Fearless youngsters help put Brakes back on the victory trail

Paul Holleran and Stephan Morley celebrate at Workington.

A dramatic injury-time strike from Ricky Johnson earned Brakes a deserved 2-1 Skrill North win at Workington on Saturday and they followed it up with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Causeway United in the Birmingham Senior Cup.

James Fry, Jake Heath and Will Green all played significant roles in the victory at Borough Park and Holleran said they and recent acquisitions Josh Hawker and Luke Connolly have lifted the mood around the New Windmill.

“The squad has a lot more of an athletic look to it,” said Holleran. “The youngsters haven’t got the know-how or the experience but they’ve got a rawness and they don’t care who they are playing against and the older players like having them around.

“They’ve all added a bit of something.

“Jake Heath was fantastic on Tuesday night - he’s a great young pro - and Will Green has twice come off the bench and set up goals.

“And they’ve all taken Leamington to heart, with James Fry travelling through to Leamington on Tuesday night to watch the team even though he couldn’t play.”

The FA Cup exit at the hands of Solihull Moors means a blank Saturday for Brakes tomorrow, but Holleran said that is not such a bad thing.

“Hopefully by the time Stalybridge comes around we’ll have Craig Owen, Stefan Moore and Josh Green back fit and, on the back of two wins, everyone will be more buoyant.”