New-boy Taylor enjoys 
the perfect introduction

PAUl Holleran said before Saturday’s game that when you are on a roll, you must keep it going as long as possible. He might equally have said that while the footballing gods are on your side, you should enjoy it as long as you can.

For the majority of this game, it had looked as though Brakes would live to regret the passing up of a first-minute chance for Matt Lewis, which saw the striker round Evesham keeper Nathan Vaughan but fail to beat the defender on the line.

However, in the 77th minute, just three minutes after Holleran had introduced Luke Corbett, Brakes’ prolific frontman combined with fellow substitute Alex Taylor to score the single goal which always looked like winning this clash.

Holleran was quick to point out the wisdom of his substitutions, and, after leading Brakes to their sixth successive league win, he has every reason to be smiling.

The grin was temporarily wiped from his face when Richard Batchelor was sent off in injury time for a reckless lunge, paying the price for a needless first-half booking for dissent.

But, even when Evesham’s Neil Barnfield beat Tony Breeden with a 93rd-minute strike from the edge of the box, Brakes’ good fortune remained, with the crossbar preserving their slender lead.

A point would have flattered the visitors, who failed to force a save out of Bredden until the 90th minute.

That they failed to test Brakes’ keeper was largely down to a faultless display in the centre of defence from Jamie Hood, with the defender coping admirably with Evesham’s little and large partnership of Leo Brown and Dean Lee.

At the other end, the industrious James Rowe was unlucky to be denied a penalty after what appeared like a handball from Barnfield, while Batchelor wasted two good scoring opportunities, the second after a fine through ball from Lewis.

A Lewis overhead went just the wrong side of the post, while Corbett was woefully off target with his first touch, a free-kick from the edge of the box.

However, he would make no mistake with his second, blasting home from close range after debutant Taylor had robbed Danny Hodnett to keep the Brakes bandwagon rolling.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, Scott Lycett, Stephan Morley, Lee Downes, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Marcus Jackson, James Husband (Alex Taylor, 69), Matt Lewis (Luke Corbett, 74), James Rowe (Alex Cowley, 89), Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Craig Wilding, Guy Sanders.

Evesham: Nathan Vaughan, Anthony Watson, Josh Quaynor (Jamie Sheldon, 88), Danny Hodnett, Steve Luckett, Jamie Hyde, Allando Davis, Neil Barnfield, Leo Brown (Sam Mensah, 62), Danny Scheppel, Dean Lea (Justin Nisbett, 70). Subs not used: Simon Fitter, Zac Costello.