By Roger Vincent

Bank Holiday Not Saints' Day as Brakes Hit Five

A bank holiday crowd of 547 saw Brakes take an early lead through Blake in the 4th minute but then do everything but score until the floodgates finally opened when they scored three times in five minutes early in the second half through Webb (2) and Bahi (his first for the club). Nicholls added a 5th as Brakes threatened to run riot against a poor Southam team.

A fever of activity from the gold and blacks was an early feature at the New Windmill as excited fans semaphored their messages to one another, but this buzz of activity was caused by a plague of wasps. As Brakes' Director Terry Ford said, in a rare moment of humour: "They're in the right colours but they're not welcome".

There was plenty of movement on the pitch as well and Brakes took an early lead in the 4th minute through Blake who drove over the goalkeeper after a Rowland free kick was nodded on by Shearsby, 1-0. Brakes looked in command and went close with further efforts from a Nicholls free kick, a Thompson drive and two Blake strikes before Southam United issued a wake-up call in the 24th when they netted for a disallowed goal.

Blake nearly broke through soon after but limped off in the 30th to be replaced by the evergreen Agar who started to play some sparkling football as Brakes searched for the elusive second. The returning Simon Walker had helped shore-up the defence but but the attack was not making progresss. A four-man move in the 32nd deserved better as Bahi, Webb and Nicholls combined to set up a chance for Agar who blasted over; but the half finished with Southam still in the game.

All that changed early in the second half. Thompson threatened in the 49th but Webb then scored twice in the 53rd and 55th minute to make it 3-0. The first was smashed into the net from a Shearsby through ball and the second was driven in when Nicholls slipped the ball sideways from a free-kick for Webb to run on to. Within two minutes, in the 57th, a brilliant through ball from Webb set Agar free and he crossed for Bahi to control well and knock home for his first Brakes' goal, 4-0.

Hammond replaced Webb soon after and Hanrahan came on for Shearsby as Brakes turned the screw. Hammond went close with a strong drive then Agar slipped two tackles to cross for Thompson to just miss with a diving header. In the 74th the untiring Nicholls made it 5-0 with a well-deserved goal when Thompson crossed from the left and he met it with a powerful header from 8yds. With Brakes pressing for more Nicholls nearly got his second in the 83rd when he waltzed round the goalkeeper but drove just wide.

Leamington: Myles Day, Jag Bahi, Simon Walker, Mark Rowland, Tom Sidwell, Darren Timms (Chris Hammond 62), Glen Webb, Barry Shearsby (Chris Hanrahan 67), Josh Blake (Brian Agar 30), Paul Nicholls, Steve Thompson [Capt.]

Team News: Simon Wickson signed at the match but is unavailable for a month as he's playing in a University European Cup in Barcelona; Ben Adams is serving a suspension which ends next Sunday (1 September) picked up from the Devon FA; Jamie Barr has left for Wellesbourne (good luck and thanks Jamie); Harj Dhesi has a bad wrist infection and could be unavailable for a month; Andys Dix and Crabtree both have knocks as does Jonny Burgess.