Grief At Griff As Another Late Equaliser Denies Brakes Points

On a balmy, Nuneaton night 240 fans saw Brakes take the lead through Steve Thompson in the 14th minute and then fail to capitalise though dominating the game for most of the 90 minutes. Overwhelming possession was not leading to clear-cut goal opportunities with the only salvation being that Griff's attack seemed to have even fewer ideas. But, inevitably it seems in the current run, Griff snatched a late equaliser in the 83rd when Jamie Williamson ran 40 yds almost unhindered to drive a low shot firmly into the corner of the net. There were some broad smiles at the end but they were worn by visitors from Sphinx and Romulus.

Brakes dominated a scrappy first half having most of the possession with the Griff attack making few inroads and finding a Brakes' defence in dominating form when they did. One tackle by the returning Gregory showing that he hasn't lost his bite after hamstring problems. Simmonds was close with a free kick from the edge of the box in the 3rd minute and Martin Thompson combined well with Sleem to set up a chance that was just kept out by a fortunate Griff 'keeper 10 minutes later.

Brakes' pressure finally broke the Griff defence and a pull-back from the influential Simmonds was lashed home from in front of goal by Steve Thompson in the 14th minute, 0-1. A succession of Brakes' corners followed with Brakes well on top but a raking drive by Hanrahan in the 29th was the only real shot on goal in the rest of the half despite all the possession.

The standard of the game improved in the secod half with some good football by both sides but with Brakes still dominating. Simmonds combined with Blake to force yet another corner and Martin Thompson threatened to run past a faltering Griff defence more than once. Another flurry of corners put Griff under pressure and Blake skimmed the bar with a snap header in the 62nd from a Simmonds free kick on the left of the box. Blake, again, ran through the Griff defence in the 69th but the 'keeper made an excellent stop.

There were a few worrying signs at the other end and the under-employed Morris came out well to block a marauding forward in the 71st. The game was still being dominated by Brakes though the memory of recent events caused some concern. And this proved justified when, in the 83rd minute, Jamie Williamson ran 40 yds through the Brakes' defence to make it 1-1, a type of strike that brings back memories of old vulnerabilities with the defence marking the other players well but failing to pick up the nippy striker who just kept going.

A late appearance, back from injury, by David Care in the 87th minute was some consolation for the 240 fans but it was too little, too late and too soon for him to get into the game after such a long lay-off and make any sort of impression. Despite a late surge from Brakes Griff held out and the only further mark for Brakes was in the referee's book, a yellow card for Timms issued in the dying moments of the game.

Draw specialists, Griff, have now drawn 11 of their 26 games so maybe this result should not be seen as so surprising. Brakes move up a place to 3rd and it is still in their own hands to overtake Rugby and stay ahead of the rest of the pack apart from Romulus who are still the main threat to promotion and can't be caught unless they slip up. But there is a lot of season left though Brakes must return to winning ways soon.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Josh Blake; Simon Walker; Andy Gregory; Tom Sidwell; Darren Timms; Mark Simmonds; Chris Hanrahan; Vernor Sleem (David Care 87); Martin Thompson (Ryan Parisi 78); Steve Thompson [Capt]
Subs Not Used: Niels Kristensen

Leamington Team News: Baz Shearsby and Paul Nicholls still carrying injuries; Anthony Episcopo is fit but taking exams at Ryton to join the police force - let's hope he still plays for the boys in gold, not blue; Harj Dhesi and Glen Webb fit and at the game; Jonny Burgess still on honeymoon; Stuart Herlihy and Simon Wickson - er, don't know - sorry.