Defence Breached but Brakes Turn On Style to Make It Five

The match was preceded by an impeccably observed minute's silence in memory of League Treasurer and Chairman of Knowle FC David Prust, who had been found dead at his home in the morning. David had been Chairman of the League when Brakes applied for admission for the 2000-01 season and, along with all of the Management Committee, had given great support to our rebirth.

A crosswind and bone hard pitch made controlling the ball difficult and the first quarter of an hour was scrappy. Griff's Mallic Szmid had a chance in the third minute, but put his shot over the bar, and a strike by Brakes' David Care on 14 minutes was carried high and wide by the wind. However, the match came to life on 17 minutes when Si Wickson and Vernor Sleem combined to set up Paul Nicholls who rifled in a shot to the corner (1-0). Nicholls almost doubled the lead shortly after, but did find the net again in the 40th minute, finishing off a move by Wickson and Chris Hanrahan (2-0).

Griff were restricted to breakaways with Jamie Williams looking dangerous on the left wing but the match was slowly slipping from their grasp. When Hanrahan headed in a Josh Blake cross on the stroke of half-time to make it 3-0 it was effectively all over. The first period ended with Griff players surrounding the match officials as the teams left the pitch, not a wise move when League Secretary Norman Harvey is watching!

Within three minutes of the restart the excellent Wickson had gone close from a Care free-kick and it was Care again who provided the cross on 51 minutes for Hanrahan to net his second and Brakes' fourth, 4-0. Nicholls was really fired up looking for his hat-trick and came close on 56 minutes when he robbed a defender but saw his shot well saved by the Griff 'keeper. He didn't have to wait long though for another goal as, on 65 minutes, Wickson (who had his best game for a long time) made the perfect pass and Nicholls turned his marker to score (5-0).

It was all Brakes now and the 485 strong crowd were getting good value for money. However, a lapse of concentration in an otherwise faultless defensive display allowed David Aston to get one back for the visitors converting a corner from the right. The Brakes defence had held off all attacks for 440 minutes of play this season but James Gettings could not stop a shot which just shaved the foot of the post (5-1).

Griff's Spencer Parsons was sent off two minutes from the end for flattening Nicholls as the Brakes' striker went on a run looking for his fourth goal. Make no mistake, this was a good team performance well led by stand-in skipper Darren Timms and the best start that the team has had in the four seasons that the club has been back.

Manager Jason Cadden was understandably pleased saying "this was the start of an important week for us and Griff were a difficult side to overcome. I was delighted for Paul Nicholls but all the goals were well taken and were from open play rather than the set pieces that we have been scoring from lately. We switched off at 5-0 and let in a goal but overall it was a good result."

Leamington: James Gettings; David Care (Jonny Burgess 70); Nick McFarlane; Simon Walker; Tom Sidwell; Simon Wickson (Harj Dhesi 75); Darren Timms [Capt.] (Baz Shearsby 64); Chris Hanrahan; Vernor Sleem; Paul Nicholls; Josh Blake

Team News: Usual niggly injuries, Steve Thompson still suspended - that sort of thing