(Ed. Kings Heath changed their name to Castle Vale Kings Heath midway through the season)

By David Hucker

Birthday Boy Baz Bags Brace for Brakes

Leamington comfortably despatched Kings Heath at Alvechurch's Lye Meadow ground to register their sixth win in seven matches and keep tabs on leaders Rugby Town. A goal up at half-time through a Beckham-style free kick from skipper Steve Thompson, Brakes piled on the pressure in the second half to score three more, including two from "birthday boy" Baz Shearsby. A harsh-looking penalty decision provided Kings Heath with their only reply.

Goalkeeper Myles Day was called upon to make two saves in the opening six minutes but the first half was very much one for the visitors. An Andy Gregory pass saw Paul Nicholls in the clear on 16 minutes, but his shot went over the bar. Two minutes later, a long-range effort from Glen Webb bounced off Kings Heath 'keeper David Hancocks, but there was nobody on hand to follow up. Then, in the twenty-sixth minute, a foul on Brian Agar gave Brakes a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. In what was a clearly well-rehearsed move, the wall parted sufficiently to give Steve Thompson a sight of goal and his strike curled into the top right-hand corner beyond Hancocks.

Two minutes into the second half, Baz Shearsby doubled the lead with a shot low into the corner and five minutes later an own goal by Adam Kitson made it 3-0 to the visitors. Just when it seemed that Leamington had wrapped up the match, the referee adjudged Andy Gregory to have committed a foul in the penalty area and Mike Burton sent his spot-kick wide of Day's outstretched hand. This was the second match in a row that Brakes have had a seemingly harsh decision given against them but, to the credit of the players, they took it on the chin and bounced back to score a fourth goal in the fifty-eighth minute. A Thompson corner was flicked on by Webb to Shearsby who volleyed home to the delight of the Brakes' supporters who again made up the majority of the crowd of 151.

Chris Hanranhan almost capped an impressive debut with a goal on 90 minutes, but his long-range shot went just over the bar. Despite some colourful language form the home bench (when will match officials clamp down on this?), overall Kings Heath were never able to raise their game sufficiently to trouble a Leamington side that has quickly settled into the higher grade.

The only downside for the visiting fans was again the cost of entry, which at £3 plus a further £1 for the programme is rapidly becoming the norm when Brakes play away. Kings Heath did at least let children in free, but one wonders how much (if anything) clubs normally charge above the League minimum of £2.

Joint-manager Barry Proctor was understandably pleased with the result. "We went at them from the beginning and overall it was a good team performance. It was great to see the midfield players on the scoresheet and Chris Hanrahan had a good debut. It was nice to be able to relax a bit on the bench for a change".

Leamington: Myles Day, Ben Adams, Simon Walker (Jonny Burgess 61), Tom Sidwell, Andy Gregory, Glen Webb, Baz Shearsby (Darren Timms 73), Chris Hanrahan, Brian Agar (Jag Bahi 68), Paul Nicholls, Steve Thompson [Capt.]

Team News: Nick Mort was unwell; Chris Hammond had to work on a study detail; Mark Rowland on 1 week's holiday then suspended the following week; Benson Miyoba has had his foot operation and starting recovery; Harj Dhesi still has poisoned wrist; Simon Walker came off after feeling a calf strain; Josh Blake not fully fit.