Brakes Boldly Go at Boldmere

The name, St Michaels, reflects the origins of Boldmere as a church team but when the heavens opened on Saturday they first soaked the Leamington faithful, most of the 162 crowd, then smiled on them as Brakes recorded an opening day win and stretched their unbeaten run to 22 in league and cup and 29 in the league.

But it was a nervous start in the driving rain and Brakes' defence, with three across the back, looked vulnerable down the flanks. And they paid the penalty for some slipshod defending. the Mikes taking the lead in the 6th minute when Quiggin drove home for 1-0, unmarked after a cross from the right.

At this stage there was no evidence of Brakes' free-flowing, passing game but there were signs that the nerves were settling and some good interchanges by the front runners. But the spirit was all there as Brakes made tackles count where necessary and ran down their more cautious opposition. Jon Adams and Morgan combined well to force a corner and Blake showed superb control down the left flank to mark yet another superb, committed performance.

The fans stopped muttering about the "Meir experience" and, suddenly, it all seemed possible again. Howell split the Mikes' defence with a header from the half-way line and Richard Adams ran nearly half the length of the pitch, with despairing defenders in his wake, to slide the ball past the onrushing 'keeper, 1-1 in the 31st. In the 38th there was nearly a second for Brakes as Richard Adams and Blake set up Howell for a golden opportunity which he scuffed just wide.

There was still some vulnerability in the Brakes' back line but the nippy Brakes' front-runners were now unnerving a static Mikes' defence and they got further reward when a Kelsall corner from the right nearly led to an own goal from a defender's firm header back to his own 'keeper. But, in a the ensuing comedy of errors, Blake stayed cool and forced the ball over the line, 1-2 in the 42nd.

The opening period of the second half was dominated by Brakes with the defence, now with four at the back, in control and the midfield creating chances for the nippy front-runners. It was nearly "The Adams' Family" show in the 52nd when Richard swung over a long cross from the right for brother Jon to lash a strong drive on target only to bring a superb save from the Mikes' 'keeper. Minutes later the ball was twice headed off the line as Morgan threatened an increasingly panicky Mikes' defence and, with Kelsall at the nub of everything good that was happening, Brakes' perhaps tried a little too much to walk the ball into the net as confidence grew.

Brakes looked to have paid the penalty for missed goal chances in the 64th when a shot out of nothing, from a team that seemed beaten, squirmed wetly out of Morris's grasp for an unlikely equaliser from Kirk Smith, 2-2. And, inevitably, the Mikes now picked themselves up and started to play again as Brakes lost their rhythm. But it was now that the defence came into its own with Parisi, after an uncertain start in the central defender role, now dominating and Tank doing what he does so well to clear the lines.

As the sun shone, briefly, Brakes weathered the storm and the fresh legs of Stidder, Rodman and Usher came on to run the game again. In the 85th Rodman robbed a threatening Mikes' marauder in his own half by the touchline and set up a one-touch move, via the superb Kelsall, that was nearly converted by Blake; but a minute later, in the 86th, a Kelsall corner was driven home by Usher, after excellent work by Stidder and Steve Thompson, his first goal for the club, 2-3. There were about four minutes of added time before the roar from the Brakes' fans lifted the roof of the stand but, in truth, the Mikes seemed a spent force some time before the end as Brakes' excellent preparations and fitness levels showed their worth once again.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Kristian Kelsall; Josh Blake; Darran Tank; Ryan Parisi; Andy Gregory; Steve Thompson; Leon Morgan [Capt]; Richard Adams (Ben Usher 77); Ryan Howell (Andy Stidder 66); Jon Adams (Alex Rodman 71)
Subs Not Used: Paul Shepherd; Rob Hipkiss

Boldmere St Michaels: (Started) Richard Anstiss; Dan Parker; Mark Smith; Paul Curtin; Steven Moore [Capt]; Chris Packer; Kirk Smith; James Quiggin; Mykel Beckley; Kevin Charley; Neil Finan (Subs 3/5) Callum Gittings; Nathan Gough; Jonathan Price; Steven Smith; Robert Clarke

Players' News: Martin Thompson starts with Whitnash; Paul Nicholls on loan to Ettington; Steve Smith was working away; Russell Dodd, Tom Sidwell and Simon Walker are all carrying injuries - none serious; David Care still recovering on target for September and was acting Physio. in Dean Merrick's absence on holiday; Steve Thompson is club captain, Leon Morgan captain on the pitch and Darran Tank is now joint assistant [player] manager.