By David Hucker

Brakes Come Out Ahead at Sunny New Windmill

With so much sport shown live on television, many Brakes fans must have been tempted to stay in the warmth of their living rooms, judging by the disappointingly small crowd for a Saturday of 319. However, those who made the journey to Harbury Lane were rewarded with a fine and sunny afternoon that showed off the New Windmill and the surrounding countryside to best effect. In the end, a fine strike by returning skipper Steve Thompson maintained top spot in the ICIS Midland Combination Premier Division.

Mid-table Coleshill played some attractive counterattacking football but the home side dominated for much of the match and had only themselves to blame for not winning more convincingly. Within the first twenty minutes, leading striker Paul Nicholls had two good chances to score and Thompson saw a goalbound shot ricochet off the legs of Coleshill keeper Danny Smith. The best opening came in the thirty-fourth minute when a Harj Dhesi trademark free kick from outside the penalty area came back into play off the crossbar. Coleshill had a good chance to make Brakes pay for their missed opportunities when, just before half-time, Karl Morris was clear through on goal but he blasted his shot high over the bar into the crowd on the North Bank.

The visitors started the second half the more adventurous side and James Gettings in the Brakes' goal was forced to use his feet to save from Lee McCarthy on 56 minutes. Then within a minute of each other, both Jonny Burgess (who had another excellent match) and Nicholls had chances to score. The miss by Nicholls, who pulled his shot wide of the left-hand post with only the keeper to beat, summed up his afternoon which was one to forget. However, all came right with Thompson's goal in the 68th minute which followed good work between Ben Adams and Paul Eden and was no less than the home side deserved from their superior possession.

Eden was brought down from behind in the penalty area with sixteen minutes to go but, to the dismay of the vocal North Bank, no award was given. Late on, Ben Adams struck a goalbound volley which keeper Smith saved brilliantly. In the end, this was a valuable three points to keep the chasing pack at bay. Brakes co-manager Jason Cadden was pleased saying " we controlled most of the game and played some nice football. Overall, it was a good performance and we kept a clean sheet as well as top spot"

Leamington: James Gettings, Jonny Burgess, Harj Dhesi, Tom Sidwell, Tom Saunders, Andy Ellis (Baz Shearsby 78), Nick Mort, Ben Adams, Paul Eden, Paul Nicholls (Brian Agar 85), Steve Thompson [Capt.]
Subs Not Used: Andy Gregory

Team News: Si Walker now available; Ryan Parisi injured toe; Myles Day getting fit; Daz Timms rested.