Magnificent Seven Deliver the Title as Brakes Gun Down Ten-Man Alveston

Manager Jason Cadden is not normally stuck for words, but all he could say at the end of this emphatic win that finally sealed the Midland Combination Premiership was "magnificent seven." In truth, he didn't need to say any more, as his players had done the talking and are on the point of setting a record for the season that will take some beating in years to come. The forty matches played so far have yielded 123 goals and their performances at the New Windmill, that have seen only one draw against Pilkington XXX to spoil an otherwise unblemished record, have been the bedrock of the Brakes' title challenge.

Watching the scenes of celebration at the end, my mind went back to the middle of October when Brakes last lost a league match. As we left Coleshill Town that afternoon, a gloomy feeling was descending over the club but, on this fine Spring afternoon, there was nothing but joy for the crowd of 859 who will, hopefully, be back in August to see Brakes kick-off in the Travel Factory Midland Alliance.

Right from the outset there was drama aplenty as, with only four minutes gone, Scott Easterlow chased back to try to dispossess the speedy Richard Adams who was bearing down on goal and brought the Brakes' hotshot down on the edge of the penalty area. A red card was the inevitable consequence and it left a struggling Alveston side with an even bigger mountain to climb. Such was the Brakes' dominance from then on, I only recorded three goalscoring opportunities for the visitors in the remainder of the half, two of which resulted in corners.

By the interval, Brakes had effectively sealed the match through two goals by Richard Adams in the 13th and 21st minutes, 2-0, and a third by the rejuvenated Paul Nicholls on the stroke of half-time after good work by Jon and Ben Adams down the right, 3-0 in the 45th. Of particular delight was Adams' second, where he lobbed young 'keeper Oliver Manuel to make it 33 in the league (plus one in the FA Vase) to confirm that he has skill to match his pace.

The second half was really one-way traffic, although Alveston's Luke Edwards had a good chance on 82 minutes picking up a pass from substitute Darren Colledge only to shoot wide with just Richard Morris to beat. However, it was all over by then as Leon Morgan (74th), Tom Sidwell (77th), his first of the season and Stuart Herlihy (86th) with a fine solo effort had doubled Brakes' lead to make it 6-0. Just to round things off, Morgan got his second and Brakes' seventh in the 89th following a precision low cross from the right by Richard Adams.

It might have been more, but Manuel pulled off a fine save to tip a Herlihy goal-bound header over the bar in the 55th minute (for which, strangely, no corner was given) and Ryan Howell's shot near the end cannoned off the far post.

Speaking in the clubhouse afterwards, Brakes' skipper Steve Thompson reflected on achieving the title, saying "I didn't think it would ever come; it has been a long two weeks. Last Saturday was like a cup final where we didn't perform, but we had another chance to get it right this time. After the sending off and the first goal, I never had any doubt that we would win. We have only one training session this week, so there is time to relax before the trip to Shifnal and concentrate on staying unbeaten until the end of the season."

It seems a lifetime ago when Brakes played their last match at the Windmill Ground against Walsall Wood in the Midland Combination. To have relaunched the club after an absence of twelve years on a pitch developed from a ploughed field was an achievement in itself and now the future is there to be shaped and grasped. One man who did so much to keep the club alive, but who did not live long enough to see today's triumph, was Don Hartwell. Those who knew and worked with him will understand why this report is dedicated to his memory.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Ben Adams; Darran Tank (Simon Walker 75); Steve Smith (Chris Hanrahan 63); Tom Sidwell; Leon Morgan; Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy; Richard Adams; Paul Nicholls (Ryan Howell 67); Steve Thompson [Capt]

Alveston: Oliver Manuel; Tom Carroll; Phil Daly; Chris Turner; Luke Edwards; Chris Gummery; Gary Joynes; Barry Shearsby [Capt]; Greg Sherrington; Scott Easterlow; Oliver Boyle; Martin West; Chris Sockett; Darren Colledge

Team News: Andy Gregory on holiday