By Roger Vincent

Brakes Up For the Cup

With the first leg finishing 0-0 Brakes eased into the final more comfortably than the score suggests. With goalkeeper Morris having to miss the start through work, and the cup rules not allowing any player who hadn't played previously in the league, outfield player Shearsby played in goal for 60 minutes. Brakes went 2-0 up with a Timms header in the 18th and a Mort penalty in the 35th. With Shearsby rarely troubled a misplaced back-pass let in Handsworth for a strike on half-time. Brakes were coasting after Thompson cracked home a 3rd in the 84th but then had to endure an anxious few minutes after Handsaker scored from a free-kick in stoppage time.

Concerns that stand-in goalkeeper Shearsby could be under pressure were soon allayed as Handsaker, just as in the league game at the New Windmill which Brakes won 5-0, showed little attacking aptitude. Agar, Blake and Miyoba made early inroads into the Handsaker defence and all had early chances. A succession of free kicks led to the first goal in the 18th minute when Timms headed home after Mort curled one in from the left, 1-0. Shortly afterwards, in a rare Handsaker foray upfield Shearsby brought cheers from the crowd when he dived low to gather.

Passes were going astray but Timms and Miyoba were in dominant form using strength, skill and determination to unsettle a panicky defence. Timms was fighting for everything and earned a corner in the 25th when he had no right to get near the ball; minutes later Thompson struck the outside of the bar. Miyoba's powerful runs at the heart of the defence were paying dividends and he earned a succession of free kicks one of which led to a defender handling in the crowded area. Mort stepped up to blast home his 3rd penalty in 2 games in the 35th minute, 2-0. Brakes were well in control and Timms was causing all sorts of problems with his surging runs crossing for a Blake header to go close shortly before half-time. Within seconds of the whistle Handsaker broke and a non-threatening situation was turned into a Handsaker goal when a poor back pass was picked up and slotted past the hapless Shearsby, 2-1.

Playing towards the North Bank Brakes threatened to increase their lead and forced several corners at the start of the second half. In the 58th Blake knocked down the ball superbly for Miyoba to drive just wide and McGovern charged upfield a minute later to blast over. It was all Leamington and there seemed little doubt that they would score again. Morris replaced Shearsby in the 60th and Webb came on for Sidwell, who was carrying an injury, in the 63rd. Brakes started to play as if they had done enough and Handsaker came back into the game though still showing little threat up front. Care came on for Burgess in the 76th and, shortly after, Webb drove low and hard on target for a superb save from the Handsaker goalkeeper.

In the 84th minute Brakes got the long-promised 3rd goal. Agar slipped a beautiful ball to Blake who, left-footed, drove hard at goal. The goalkeeper could only parry and it came out again to Blake who pulled it back unselfishly into the middle where Thompson appeared like a 100m sprinter in full flight to smash home an unstoppable shot, 3-1. With the game seemingly won Handsaker were awarded a free kick in stoppage time on the edge of the box in front of goal and it was blasted home through the wall to make the score 3-2 and trigger an anxious few, remaining minutes.

The final will be against either Rugby Town or Fairfield Villa who play their semi-final 1st leg at Rugby on Sat. 9 March with the 2nd leg on Wed. 20 March. It will be at an appropriate premier club ground under lights; I don't know when.

Leamington: Barry Shearsby (Richard Morris 60), Jonny Burgess (David Care 76), Tom Sidwell (Glen Webb 63), Andy Dix, Liam McGovern, Daz Timms, Nick Mort, Benson Miyoba, Josh Blake, Brian Agar [Capt.], Steve Thompson

Team News: Harj Dhesi missed this one through injury.