Richard Adams Breaks Deadlock on Return to Tally Ho!

For the second week running, Brakes came up against a goalkeeper in the form of his life and it took until the 79th minute for the home team's Simon Williams to be beaten. Fittingly, it was Richard Adams returning to his home "beat" who struck to maintain Leamington's challenge for the title, in the process drawing level with Josh Blake on 29 goals in the race to be the club's leading scorer for the season.

Manager Jason Cadden made three changes from the side that had beaten Shifnal Town, although the loss of Blake through suspension was unavoidable. Chris Hanrahan, who made both goals against Shifnal, was unwell and Stuart Herlihy was unavailable, although he will be in contention at Alveston on Monday.

Brakes were slow out of the starting blocks and could have gone behind after only three minutes when Peter Lee got his head to a free-kick, but directed the ball just wide. The visitors seemed to have trouble in dealing with the Police's offside trap (no jokes, please) but Richard Adams could have done better with his shot on five minutes after good work by the returning Leon Morgan and Paul Nicholls.

Adams was again well positioned when meeting a Steve Thompson corner on 11 minutes, but this time he put his header into the side netting. Ben Adams, who made a lot of good runs down the right flank, sent a free kick over which Nicholls helped on to Richard Adams who headed over. This was a sustained period of pressure for Brakes and Williams got down well to palm a Nicholls shot around the post on 17 minutes. Ben Adams then had a good cross cum shot tipped over by Williams before Dayle Speed almost directed a Steve Thompson cross into his own net.

In the 29th minute, Morgan needlessly handled on the edge of the penalty area, but Mark Delaney, who trialled for Brakes in the pre-season, sent his free kick over the bar. As Brakes launched yet more attacks, Williams made a double save from Thompson before diving low to thwart the returning Ryan Howell who was given a tough time by Police central defender Craig Jenkins.

The second half was very much like the first with Brakes mounting attack after attack. Williams dived to his left to save a Jon Adams long-range shot on 54 minutes before Richard Adams put a header onto the crossbar. Jenkins then saved Police clearing off the line from a good cross by Thompson. However, with tension mounting amongst the 200 visiting fans, it all came right in the 79th minute when Thompson sprang the off-side trap to cross to Richard Adams whose header crept inside the far post for the decisive strike that sealed the match (0-1).

Substitute Andy Gregory sent a header into the arms of Williams with only seven minutes remaining, but there were no more moments of note as the clocked ticked away to full time.

Jason Cadden was happy enough with the result, saying "We created a lot of chances, but lacked sparkle near goal. Their 'keeper kept them in the match but, in the end, we got the first of the three wins we are looking for over the next seven days."

Leamington: Andy Harper; Ben Adams; Darran Tank; Steve Smith; Tom Sidwell; Jon Adams; Leon Morgan; Richard Adams; Ryan Howell (Ryan Parisi 81); Paul Nicholls (Andy Gregory 71); Steve Thompson [Capt]
Sub(s) Not Used: Jonny Burgess

West Midlands Police: Simon Williams; Andrew Mitchem; Matthew Miles (James Noble 62); Dayle Speed [Capt.]; Craig Jenkins; Russell Harvey; Peter Lee; Rory Juss; David Scriven; Mark Delaney (Issac Berry 67); Mark McDonagh
Sub(s) Not Used: Gerald Moore

Team News: Herlihy rested; Hanrahan unwell