By James Taps

The Old Five

I'm not sure where this phrase "the old five" originated? However, having seen it adorning old Brakes programmes as well as this fanzine - it had to be the only headline to go with this match report. It was Brakes' first "old five" since they re-emerged this season. It was also a scintillating display that reflected the final scoreline. The third game of the new year was also the second challenge cup match, the Brakes having already dispatched Barnt Green two weeks prior to this match with a near double-old five!

The trip to the second city saw another great turn out from Leamington and the noisy visiting crowd didn't have long to wait for something to cheer: Baz Shearsby - one minute! Well - quicker than that actually! Twenty eight seconds according to the report in the Courier. Josh then notched a perfectly good second in the second minute only for the referee to show his dislike for Leamington FC. It was the first of many decisions that went against us. Maybe that is why an element of doubt crept into our play and allowed Burman the chance to come back into the match. A scrappy goal after a quarter of an hour saw the combative home side draw level.

The referee's inept performance led to some angry exchanges between the players, directly as a result of the official's lack of control. However, with a little under ten minutes remaining of a highly charged and frustrating first forty-five, Brakes regained the advantage. Billo's shot may have taken a deflection but it ended up in the right place - the back of the Burman net.

The second half belonged to the visitors and what a joy it was to watch these Brakes in full flight, despite the efforts of the man in the middle to spoil their flowing football. The significant moment came when Brakes increased their lead to two goals as Baz Shearsby had a searing shot superbly saved and the boy Blake, ever the predator, followed up the rebound off the bar to register his first goal for three months. The previous Josh strike had come in this same cup competition as well, way back in October!

Within minutes the lead was three goals as Simon Wickson benefited from Rugrat's first touch of the ball being an assist. Rugrat helped himself to the fifth and - truth be told - we were guilty of a couple of misses late on which would have made the referee's after-match cuppa taste even sourer!

Anyway those spurned chances enabled this happy reporter to title his piece with the magical words that previous to this scoreline applied to the old gold but happily, now fit into the present Brakes folklore as well.

Leamington Paul O'Keeffe; Jon Burgess (Kevin Ariss 71m); Liam McGovern; Will Payne; Adam Ball; Barry Shearsby (Darren Timms 74m); Stuart Hepburn (Captain); Simon Wickson (Guy Rippon 78m); Josh Blake; Ian Billington; Steve Thompson