Firsts For Morgan and Hanrahan But Brakes Nearly Throw It Away

Brakes swept into a two goal lead through Richard Adams and Morgan, his first for the club, in 1/4 hour and seemed to have tied things up at 3-0 after an hour when Hanrahan struck, his first of the season. But Brocton came back with two goals in five minutes to give the 340 fans an anxious 10 minutes at the end with Brocton on top after being second best for most of the game. But it was clearly a day for close calls with both teams just behind Brakes winning against lowly opposition by the odd goal, Bloxwich against Southam and Marconi against second from bottom WMP.

Brakes swept into an early lead after dominating the early stages. A corner by Thompson was hit low across the goalmouth and Richard Adams ran in to blast home for 1-0 in the 8th minute, his 10th goal in seven starts. After heavy rain earlier the 340-strong crowd settled down in dry but overcast conditions to enjoy a fine, attacking display as Brakes, kicking towards the Harbury Lane end, soon doubled their lead. McBain passed to the influential Thompson whose cross from the left was met by Morgan ghosting in from the right who swept the ball into the net in the 14th minute, 2-0. Astonishingly this was the playmaker's first goal for Brakes in seven matches in which he has hit every part of the goal except the back of the net.

Brakes continued to play good, passing football and could easily have gone further ahead through Richard Adams and Blake. Brocton's goalie got down well, and bravely, more than once to thwart onrushing strikers but seemed less certain in the air. Brakes' defence seemed well in control with Walker back-heeling out of trouble in the 30th then nodding back to Morris in goal a minute later with an assuredness that seemed to augur well for a clean sheet. But in the 40th Tank had to make an excellent tackle pay to save the day and Morris came out well a minute later to block a one-on-one after a defender had slipped.

A half-time presentation was made to Josh Blake by the Supporters' Club who had voted him their player of the month for August.

The second half started much like the first. Hanrahan drove just wide in the 47th after Richard Adams had set him up and Ben Adams went close to adding to the Adams tally minutes later after good work by Smith. Brakes seemed likely to go further ahead after the 'keeper flapped at a Hanrahan corner but two minutes later, in the 59th, Brakes scored an excellent goal to make it 3-0. Blake passed to Morgan who laid the ball back superbly with his head for Hanrahan to smash home for his first of the season.

Brakes had been dominant until this point but Brocton suddenly seemed to wake up. The Brakes' goal survived an onslaught as the ball kept coming back into their goal area. Suddenly it was a different game. Despite making some changes and bringing on fresh legs a Brocton goal seemed likely and so it proved though the shot for 3-1 in the 76th was as a direct result of the team not playing to the whistle when a linesman appeared to flag offside. Now the Badgers had their tails up as Brakes, with everyone in defence, lost its midfield and stopped playing football electing to pump hopeful balls upfield for the tiring Blake to chase.

A good move down the left made Brocton's second goal look easy as the ball was slotted home for 3-2 in the 80th. The tenacious Ben Adams and the towering Tank were all that stood between an equaliser, and possibly worse, as Brakes hung on in disarray and Brocton now played the good football. In the 88th Blake was unlucky after good work by Morgan when he hit the side-netting in a, now rare, Brakes attack, and he deserved reward for 90 minutes hard-running. With little time added on it was a relieved crowd that cheered the final whistle.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Ben Adams; Simon Walker (Mark Anderson 73); Steve Smith; Darran Tank; Lee McBain; Leon Morgan; Chris Hanrahan; Josh Blake; Richard Adams (Ryan Howell 66); Steve Thompson [Capt]
Subs Not Used: Phil Daly

Team News: Injuries to Herlihy (two weeks), Timms (one week), Martin Thompson (another two weeks), Care (one month). Friend's suspension ends Monday. Shearsby, Sleem, Burgess and Wickson all played for Whitnash. Seven days notice of an approach to Lavery has been served by Massey Ferguson.