Brakes Make It 11 Wins On the Trot at Marconi

This was an afternoon for the true football fan as a biting wind cut across the Allard Way ground and feet froze with the onset of a night frost. An impressive first half display set up Brakes' eleventh consecutive league win to consolidate their position at the head of the Midland Combination Premiership and warm up the travelling faithful who made up the majority of the official crowd of 350.

Although regular 'keeper Richard Morris had returned from his New York trip, Andy Harper was rewarded for stepping into the breach in the previous match by again being selected in the starting line-up. Ben Adams came into the side at right wing-back allowing the impressive Jon Adams to take up a central midfield position from which he orchestrated a lot of the play.

Playing up the slope in the first half, Brakes created a number of early chances through a rejuvenated Stuart Herlihy, Josh Blake and Paul Nicholls who unluckily saw an 11th minute free kick come back off the bar. However, it was Marconi who took the lead in the 28th minute when a cross from the left cut out the Brakes defence and, although Harper saved the first shot, Gareth Plant was on hand to poke the ball home, 1-0.

The celebrations lasted only two minutes as Brakes equalised through Jon Adams who pounced after the Marconi defence had failed to clear Blake's cross from the left, 1-1 in the 30th minute. The home side's Daniel Green was booked for a futile protest over an off-side that wasn't and Marconi started to fall apart. Brakes took advantage and in the 33rd minute, the lively Richard Adams crossed from the left and Leon Morgan placed the ball low into the corner, 1-2. On the stroke of half-time, Jon Adams sent over a corner that Richard Adams forced into the net with little power, but much effect, 1-3 in the 45th.

Marconi made a substitution at the start of the second period with Petajon Gordon replacing Richard Wade. However, it was Brakes who had the chances and home 'keeper Scott Furlong did particularly well to push a rasping Herlihy shot over the bar on 60 minutes. A free kick by Marconi's Daniel Green went just wide, but his side were getting back in the hunt now and pulled one back in the 71st minute. Stuart Herlihy was adjudged to have committed a foul just outside the penalty area and Carl Nolan stepped up to place the free kick perfectly in the top left-hand corner out of Harper's reach, 2-3.

Cue a grandstand finish and, with the referee adding over five minutes of stoppage time (no complaints there) nerves started to fray towards the end. Brakes could have wrapped it up through firstly Richard Adams, who went on a dazzling run past countless defenders before Furlong saved at his feet, and secondly through substitute Ryan Howell whose shot in the 90th minute grazed the crossbar. The final drama came in the dying seconds when Richard Adams was clearly upended in the penalty area, but the referee blew for time rather than give the spot kick.

Full marks to the Brakes central defensive trio of Darran Tank, Steve Smith and the (again) impressive Andy Gregory who kept a tight reign on the league's leading scorer Christopher Partridge. There are now seventeen matches to go and every one has to be fought for, but Brakes have their destiny in their own hands and by the end of February we will know what the team is really made of.

Manager Jason Cadden was proud of his side at the end, saying "that was a job well done. We did well to hit back after going a goal down and were the better all round team over the 90 minutes. I am absolutely delighted and we now have to prepare the side to go to Bolehall Swifts next Saturday and then a tough assignment at Coventry Sphinx."

Leamington: Andy Harper; Jon Adams; Darran Tank; Steve Smith: Andy Gregory; Jon Adams; Leon Morgan (Chris Hanrahan 86); Stuart Herlihy; Richard Adams; Paul Nicholls (Ryan Howell 70); Josh Blake [Capt]
Sub(s) Not Used: Tom Sidwell

Team News: Both Simon Walker and Martin Thompson sidelined by injuries for at least a month; Baz Shearsby is joining Alveston - good luck Baz, we'll miss you.