By Roger Vincent

Wilmcote Take Failing Brakes' Unbeaten Home Record

The crowd looked for something to warm them up in bitter conditions at the New Windmill but it was Wilmcote who took an early lead in the 1st minute doubling it in the first half-hour. Brakes gave some hope to their suffering fans by pulling one back on the cusp of half-time but, after early promise at the start of the second half, went 2 behind again in the 54th. Although McGovern reduced the arrears in the 77th, and Brakes pressed for an equaliser, it would have been unkind to Wilmcote, who were the better side throughout, if Brakes had saved the game.

A strong, biting wind, with sleet about 1/2 hour before kick-off, kept the crowd down to 350. Much of the early play was scrappy but the strong, cross wind favoured neither side. The crowd needed something to keep them warm but within a minute the scene was set for much of the game when Brakes' defence failed to clear twice and Wilmcote slotted home, 0-1.

Although Blake drove in a narrowly offside "goal" in the 16th, and a Dhesi free-kick tested the Wilmcote goalkeeper in the 21st, Brakes were just not performing. There was little to warm the spirit let alone the toes. I found myself, unusually, hoping that we managed to hang on and not concede another before half-time when, I assumed, proverbial rockets would be applied to appropriate orifices if, indeed, that was what was required.

Then, in the 28th, Wilmcote got that second, feared goal when a poor clearance out of defence found a Wilmcote forward who rounded Morris and slotted home, 0-2. The crowd, already quiet, was stunned into silence. The wind blew stronger, the cold grew colder. Wilmcote were now playing well, passing the ball, using their wings, and unrecognisable from the side Brakes have beaten easily in 3 previous meetings.

Brakes, to their credit, tried to get going but every pass seemed to go astray, every 50:50 was lost, the opposite of last Tuesday in the superb performance at Coventry Sphinx. Shearsby headed just wide from a Thompson corner in the 38th but Brakes created little else. A fan was heard to remark that "they haven't started yet" and indeed that was how it felt. It was a surprise therefore when Brakes pulled one back in first half injury time when Timms poked the ball into the net at the second attempt after his first shot was blocked, 1-2. As the whistle blew for half-time joint manager Cadden strode purposefully towards the changing-rooms well ahead of the team. Brakes showed their bravery by following him in.

Brakes were on the pitch for 5 minutes psyching themselves up or, maybe, escaping Caddsie before Wilmcote re-emerged for the second half. In the 48th Agar came on for Care who had a pull but in the first 10 minutes there was a buzz about Brakes that promised salvation. Then, disaster. In the 54th a Wilmcote forward superbly chipped Morris in a breakaway attack, 1-3. From the far end the North Bank jeered as the ball looked to be well over the bar but whether distance confused perception or the wind played a part I don't know; the end result was the same.

Agar, in his first match back after the birth of his daughter, was desperately trying to get Brakes going. Thompson was playing well down the left but too many players seemed jaded. In the 58th Brakes made a double substitution bringing on Miyoba for Shearsby and Mort for Webb. Miyoba, showing control and strength, started to get down the right side. In the 65th he broke powerfully and crossed for Agar to go close and in the 69th he ran through the defence to shoot hard against a post. Thompson was getting past defenders down the left as Brakes looked more dangerous than they had all match but then, with all substitutions made, picked up an injury that lessened his effectiveness and may yet rule him out at Rugby on Tuesday.

In the 77th Mort took one of a succession of corners and McGovern drove in for his first goal of the season, 2-3. Now, at last, Brakes started to play as a team. Dhesi slipped three defenders in the 83rd only to pull his cross just behind the goal-line and Blake drove hard and low on target a minute later to bring a brilliant save from the Wilmcote goalkeeper. As Brakes strove for an equaliser they forced corners and free-kicks packing the Wilmcote goal area with, even, Morris in the box. But, as the wind suddenly increased in force to compound the fans' misery, the referee, perhaps mercifully, brought the game to an end.

It was hard to see what was wrong though Wilmcote were a much better side than expected from previous meetings and their league record. Maybe this will prove to be Brakes one (only), league home defeat in the season, as last season when we finished champions. But, as the crowd sloped away, pigs were seen spreading their wings in the leaden-grey sky.

Leamington: Richard Morris, Jonny Burgess, Harj Dhesi, Andy Dix, Liam McGovern, Barry Shearsby (Benson Miyoba 58), Daz Timms (Kevin Ariss 85), Glen Webb (Nick Mort 58), Josh Blake, David Care (Brian Agar 48), Steve Thompson [Capt.]

Team News: Tom Sidwell injured; Si Wickson still suffering after-effects hernia; no sign of Will Payne returning; Kevin "Rugrat" Ariss may be going to Whitnash is the rumour.