By Roger Vincent

Nicholls Gets 4 as Brakes Sprint to the Winning Line

On a difficult day for away teams, with the coach leaving at 4:30 for a 6:15 ko, Brakes tore into Thimblemill and scored through Thompson in the 16th and Nicholls a minute later. Nicholls added a 3rd on the half-hour and 2 more in the second half to complete a personal tally of 4 in a 5-0 win when he gave way to youth debutant Neil Stacey. Brakes' power and dominance reduced Thimblemill to a bickering side showing individual skill but little team spirit as Brakes moved within 1 goal of Rugby Town's goal-difference with their 5th clean sheet in a row.

Thimblemill, a hard, physical side, came at Brakes as they had done in the first match of the season when they took an early 2 goal lead at the New Windmill. But Brakes met them in effort and strength and added the bonus of speed to turn the tables in spectacular fashion. In the 16th Mort took a free kick from the right and Thompson slotted home after a clever Blake dummy to make it 1-0 and a minute later, in the 17th, Nicholls made it 2-0 when he drove the ball in the net from a superb Blake through ball.

Thimblemill were a team of individuals showing some good skills but not really gelling as a team. With Brakes' defence, once again, in commanding form, and McGovern's tenacity now added to the superb control and vision of Walker, Sidwell and Gregory, there is the basis for a team that can take Brakes through the leagues.

Astonishingly, the hugely popular but diminutive Burgess was winning balls in the air and riding tackles against a tough, uncompromising defence that made you wonder if he'd been on the spinach. With the attacking trio of Thompson, Blake and Nicholls creating mayhem in the defence, and the guile of Mort, this was a very good performance from a very good team.

In the 30th Brakes made it 3-0 through Nicholls who got the final touch with his head as he, Mort and Sidwell all battled to reach a Thompson corner from the right. Shortly afterwards the unlucky Blake drove the ball in the net but the linesman adjudged Thompson to have stepped over the line with the throw-in that led to it. With the Thimblemill goalkeeper often off his line to counteract Blake's speed against his disintegrating defence Thompson tried a lob from distance in the 41st which was just wide.

Thimblemill came out for the second half with heads down and dragging feet like people with a date at the executioners. A similar pattern to the first half followed with individual promise but little togetherness. In the 62nd minute they struck the post in a breakaway but any qualms were soon dissipated when Nicholls got his hat-trick in the 67th to make it 4-0. It followed an excellent through ball from Shearsby which Nicholls despatched, left-footed, into the corner. Then, in the 73rd, Nicholls capped a superb, personal performance when he made it 5-0 striking home from a ball won, and crossed, by the battling Blake.

With another game on Wednesday, and another early start at Cadbury, Nicholls was immediately replaced by youth team striker, Neil Stacey, for the first (of many) senior appearances. Timms came on for Shearsby in the 78th and Agar for Mort 2 minutes later but the rhythm was unshaken as Brakes strove for a 6th goal which would have put them equal to Rugby Town on goal-difference. Stacey, who provided some neat touches, already looked a part of the team and just needed that extra sharpness which comes with playing at a higher level to reach a couple of chances. With the game drawing to a close, and Brakes well on top, McGovern strode upfield to head over from a Thompson cross.

Leamington: Richard Morris, Jonny Burgess, Simon Walker, Tom Sidwell, Andy Gregory, Liam McGovern, Nick Mort (Brian Agar 80), Barry Shearsby (Darren Timms 78), Josh Blake, Paul Nicholls (Neil Stacey 73), Steve Thompson (Capt.]
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Team News: Glen Webb injured out rest of the season; Benson Miyoba out injured; Andy Dix misses rest of the season with knee ligament problems.