Heartbrake As Romulus Clinch Title In Dramatic Season-End

On a typically wet Bank Holiday weekend, 572 fans braved the elements to see Brakes comprehensively beat neighbours Alveston only to lose the Midland Combination Premiership title by one point. Leaders Romulus were being held to a draw by Dudley Sports until ten minutes from the end of their match, but came good to record a 3-1 victory and deny Brakes the crown.

Despite amassing 94 points in their 40 matches and boasting the best defence, Brakes had the misfortune to come up against the Romulus goal machine which rattled in 128 strikes on the way to their championship winning tally of 95 points. Despite the criticisms that have sometimes been aired, manager Jason Cadden and his squad of local players have done the club and the town proud. With the average crowd above last season (including three attendances of over 700) the fans also played their part in what was another step in the right direction in the rebirth of Leamington Football Club.

It was not an afternoon for the faint-hearted and the tension could be felt all around the ground. Throughout the first-half, Alveston 'keeper Richard Leyton looked like he was going to deny Brakes all on his own. In the eighth minute, he punched clear a Tom Sidwell header and then almost immediately pulled off a double save from Paul Nicholls and Josh Blake. On 15 minutes, a Nicholls' flick-on to Martin Thompson saw Leyton save with his legs and, then when he was beaten on 22 minutes, he watched Martin Thompson's effort hit the bar.

Brakes did get the ball into the net on 38 minutes as the two Thompsons combined and Martin's header seemed to have put the home side in front. However, to the anguish of the fans, the effort was disallowed. Then on the stroke of half-time, Richard Morris saved bravely at the feet in an Alveston breakaway and Darren Timms almost scored with a spectacular scissors-kick from a Steve Thompson cross. The teams went into the break all square and with the news that Romulus were also drawing meaning that the championship was still on its way to Birmingham.

The second half was one-way traffic as Brakes turned on the style. In the 48th minute, an inswinging corner from the right by Steve Thompson was met by Paul Nicholls and the club's leading striker headed home his twenty-sixth league goal of the season, 1-0. This was the signal for the rain to stop and the North Bank, now packed into the Harbury Lane end stand, started to increase their vocal support. Seven minutes later, in the 55th minute, Nicholls turned provider feeding Josh Blake who made it 2-0 and then in the 59th minute Martin Thompson raced clear of the Alveston defence but couldn't capitalise in the opportunity.

The third goal duly came in the 72nd minute and was an absolute cracker. Alveston's Darren Weston fouled Josh Blake just outside the penalty area and the Brakes' striker got up to send the free kick wide of Leyton, 3-0. Substitute Vernor Sleem than pulled the ball back from the by-line out on the right, but Stuart Herlihy sent his shot just wide. Sleem was again the provider in the 82nd minute putting over a fabulous cross for Martin Thompson to head home for 4-0 notching Brakes' 100th league goal of the season in the process. In the final seconds, after the 90th, the tireless Herlihy put Martin Thompson through for his second and Brakes' fifth goal, 5-0.

As the news filtered through of the Romulus result, the crowd generously applauded the players off the field, sharing in their disappointment and recognising that they had given everything. The mood in the dressing room was upbeat and Jason Cadden was already looking forward to next season. reflecting on the match he said "We had a frustrating first half when the ball wouldn't go in. However, the second period was one-way traffic and we not only scored five, but finished with a clean sheet again. It has been a great season and we only lost three league matches from the turn of the year, so I couldn't have asked for more from the players. We will build on this next time and look to strengthen the squad where we need to"

Leamington: Richard Morris; Jonny Burgess (Barry Shearsby 75); Simon Walker; Tom Sidwell; Andy Gregory; Darren Timms; Stuart Herlihy; Josh Blake (Harj Dhesi 79); Martin Thompson; Paul Nicholls (Vernor Sleem 67); Steve Thompson [Capt]