(Ed. Castle Vale Kings Heath were known as Kings Heath earlier in the season)

By David Hucker

Vale of Tears for Failing Brakes

There was little to cheer for the Brakes' faithful on another wet and raw night at the New Windmill. A crowd of 266 saw Castle Vale KH run out convincing winners and show that their recent win, 4-1, over leaders Rugby Town was no fluke.

The visitors looked a completely different side from that which succumbed to Leamington 4-1 earlier in the season. This time, the writing was on the wall for Brakes as early as the third minute when Malcolm Power ran through a square-looking home defence to lob the ball over 'keeper James Gettings and off the crossbar into the net. Brakes survived a scare five minutes later when the ball ran across the goalmouth with no Vale player able to connect, but they were only living on borrowed time as Ben Usher outpaced defender Tom Sidwell in the nineteenth minute to make it 2-0.

Sidwell made amends in the twenty-seventh minute when he cleared off the line after a defensive mix-up and two minutes later Gettings denied Usher a second goal, saving with his feet. Vale were the sharper and stronger side by far and Matt Tomlinson almost made it three on the stroke of half-time when his long-range shot crashed against the Brakes' crossbar, this time rebounding out into play.

Brakes first real shot on goal came four minutes into the second half when the Vale 'keeper fumbled a free kick by Harj Dhesi. However, any hope of a revival was dashed on 51 minutes when Chris Kavanagh slotted the ball past Gettings into the corner. Brakes brought on all three substitutes and pushed forward in search of a goal. Paul Nicholls shot over from a Steve Thompson cross and Ryan Parisi hit the foot of a post, but this was as near as they got.

This defeat dealt a real blow to Brakes' championship hopes but was not unexpected, given recent form which brought only narrow wins over sides near the foot of the table. Co-manager, Barry Proctor, described the performance as "very disappointing". He added "we never got going and didn't compete. We have to bounce back for Saturday when we have another tough match away to Continental Star."

With Josh Blake unavailable for selection, a proven goalscorer is urgently needed to bolster the attack. Former Brakes striker Paul Eden was again amongst the crowd but there is no word of an imminent return to the side.

Leamington: James Gettings, Jonny Burgess (Steve Thompson 61), Harj Dhesi, Tom Sidwell, Andy Gregory, Darren Timms [Capt.], Nick Mort (Barry Shearsby 68), Andy Ellis, Brian Agar (Ryan Parisi 73), Paul Nicholls, Ben Adams

Team News: Benson Miyoba there and looking fit; Josh Blake and Chris Handrahan unavailable; Steve Thompson now out for two weeks (skiing holiday)