House of horrors at Harbury Lane

Brakes ended up with nine men and went down 3-5 at home at the New Windmill Ground to Didcot Town in a crazy match that suggested that suggested 'Touch the Clown' had stopped 'doing his stuff' (as the announcer put it) in the clubhouse and arrived on the pitch, most likely as the referee who had a bizarre game. Both teams saw players score hat tricks, Bello for the Brakes.

On 16 minutes Bello put the Brakes 1-0 ahead after he connected with a neat cross from Luke Corbett to head the ball in the back of the net. Brakes then had two more chances to go ahead. Brakes burst through, but the Didcot goalkeeper svaed at the near post. Then a looping shot that left the keeper stranded was cleared off the line by a defender.

With the linesman flagging for a Didcot handball, the visitors equalised on 23 minutes. Kiely saved well from a shot following a corner, but the ball fell well for the visitors and they went ahead on 27 minutes. This sent the opposition supporters behind me into screams of 'Diddy' which throws light on my eldest granddaughter's question who was puzzled why there was no segregation when she went to watch the egg chasers last week.

On 39 minutes Didcot went 3-1 ahead, another intervention from the Sheepside lino being ignored by the referee.

Half time: Brakes 1, Railwaymen 3

Brakes made a storming start to the second half and on 51 minutes Bello made it 2-3 with a decisive shot from a free kick. On 62 minutes he secured his hat trick and made it 3-3.

The referee then sent off new player Dale Peckham for bringing down a player with a goal scoring opportunity. Bizarrely, he awarded a free kick rather than a penalty which came off the wall. Brakes fought strongly but Didcot were able to make it 4-3 from a one on one with the keeper.

Brakes hit the post, but Didcot went two goals ahead. Jacko was then sent off for a second yellow in an incident in which a Didcot player was also booked. Although Brakes were still in the game, all hope was effectively lost.

Brakes went down 4-3 in a cup match midweek and once again this match emphasised their defensive frailities. Chris Kiely punches the ball out when he should catch it.