By Roger Vincent

2002 Starts With 2-0

313 people turned up for a game widely expected to be called off and saw Brakes ease their way into the quarter-finals of the Endsleigh Challenge Cup with an excellent win over premier side Feckenham in their first match of 2002. Dhesi scored from a free kick in the 10th and Shearsby drove home in the 32nd to complete the scoring in a first half dominated by Brakes who played some good, passing football. But honours were even in the second half when Feckenham might have taken it to extra time if they hadn't left their shooting boots at the New Year's party.

With the pitch frozen solid only 24 hours earlier, and the fountain in Jephson Gardens still looking like an ice sculpture on the morning, it had seemed inconceivable that this match would take place. But a rapid thaw, some hard work by Brakes' staff and the money wisely spent on the New Windmill Ground drainage in the close season left a pitch in near perfect condition for the time of year if, understandably, a little slippery.

There was a sense of urgency and togetherness about Brakes as they sprayed the ball around and shouted encouragement to eachother, and Feckenham reacted like a team surprised to find themselves in a match. Both Care and Thompson showed well in the early exchanges before Blake passed superbly across the pitch to Thompson which changed the direction of play and led to a free-kick in the 10th minute. As he did last week, and last year, Dhesi took it quickly driving a superb, low, hard shot to the goalkeeper's right, 1-0.

Minutes later Thompson powered down the left and crossed low and hard across goal just eluding Blake who had left his defenders in no-man's land. A saving, McGovern challenge saw him yellow-carded as Feckenham showed they were not going to lie down but Brakes were passing the ball well and creating chances. A magnificent passing movement between Agar, Dhesi, Thompson and Shearsby deserved better but Shearsby's shot was well-saved.

Care was getting past defenders on the right with a deadly combination of speed and guile to create opportunities while Thompson was doing the same on the other flank. With Sidewell a rock on which the Feckenham attack foundered and Dhesi, cool under pressure, mopping up loose balls and directing play at the back, Brakes loked in little danger. In the 32nd minute they went further ahead when Blake picked up a long, hanging ball from Burgess and held off the defenders well before slipping a pass to Shearsby who lashed the ball into the net, 2-0. The half ended with Brakes very much in the ascendancy.

Feckenham took so long to come out onto the pitch for the second period that the fans assumed they were getting a roasting and awaited the outcome with interest. Certainly something had made a difference as all the early pressure in the first 15 minutes was from Feckenham. In the 48th Brakes had a let-off when a defensive slip freed a Feckenham forward who broke on goal before tamely driving wide with 3 fellow forwards even better placed. Yet, to their credit, Brakes were fighting hard and gradually pulled themselves back into the game which became an even contest with chances for both sides.

In the 74th a near repeat of a first half move saw Dhesi pass to Thompson whose first time cross was hit just wide by Blake but, within a minute, Morris had to make a superb save at the other end. Then Care broke brilliantly to come close to increasing Brakes' advantage but, almost immediately, Morris made an even better save diving Banks' like to his right. Despite forcing those two saves Feckenham, though looking purposeful driving forward, mostly lost the plot when it came to the bit about shooting on target. In the 81st, with Morris only able to watch, a long, looping shot hit the Brakes' bar.

With Timms on for Shearsby in the 78th, Webb for Mort in the 82nd and Perry for Blake in the 85th giving Brakes fresh legs they had weathered the storm and the last 10 minutes saw them reasserting control with both Blake and Care going close and a succession of corners and throw-ins from the influential Thompson.

Leamington: Richard Morris, Jonny Burgess, Harj Dhesi, Liam McGovern, Tom Sidwell, Barry Shearsby (Darren Timms 78), David Care, Nick Mort (Glen Webb 82), Josh Blake (Neale Perry 85), Brian Agar [Capt.], Steve Thompson

Team news: Good to see Paul "Sniffer" Eden at the match, and Kevin "Rugrat" Ariss even though he wasn't in the squad. Steve Thompson was presented with his player of the month (November) award but no photograph yet - photographer unwell.