
Witney Town meaning that they won 5-3 on aggregate. ‘This depressing result aroused all the
predictable emotions in the AP camp – anger, sadness, frustration. But the overriding reaction was sheer
disbelief. It is certainly hard to explain
Brakes’ defeat.
For whatever the scoreline suggests, the better side did not
win. Witney again looked a very limited
outfit. They were crude at the back,
unimaginative in midfield, and merely hard working up front. But the Oxfordshire side boast two priceless
assets that earned them a flatteringly high league position last term and
proved too much for the cup holders this season. Their noisy enthusiastic supporters kept them
alive in the first half when AP were threatening to run riot. And in the last ten minutes, they produced
too brilliant goals from out of the blue.
As in the Windmill first leg last week, the goals were in complete
contrast to the general quality of Witney’s play. But they made all the difference, and
provided Brakes with a painful lesson – skilful approach play means nothing if
it is not coupled with positive finishing.’
After Brakes hit the post, Witney went ahead and ‘instantly
fell back on their Windmill tactics, blithely booting the ball out of the
ground at every opportunity. Stokes was
lucky to stay on the field when he cut down Talbot just outside the box. Brakes were robbed of a virtually certain
equaliser.’ Witney then went 3-1 ahead
with ‘a great goal. But it chalked up a
final score that was nothing less than a sick joke.’ Worse was to come.
