By Roger Vincent

Supporters Suck 'Em In

Games like this will be remembered at the end of the season when more convincing wins are largely forgotten. The lot of most football supporters is disappointment; only 1 team can win a league. At the time of writing Leamington are well-placed to be champions, 2nd in the table and 8 points behind the leaders with 6 games in hand - but the season is only ½ done with most of the top teams still to be played.

However, having tempered euphoria with a touch of pragmatic realism, I believe that this game may come to be seen as a turning point, a time when even the most pessimistic started to think that anything was possible.

The ground had some good, old-fashioned terraces, it was under lights and, although the pitch was a bit churned up, it was a perfect night for football. There was some annoyance that Rugby were charging £3, with no programme or team sheet, thus possibly taking advantage of our huge support but that seemed as naught once we'd won.

At half-time Brakes were 1 down and had played dreadfully. With ½ hour to go Brian Agar scored from the spot but the feeling that we would now begin to play was soon dashed when Rugby also scored a penalty to regain the lead, 2-1.

Lesser teams could have let their heads go down but the stuff of legend was happening. Far from going quiet the Brakes' vociferous support just grew and grew. Helped by the marvellous acoustics of the goal-end stand (thank you Rugby) the noise was palpable. "Baz and Caddsie's barmy army" rang out loud and clear for fully 20 minutes and sucked the team towards their goal.

10 minutes to go and Baz Shearsby soared into the Rugby, night sky and headed the equaliser with such power that the ball was already in the back of the net as their keeper started his dive. And there was more: a magnificent cross from Thommo, in injury time, saw 3 Brakes players in contention with Josh Blake getting the final touch sparking a mini pitch invasion. The fans left exhausted; this is the stuff that dreams are made of.

Leamington Paul O'Keeffe; Jon Burgess; Guy Rippon; Will Payne; Kevin Ariss; Adam Ball (Barry Shearsby 61m); Stuart Hepburn (Ian Billington 63m); Liam McGovern; Josh Blake; Brian Agar (captain); Steve Thompson
Unused sub: Martin Beeston