By Roger Vincent

Feckenham Fright for Brakes but Nicholls' Brace Wins the Day

Brakes had the better of the first half going ahead from a Webb header in the 18th and, although Feckenham equalised within two minutes, they seemed to be well on the way to an easy victory with two Nicholls goals before the half hour. However, Feckenham came out a different team in the second half, reducing the arrears in the 49th, but were unable to pierce the Brakes' defence despite dominating the rest of the game.

There was a chill in the air with the promise of winter as Brakes' fans swapped stories about their attempts to find the ground. A scrappy start did little to warm things up; there were uncharacteristic misjudgements in defence. The Leamington fans wondered if the low lights were affecting the apparent flight of the ball, or even if the ball itself was not running true. The latter seemed unlikely as the game was on its third ball soon after the start. Nevertheless Brakes nearly conceded after Day punched clear with the defence in disarray.

But in the 18th minute Webb nodded home an Agar cross to make it 0-1. Agar was on top form, twisting and turning past defenders for the coss that led to Webb's goal then, within minutes, slipping past two defenders to set up Nicholls who was just wide. But with Brakes seemingly in control a speculative lob at the other end in the 20th minute deceived Day who only managed to turn the ball onto the underside of the bar and into the net, 1-1.

Brakes recovered the initiative in the 23rd when Nicholls made it 1-2 running through and slipping the ball past the advancing 'keeper after good work by Agar and Webb. Adams was playing well at wing-back, Webb was a power of strength in midfield and Agar was showing his skills to good effect as Brakes threatened to run riot. In the 28th minute they went further ahead through Nicholls, again, who made it 1-3 when he knocked home to finish a move that started with Walker then went from Webb to Agar before the final, telling pass.

But towards the end of the half, with Feckenham faltering, Agar was harshly penalised after riding several despairing tackles. He received a yellow in the resulting fracas. Soon after Day punched clear again, seemingly losing the flight of the ball, as the half ended with portents of what was to come.

Feckenham emerged a different team and scored a well-deserved and quite exceptional goal soon after the restart with a header from a corner in the 49th to make it 2-3. Now Feckenham were in the ascendancy and Brakes were finding it difficult to retain possession. Some of the defending, by Brakes' defence's recent high standards, was poor. Fortunately Feckenham didn't have an obvious goal-scorer as they wasted chances. For a neutral this had become an absorbing game, full of interest and with the result in the balance.

Brakes were being outgunned but they also had chances to make the game safe as, first, Adams went close, then Burgess was felled in the area in the 60th, as he seemed likely to score, by a tackle that was, probably but disputably, just legal. The young referee was having his work cut out by two sides who were battling for every ball and, in the circumstances, did exceptionally well. A push on Agar led to Webb driving a free kick over the bar in the 62nd but within a minute Day could only watch as a shot the other end missed narrowly.

Feckenham had dominated most of the second half but Brakes came back in the last 10 minutes as Feckenham's heads went down. Burgess brought a good save in the 80th after good work by Adams and Agar and Webb drove over from distance. All the substitutes came off the bench to provide fresh legs as Brakes regained control but Walker had to make a superb saving header before, in added time, Shearsby's header was tipped onto, and over, the Feckenham bar.

Leamington: Myles Day, Jon Burgess, Simon Walker, Tom Sidwell, Mark Rowland, Chris Hanrahan, Glen Webb, Darren Timms (Barry Shearsby 81), Brian Agar [Capt.] (Josh Blake 84), Paul Nicholls, Ben Adams (Steve Thompson 84)

Team News: Andy Gregory, Chris Hammond and Simon Wickson are carrying injuries; Nick Mort is unwell.

Dave Draper, Director of Football, explained why he is missing Brakes' Saturday games and playing instead.

Dave is making a serious attempt at a come-back; he has lost a stone and says that his knees are holding up well now that he is lighter. To get match fit he is getting games where he can, Whitnash, Woodford Utd, etc. which means missing Brakes' games. But he hopes to be a serious contender for the team later this year. He stresses that whether or not he is selected will be entirely up to Baz and Caddsie, but he hopes to make it impossible for them to ignore him.