By Roger Vincent

Brakes Denied "Winner" in Tussle of the Titans

There were no goals in this tussle of the Titans but it was a totally absorbing contest between two very good, evenly matched teams watched by 771 people. Rugby had slightly more possession but Brakes had more shots on target. Brakes "scored" through Timms in the 79th when the linesman adjudged the ball to have gone over the goal-line before Adams pulled it back and Rugby, in what was not a dirty game, lost a player to two yellows in the 83rd setting up a finale where Brakes could easily have poached the game. Over the 90 minutes a draw was probably a fair result.

The match started at a manic pace with Rugby gaining more possession but Brakes breaking to more effect. Effectively the game continued like this for 90 minutes, a tribute to the fitness of both sides. And yet the player who stood out for Brakes was one of the oldest, Andy Ellis, who showed magnificent control, sprayed passes to all parts of the ground and retained possession without seemingly breaking sweat. I'll swear that, at one point, he was on both sides of the pitch at the same time.

Rugby were driving on goal in a way that would intimidate lesser sides but Brakes defence was in tremendous form. Gregory, who has quietly but assuredly become a crowd favourite, was stopping everything that came his way and he and Sidwell, at times, looked impassable. Burgess was also bringing the ball upfield at speed but the other player who, along with Ellis, must be mentioned in despatches was Adams who time and again won the ball in defence and turned play into attack with his runs up the right. He seems to have an almost intuitive understanding with Hanrahan who had an excellent game and grows in stature whenever he plays.

Despite Rugby's possession it was Nicholls who broke on goal for the first chance in the 6th and, minutes later, Ellis released Nicholls and Blake who were adjudged offside. Ellis was, again, influential when Nicholls ran on goal at a tight angle in the 14th only to bring a good save from the Rugby keeper; the ball came out to Ellis who drove a powerful shot just over from distance. As Brakes started to play the more fluid football Adams picked up the ball from a tackle won in defence in the 21st and set up a movement involving Timms, Burgess and Nicholls that deserved more.

In the 31st Brakes came their closest yet when Timms won the ball and passed it to Burgess who slipped a slide-rule pass into the path of Blake running in from the left. Blake struck the ball well but watched it slip agonisingly just past the post. Brakes were on top as the half drew to a close and Adams sprinted down the wing more than once to unsettle a nervous Rugby defence who were clearly not used to such pressure

A slight drizzle at the start of the second half with a bright sun slanting across the pitch, competing with the lights, formed a rainbow in the black sky over the North Bank. Unfortunately Brakes were kicking towards the Harbury Lane end where there was no promised crock of gold.

Brakes seemed to have conceded possession at the start of this half and were fortunate that the defence was winning every ball. Dhesi was controlling the left flank whilst Hanrahan was sparking in midfield. And when the ball came through to Day he was so competent in his handling that I almost stopped worrying when Rugby broke. Showing great bravery, all the more remarkable because of his heavily-bandaged knee, Day got down to the feet of the onrushing, Rugby attackers when they did get past the defence but, mostly, they were restricted to long-range efforts.

Ellis, who was causing increasing problems for Rugby, was roughly dealt with more than once as Rugby tried to get the ball off him. But the referee was in command throughout and nothing looked like getting out of control. With about 20 minutes left Brakes started another period of ascendancy. Then, in the 79th, there was a moment of controversy when Brakes seemed to have scored. Nicholls and Dhesi combined to release Adams who sprinted along the goal line from the right before turning the ball back to Timms who struck home. With Brakes celebrating and the referee awarding a goal the linesman flagged that Adams had crossed the line. Those behind the goal say that indeed he had but not the ball which, though shielded from the linesman by Adams' body, had stayed in play. Shades of Italy in the world-cup, I thought, though there's no real comparison of course as Brakes are much more successful.

In the 83rd minute a Rugby defender received his marching orders with a second yellow for, as far as I could see, another foul on Ellis and then kicking the ball away into the next field for the sheep to play with. It was probably a fair decision, not a dirty foul but more like frustration. However, it put Brakes in the driving-seat for the remainder of what had been a very even game. The excellent Nicholls put Blake though to see his shot charged down while Ellis split the defence with a pass that just eluded Timms before the final whistle.

Leamington: Myles Day, Jonny Burgess, Harj Dhesi, Tom Sidwell, Andy Gregory, Ben Adams, Chris Hanrahan, Andy Ellis, Darren Timms [Capt.], Paul Nicholls, Josh Blake
Subs Not Used: Simon Walker, Brian Agar, Ryan Parisi

Team News: Andy Biffin's leg-break is pretty bad, broken in more than one place, and he could be out for some time. However, he was at the game on crutches (wanting to get his plaster signed probably or borrow a knitting needle) and looking quite cheerful. Fortunately he works at a desk in Leamington though travel from his Nuneaton home will be a problem initially; best wishes from the fans Andy and, er, happy birthday today. Glen Webb was also there but hobbling badly and could be missing for some weeks. Nick Mort is carrying an injury but he was also at the game and "playing a blinder".  Steve Thompson not yet fully recovered and Baz Shearsby there but still suspended though (from memory) his suspension ends with December. Tom Saunders? Don't know - I'll find out.