By Roger Vincent

Brakes Draw but Topple Out of Cup Over Two Legs

473 people saw one of the best games ever seen at the New Windmill. Brakes edged the first half though Alvechurch had the clearest chances. In the 54th Alvechurch were down to 10 men and Brakes dominated the rest of the game hitting the woodwork twice, having a "good" goal disallowed and scoring through Agar in the 78th. With Brakes bearing down on goal time after time the Alvechurch goalkeeper made several dramatic saves. But, with extra time beckoning, a mistake from a throw-in let Alvechurch's Brett Skinner break free on the left and he cut inside magnificently leaving three defenders in his trail to poach an unlikely equaliser on the day and an Alvechurch aggregate win. They now meeet Pilkington XXX in the final at Solihull Borough.

Eden nearly scored within three minutes with an overhead kick as Brakes applied the early pressure but Alvechurch had an equally good chance soon after. It was end to end as Thompson drove through the middle to be foiled by a good 'Church goalkeeper but Gettings was also on form at the other end and had already earned the North Bank accolade of "England's No 1" before he made a brilliant save in the 23rd after a point-blank header from Keith Rostil.

Nicholls, Eden, Thompson and Agar were combing well up front with Ellis influential in midfield as Brakes played some good football without result. Either team could have scored near the end of the half. First, Thompson conceded a (wasted) free kick in front of goal on the edge of the box with a last ditch tackle, then Sidwell with a header and Agar had chances as the ball ping-ponged back and forth from the Alvechurch line.

With Brakes getting on top their chances were further enhanced in the 54th when Paul Smith, 'Church number 4, was given a straight red for kicking at Gregory as the players prepared for a free kick. Now it was all Brakes. Agar, who played a starring role throughout, skipped past the defence to earn a corner in the 57th. Thompson's cross came out to Adams who drove the ball hard and low against the foot of the post. Eden had a shot well-saved a minute later then, with Brakes looking like scoring at every move, a Thompson corner from the left swung into goal in the 64th minute with the goalkeeper back-pedalling. The linesman noted the minute and the players moved towards the centre when the referee, inexplicably, disallowed it.

Alvechurch were not really in the game and Ellis narrowly missed twice with Gregory bringing another brilliant save for a corner from a 30yd piledriver in the 76th. Gettings got down well to a rare 'Church breakaway in the 77th before Brakes took a deserved lead, 1-0 through the irrepressible Agar in the 78th minute when he scored with an overhead kick on the line after an Ellis shot, deflected up in the air, was held up in the wind.

Brakes were well on top and looking to finish the game in normal time. The crowd sang lustily and a Timms header from a Thompson corner went close. Brakes were playing good football; Alvechurch seemed in disarray and the ball kept coming back into the 'Church goalmouth as the Brakes defence won the tackles and punched the ball back into the danger areas. In the 85th Nicholls 35 yd shot was tipped over and the 'Church goalie made another brilliant save in the 87th. Then, in the 89th, Alvechurch made it 1-1 on the day when Brett Skinner picked up a throw on the left touch-line and ran half the pitch cutting inside past three defenders to score a quite spectacular goal into the corner.

Still Brakes pressed and in nearly six minutes of added time brought another brilliant save from Nicholls and then hit the bar with a Timms shot which was slotted over on the rebound. Alvechurch meet Pilkington XXX in the final at Solihull Borough but Brakes can take heart from an excellent performance that augurs well for the league match still to be played at the New Windmill, and Rugby Town's draw with Feckenham in the league today.

Leamington: James Gettings, Ben Adams, Tom Saunders, Tom Sidwell, Andy Gregory, Andy Ellis, Paul Eden, Barry Shearsby (Darren Timms 66), Brian Agar, Paul Nicholls, Steve Thompson [Capt.]
Subs Not Used: Nick Mort, Harj Dhesi

Team News: Myles Day and Simon Walker fit and at the game along with Chris Hanrahan, Ryan Parisi, Jonny Burgess (hamstring) and Andy Biffin; Josh Blake nearing end of suspension (week to go?).