By Roger Vincent

Brakes Give 'Church a Lesson and Tighten Grip at the Top

Alvechurch went into a deserved lead after only four minutes and also hit a post in the eighth as Brakes struggled to get a grip on the game. But that miss proved a turning point as Brakes slowly took command and scored twice in three minutes through Nicholls, in the 32nd from a penalty, then in the 35th after a goalkeeper error, Brakes' 100th goal in league and cup matches this season. Mort headed home in the 59th from a Thompson corner to send 603 fans wild and move Brakes three points clear at the top with a game in hand. Jamie Ball replaced the injured Gregory and had a sound debut after a nervous first 10 minutes.

On a cold evening, with Manchester Utd live on the box, 603 fans turned up to see a clash between the Premier's top 2 sides with Brakes 1 point ahead but an inferior goal-difference before the match. High-scoring Alvechurch had already notched 103 league goals before the start with Brakes on 78 but only needing two more to reach 100 in league and cup. In the 4th minute Alvechurch were 0-1 up through Ryder who converted a quick cross behind an uncertain defence. Dhesi's free kick just needed a touch in the 8th but Alvechurch broke upfield and should have scored again, the ball going wide off the upright. The tackles were going in hard and an unfamiliar Brakes defence, with Jamie Ball making his debut in place of the injured Gregory, were playing as if they hadn't played together before, which indeed was the case.

In retrospect the post saved Brakes as 2-0 at that stage could well have signalled the end, but this was, to use a much-misused phrase, a turning point. From then on Brakes started imposing themselves on the game and the defence never seemed as vulnerable for the remaining 80+ minutes. Consistent pressure was worrying a big, strong Alvechurch who seemed to replace their strong-running tactics with some strong tackling instead. Whether this was planned, or unavoidable against the nippy Brakes' forward-running of Nicholls and Adams, it is hard to say but Brakes got their reward with two goals inside three minutes.

Nicholls ran at speed on goal and was just inside the box when a desperate defender brought him down for a clear penalty. Ignoring the old adage that the felled player doesn't take the kick Nicholls calmly blasted the ball in the net for 1-1 in the 32nd minute, despite some play-acting from the Barthez school of drama by the 'Church goalie. Then in the 35th minute Nicholls, again, made it 2-1 when he latched onto a poor throw out from the goalie and rifled the ball into the net for Brakes' 100th goal in competitive matches this season.

The second-half started with Brakes now well on top but vulnerable to some quick, Alvechurch breakaways. Adams and Nicholls were stretching an uncompromising defence and Agar went close before Brakes increased their lead. A Thompson corner was headed superbly into the net by Mort to make it 3-1 in the 59th, almost a carbon copy of his header against Pershore at the start of the month.

A brief surge by Alvechurch was well contained by a defence now performing solidly with quiet efficiency in total contrast to the first 10 minutes. McFarlane was impressive as usual and Ball was fitting in as if he'd played with the team many more times. All three substitutes came on in the last five minutes of normal time to share in a famous victory. Ball made a strong and timely block in the 88th and McFarlane shepherded an attacker out of the danger area in the 90th to cap an outstanding display. Gettings grows in stature with every game and made several excellent stops but, more encouragingly, showed little sign of the fallibility which could have unsettled one so young after an uncertain start.

Leamington: James Gettings, Jonny Burgess, Harj Dhesi (Josh Blake 85), Nick McFarlane, Jamie Ball, Ben Adams (Barry Shearsby 90), Nick Mort, Chris Hanrahan, Brian Agar (Darren Timms 88), Paul Nicholls, Steve Thompson [Capt.]

Team News: Simon Walker (at the match) will not play again this season; Gregory's ankle not as bad as feared and could play soon; Andy Ellis now fit; Ian Clarkson OK to play (did NOT sign for Forest Green) and was at the match.