Lightning Strikes and the Gods Speak

A beautiful sunny day as the team coach turned into the ground; then, within seconds, a black cloud obliterated the sun, lightning fizzed onto the pitch and the heavens opened as the Gods spoke with a mighty, thunderous roar: this was not to be Leamington's day. I don't know what the players had been up to, or maybe Caddsie, but someone up there was displeased and only Gettings and Dhesi escaped a curse that burdened our all-conquering heroes of yesterweek with fumbling uncertainty.

Within a minute Gettings had performed miracles in keeping the ball out of the net; in the 5th the fans were chanting "England's, England's No 1" as he tipped a powerful shot over the bar. But he could do nothing in the 15th when a Feckenham long free-kick was nodded in, 1-0.

When Leamington broke the touches and passes were going astray and the shots were leaden. The team were running, (or, rather, strolling) away from the ball. There was little apparent desire, little certainty, and where there was certainty it was usually misplaced. The team and its fans were united by frustration. Gettings saved at the foot of the post in the 28th and Care broke at the other end to set up Timms whose shot had no power. Then, astonishingly, Brakes were level; a beatiful cross from Sidwell on the right, just inside the Feckenham half, was met by Blake who ran in and slotted home to make it 1-1 in the 45th.

The second-half started, the sun shone and Brakes spluttered into life. In the 48th Sleem set up Care who drove just over and Walker powered up the line to set up Care for a cross which Wickson nearly converted in the 50th. In the 58th Wickson volleyed a Nicholls pass across goal and onto the top of the bar. Dhesi, as throughout the match, was supreme at the back, rarely caught and setting up most of Leamington's attacks. Was this the promised rainbow?

But, alas, the Gods were only napping, or whatever Gods do for a break. In the 62nd it was 2-1 after a run up the right flank and a simple cross found an unmarked Feckenham forward who drove home to treble Brakes' goals against for the season. Brakes fiddled and fumbled. The subs came on and made no difference. The local, Redditch drunk went into overdrive, stumbling up and down at the side of the pitch and bellowing, to the embarrassment of the Feckenham officials, and the misery of Brakes' fans already on the edge of darkness. And both West Midlands Police and Romulus won as well, Romulus 7-0 to push their goal difference one better than Brakes (though Brakes are still top having played one more game).

So, the good news (you'll have to give me a moment - oh yes): Surely we can't play, collectively, as badly again. To lose only 2-1 with such a dismal performance must be a plus and every successful team is allowed a bad day, or two. There was always a feeling that, with a lucky break maybe, Brakes may have started performing; but it was strange to see such uncertainty and lack of confidence in a team that has done so well thus far. Maybe, Caddsie, a simple sacrifice on an altar would sort things out; there are quite a few candidates for the starring role.

Leamington: James Gettings; David Care (Jonny Burgess 77); Harj Dhesi; Tom Sidwell; Simon Walker; Darren Timms [Capt]; Chris Hanrahan (Andy Gregory 88); Simon Wickson; Vernor Sleem; Paul Nicholls (Scott Easterlow 77); Josh Blake

Team News: Too dispirited to ask