By Roger Vincent

Shearsby Gets Scoring Habit as North's Endeavours Go West

A vociferous crowd of 320, mostly Leamington, helped Brakes overcome Barrow Town 1-0 in this FA Vase Qualifying Round 2 through a powerful header from Shearsby in the 58th minute. Both sides had their chances in an equal contest with Day and Walker outstanding for Brakes in defence, Adams covering every part of the pitch and 19-year old Jerome North causing all sorts of problems in the Barrow attack. It was a hot, late summer's day in pleasant surroundings as victorious Brakes' fans sang "we're not going home" and pondered their return to the national stage with entry to the FA Vase R1 proper.

Leamington goalkeeper Day showed early form as Barrow wing-back, no. 11 Jerome North, threatened Brakes' goal with some scintillating runs. However, Walker was a commanding figure at the heart of Brakes' defence and with Sidwell and Gregory also in good form the Brakes defence nullified the Barrow threat. Timms headed over twice, in the 10th from Thompson's corner then again after good work by Adams, Hammond and Shearsby.

Adams continued his current rich vein of form and again combined well with Hammond in the 14th minute to release Nicholls whose cross-shot was just wide of the far post. Five minutes later he drove powerfully on goal after a free kick was pushed out to him by Thompson only to see the ball deflected for a corner. Sustained Brakes' pressure resulted in a series of shots being scrambled away in the 20th but in an even game Barrow broke away and only the impressive Sidwell kept Town out when he blocked a goal-bound shot.

Barrow were clean through again in the 23rd but this time Day stood up well and thwarted the effort. In the 37th a rare defensive error by Brakes left another Barrow player in a one on one with Day but he lobbed it high and wide. The half ended with both Timms and Adams going close and Hammond, increasingly effective, imposing himself on the game.

Thompson and Hammond created an early chance for Brakes in the second half before they took the lead. Hammond took a corner from the left whipping in a curving cross which Shearsby met superbly with his head in the 58th to make it 1-0 with his 3rd successive scoring Saturday. Two defenders on the line failed to keep it out. With Barrow's heads briefly dropping Brakes had a period of ascendancy and Adams made several forays to the goal-line pulling the ball back into the danger area.

But Gregory was forced into a goal-line clearance in the 65th from the ever-dangerous North. As the game swung back and forth both Webb and Adams went close but North brought the best out of Day with a diving save in the 77th and again in the 81st to keep Brakes in front. Mort and the not fully fit Blake came on late and the game ended with Brakes getting on top again as Adams and Webb had further chances.

The fans milled around in the still hot sun discussing possible next-round opponents with entry to the 1st round proper which is not on a regional basis. Some reminisced on previous occasions when they had travelled far afield to watch the Brakes and how pleasant it might be to stay overnight at some distant watering-hole; but, as some kill-joy pointed out, we might get drawn against Rugby Town who also won 1-0.

Correction Mon. 23 Sep: Apologies, apparently the FA Vase is regional up to and including R3. R1 (1st round proper) draw today has Brakes away to Derbyshire, Northern Counties East Division 1, outfit Mickleover Sports on 19 October; Rugby Town are away to Alvechurch.

Leamington: Myles Day, Ben Adams, Simon Walker, Tom Sidwell, Andy Gregory, Chris Hammond, (Nick Mort 78), Glen Webb, Barry Shearsby (Josh Blake 82), Darren Timms, Paul Nicholls, Steve Thompson [Capt.]
Subs Not Used: Jonny Burgess, Chris Hanrahan, Jag Bahi

Team News: Brian Agar on holiday; Mark Rowland last week of suspension