By Roger Vincent

Leamington Concentrate on the League

The big build-up, huge away support, a good pitch with a pavilion over the team tunnel from the balcony of which yellow and black balloons were dropped on the team as they ran out and then burst like the triumphant salvo of a 100-gun salute - don't you just know that it's all going to go wrong?

And yet, and yet … it could so easily have been quite different. The team seemed frozen into immobility with no movement off the ball, all the more noticeable by the contrast with the last 5 minutes during which Brian Agar poached our consolation goal and the team really started to play; 5 more minutes and who knows?

There was no score after nearly 70 minutes then Cadbury scored twice in 6 minutes from a free kick and a penalty. Both were contentious, particularly the penalty which seems to have been given for "intent", whatever that is. But, no excuses, Brakes did not play well and deserved to lose on the balance of play.

It was a frustrating game. I was disturbed by the regularity with which Cadbury players went down and called for treatment. It seemed to be consistently about every 15 minutes and, if I was a fan of conspiracy theory (which I'm not), I would say that this stopped the flow of the game and the chance of Brakes getting any momentum going.

I also felt that our supporters were not at their best and some of the vitriol, and language directed at officials and Cadbury (team and supporters) would have been better kept in than let out. And then there was that clock! Am I the only one who noticed it? It was a kind of ornamental clock-tower just beyond the pitch and clearly visible, presumably part of the Cadbury World set up. It chimed a gentle tune I believe every ¼ hour (or did it just seem that often?).

With each set of chimes I realised that another 15 minutes had gone and it started to sound like a toll for Leamington's cup hopes. Perhaps if I was really paranoid I could relate it to the Cadbury players going down injured! Now, there is a conspiracy theory.

Leamington Richard Morris; Ian Billington (Jon Burgess 88m); Barry Shearsby; Will Payne; Kevin Ariss; Liam McGovern; Stuart Hepburn; Simon Wickson; Josh Blake; Brian Agar (captain); Steve Thompson
Unused subs: Guy Rippon, Adam Ball