By Roger Vincent

Brakes Hit Massey for Six to Stay Top

Warm sun bathed 150 fans in the the open spaces at Banner Lane but the bone-hard pitch made the ball difficult to control and was instrumental in an ankle injury for Gregory that seems likely to prevent him playing in the critical match against Alvechurch at the NWG on Tuesday and may cost Brakes dear in the end of season run-in.

Adams' strike on 27 minutes was equalised in the 43rd but Hanrahan scored his first league goal on the stroke of half-time to send Brakes in at the break 2-1 up. Thompson, at the start of the second half, put Brakes 3-1 in the lead and in control when Massey's goalkeeper was unlucky to receive his marching orders for handling outside the area. A towering header from Gregory, his first goal of the season, made it 4-1 but with Brakes coasting against 10 men an unlikely breakaway saw Massey score a penalty to get back in contention at 4-2 and, with all substitutes used, Brakes reduced to 10 men through Gregory's injury. But Agar, and Adams with his second goal, steered the ship home with late goals to set up a top of the table clash on Tuesday with second place Alvechurch who also won.

Gettings was the first 'keeper in action, saving well in the 6th minute, but Timms, Thompson and Nicholls all went close before Gettings, again, did well to stop a free kick from in front of the posts at the expense of a corner. The ball was bouncing awkwardly on the bone-hard pitch but Adams showed superb control when he slotted home for 0-1 in the 27th after Nicholls had headed on a Thompson cross. In the 35th the Massey 'keeper came out of his area, not for the first (or last) time, but Thompson just failed to emulate Nicholls' effort against Pershore.

Brakes were comfortably on top but paid the penalty for some casual, defensive play when Massey made it 1-1 in the 43rd after the defence failed to clear. But Brakes stormed back when Burgess ran through to force a corner after good work by Adams and Mort and, inside two minutes, were back in front when the influential Hanrahan made it 1-2 in the 45th knocking home his first, league goal of the season, and second overall, in a goalmouth melee.

Massey hopes of a comeback were rudely shattered when Adams, again, set up a goal, twisting and turning past the defence to cross for Thompson to place a perfect header past the 'keeper for 1-3 in the 47th. Then Massey's task looked impossible in the 54th when their 'keeper rushed out of the area to clear and inadvertently handled when the ball bounced off the hard surface and hit his forearm. Obeying the letter of the law the referee brandished a red. Dhesi's free kick was pushed out wide by the stand-in 'keeper and Adams crossed for Gregory to score in the 56th with a towering header, his first goal of the season, to make it 1-4.

Now Massey's task, reduced to 10 men and three goals adrift, seemed impossible. The attack was causing panic in the Massey defence while Gregory and McFarlane were like rocks in defence with Dhesi tidying up and creating as usual. Brakes brought on all three subs in the next 10 minutes and Blake showed his speed to good effect bearing down on goal in the 76th to be denied by the Massey 'keeper, a replacement for the first stand-in 'keeper. With the game won Brakes played the ball around and, inevitably, let through an attacker on goal in a breakaway. Both Gettings and Gregory went for the ball taking down the attacker with Gregory badly twisting his ankle standing on his own 'keeper. The penalty was slotted home, when play resumed, in the 81st to make it 2-4 and with the commanding Gregory off the field, and all subs already on, Massey sniffed the chance of a comeback.

But, as some tension spread through the mostly Leamington crowd, Blake broke at speed and passed to Adams who turned provider yet again crossing the ball to Agar on the edge of the box. With the defence closing him down Agar turned twice before superbly placing a low drive in the far corner to make it 2-5 in the 87th. With the crowd singing happily again, Adams capped a tremendous performance when he picked up the ball on the right and placed a curving left-foot shot into the top, left corner in the 90th minute to complete the scoring at 2-6 with his second goal of the match and fourth of the season. In added time Gettings made an excellent stop with his feet with a Massey player clean through and Adams was denied a hat-trick when his header was saved.

Brakes have now scored 98 goals in league and cup matches this season, 78 in the league. With Alvechurch winning again Tuesday's match at the NWG between the two front runners takes on an even greater significance, and may even be the occasion of Brakes' 100th goal in competitive matches. But with Gregory's injury adding to those of several other injured defenders, Brakes' problems may be at the back.

Leamington: James Gettings, Jonny Burgess, Harj Dhesi, Nick McFarlane, Andy Gregory, Ben Adams, Nick Mort (Barry Shearsby 62), Chris Hanrahan (Brian Agar 73), Darren Timms, Paul Nicholls, Steve Thompson [Capt.] (Josh Blake 69)

Team News: Andy Gregory sees the physio. tomorrow; Andy Ellis back in contention for a place; Tom Sidwell's dislocated shoulder mending well and he "may" be back before the season's end; Simon Walker has a recurring knee problem.