By Roger Vincent

Able Eden Canes Nuns

Leamington: Dale Bedford, Harj Dhesi, Will Payne, Tom Sidwell, Ian Billington, Nick Mort, Darren Timms, Jonny Burgess, Steve Thompson, Brian Agar, Paul Eden
Subs: Barry Shearsby, Kevin Ariss, Neale Perry, Glen Webb, Guy Rippon, Josh Blake, Benson Miyoba

High-flying Conference outfit Nuneaton Borough fielded 6 first-team players and 3 Dr Marten's for the 1st leg of a new competition instigated by Dave Draper who provided the trophy. Appropriately called LIT (the Leamington Invitation Trophy), this was the first leg with the 2nd leg planned to be the first match at Leamington under Brakes' new lights when the New Windmill Ground will be lit up and, hopefully, Brakes will be up for the LIT.

Nuneaton took the lead through 1st team striker, Richard Leadbeater but Darren Timms replied with a lob over £15,000 goalkeeper Ryan Young after a superb flick by the influential Paul Eden. With Eden demonstrating his silky skills and attaining more match-fitness with every game this was a magnificent performance by the "man of the match" before a good, vocal crowd and can only augur well for Brakes who, many thought, would struggle against the Borough.

But the best was still to come as Paul Eden tormented the Borough defence and was brought down. Harj Dhesi rattled in an unstoppable free kick to win the match and cap a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Also pleasing is that Brakes managed to give the whole, available squad at least half a game with Atherstone goalie, Dale Bedford, standing in for the injured Morris. New signing, Tom Sidwell, also started.