Sleem Stunner Sets Brakes on Road to Victory

After Saturday's defeat at the hands of Feckenham, Brakes needed something special to get back on the winning trail. It came on the stroke of half-time when Vernor Sleem let fly with a stunning shot from well outside the penalty area that left Marconi 'keeper Chris Daffern clutching at thin air. With Josh Blake doubling the lead in the second half, Brakes withstood a late Marconi onslaught to earn three valuable points and out their championship bid back on track.

On a windy and wet night, a visit to Marconi is never an easy ride. However, Brakes showed much more commitment and purpose than in Saturday's encounter and were good value for their win. The first half was scrappy at times and, after some early Brakes pressure, Richard Morris was called upon to make a brave save diving at the feet of Marconi danger man Jamie Towers in the fifteenth minute. Marconi then struck a post before Josh Blake went clear through, only to be brought down with no penalty given. The Marconi tackles were coming in fast and furious at times, with both Baz Shearsby and Mark Simmonds needing treatment. However, the referee let most of them go unpunished before booking 'keeper Daffern for time-wasting on 38 minutes. Just as it looked like the half would end goalless, Sleem with virtually the last kick of the period gave Brakes the lead to ease the pressure; 45th, 0-1.

With the rain tumbling down at the start of the second half, Brakes attacked with some gusto and Blake was on hand on 53 minutes to poke the ball home after the Marconi defence failed to clear, 0-2. He nearly got a second five minutes later, but a defender cleared off the line. In the 71st minute, the home side pulled one back with a well-struck free kick from skipper Craig Civzelis that set up a storming finish, 1-2. However, Simon Walker was a tower of strength in the Brakes' defence and the whole team played their part in securing a much needed win.

Manager Jason Cadden described it as "a good all-round performance." He added "We won a lot of first balls and our workrate was superb. It was good to bounce back from Saturday and we must now build on this performance against Coleshill Town"

Leamington: Richard Morris; Jonny Burgess (Harj Dhesi 90); Simon Walker; Tom Sidwell; Andy Gregory; Steve Thompson [Capt]; Darren Timms; Mark Simmonds (Ryan Parisi 72); Barry Shearsby; Josh Blake; Vernor Sleem
Subs Not Used: Anthony Episcopo

Leamington Team News: Paul Nicholls, Nick McFarlane and David Care all injured and out for up to four weeks; Martin Thompson now training and could be back within a week; Simon Wickson building strength after operations and long lay-off now expects to be back end of January; Niels Kristensen was out serving his seven days suspension for the red card at Alsager; Jonny Burgess and Mark Simmonds will miss Saturday's game against Coleshill Town as they will be travelling North to Newcastle on Tyne for Jonny B's stag night.