Brakes Take Silver Medal Position In League Opener

Dreadful conditions on the motorways saw many late arrivals to far-off Meir but, despite the officials only making it with 20 minutes to spare, the match kicked off on time. A crowd of 123 watched on a pleasant summer's day with the pitch looking in prime condition.

It was not to be Brakes' day. Although they had plenty of opportunity to go into the lead Meir scored on the quarter hour adding three more in seven minutes before half-time as Brakes' defence crumbled against a spirited attack. The second half showed a marked improvement but a late goal gave Meir an "old five" against Brakes who failed to reply in an opening day shocker.

Brakes started with a flourish with Leon Morgan, the target man, nodding balls into the path of Howell and Burgess. Brakes could have scored twice before Meir broke in the 15th and made it 1-0 with a drive into the corner. Brakes continued to threaten but for all their clever interplay and the driving runs of Herlihy they weren't getting many clear shots on goal though a Timms shot and McBain header in the 28th minute brought saves from the Meir 'keeper.

Then it all unfolded with three goals in seven minutes. The pattern was similar with Brakes on the attack but losing the ball to the quicker Meir attackers who pulled the two central defenders in different directions leaving Adams and Burgess uncertain who to pick up. The lack of a sweeper, such as Dhesi or Walker, to tidy up at the back, left Morris exposed. It was 2-0 in the 31st after a cruel deflection and 3-0 in the 34th, with a clever lob over a hesitant Morris, soon after Howell had nearly scored. Then, again after Howell had twisted and turned into the Meir area, the ball was lost and Meir made it 4-0 in the 38th with a through ball slipped past the advancing Morris. Yet again Howell nearly scored after a Thompson cross in the 43rd but it was saved by the 'keepers legs.

The second half was more even but Meir could have scored immediately after Brakes went close, twice, in the 47th from Howell and Morgan and again from Morgan in the 58th. With 10 minutes to go Brakes were maintaining a barrage on the Meir goal but with no result. Then, in the 86th, once again Meir moved quickly out of defence to make it 5-0 from a point-blank header after a cross from the right.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Jonny Burgess (Josh Blake 54); Ben Adams; Andy McKinley; Darran Tank; Darren Timms (Chris Hanrahan 64); Stuart Herlihy; Lee McBain (Mark Anderson 64); Ryan Howell; Leon Morgan; Steve Thompson [Capt]

Other Team News: Niels Kristensen still having knee problems; Simon Walker carrying injury as is Lee Lavery; Martin Thompson suspension and injury; Tom Friend suspension; Baz Shearsby getting married (congrats Baz).