Adams Family Work Their Magic Before 562 at Masons Road

An incredible 562 streamed through the turnstile at Masons Road on a balmy evening with the merest hint of rain at the start failing to fulfil its threat. Billed by some last week as a 6-pointer Stratford spoilt that by losing 1-0 on Saturday leaving Brakes as the only 100% club in the league. And that's the way it stayed with Jon Adams slotting a brace at either end of the first half and brother Richard grabbing a third on the hour. Stratford pulled one back from a free-kick with 10 minutes left but Brakes were rarely troubled in yet another comprehensive win that leaves them clear at the top of the table.

Many fans were calling this the big test and pronouncing that a draw would be fine. A few plashes of rain just before kick-off briefly threatened to cool fevered brows and there was tension in the air: a big crowd, a big match against nearly local rivals, just the setting for it to all go wrong. Then, a Thompson long throw from the left, a headed flick-on by Cap'n Morgan and Jon Adams raced in to crash the ball in the roof of the net in only the 4th minute, 0-1. Nerves settled with a collective sigh as good work by Jon Adams and Blake nearly brought a second five minutes later and Kelsall was narrowly thwarted in the 12th with two rasping drives from Rodman, one with each foot, saved by a 'keeper at full stretch.

Stratford were being run down by the speedy Brakes and couldn't settle. But three throw-ins and a corner brought Brakes no reward and Richard Adams had a shot well saved in the 23rd, robbing a surprised Stratford defender as Brakes continued to press. And when Stratford did break they found a solid, Brakes defence defending in numbers. A cheer greeted Stratford's first corner in the 29th. Rodman was inches wide in the 30th after a 1 2 with the ever effervescent Blake and then went close again after exchanging passes with Jon Adams. A "free header" for Stratford's Connolly was put well wide in the 34th, Stratford's first real goal attempt.

And yet for all their superiority Brakes were only one ahead as half-time loomed. Another surging run by Rodman took him past two defenders but his shot wasn't strong enough and Morgan was unlucky to have an attempt charged down before Stratford nearly scored in the 45th with Thompson heading off the line. But that was a wake-up call for Brakes and Jon Adams again, still in the 45th, nicked the ball off a momentarily hesitant defender to run clear on goal and stroke the ball wide of the 'keeper for 0-2 at the break, the first time this season that a Brakes player has scored more than once in a match.

Richard Adams ran through in the 58th to smash home for 0-3. Stratford must have felt relief when a tiring Richard Adams was replaced but they were soon disabused when Stidder had a vicious shot turned over after breaking clear.

With Brakes buzzing and Gregory, Tank and a rejuvenated Thompson locking up the defence Stratford looked increasingly less likely to score in open play. Smith, often released from defensive duties, even had time to add to the midfield and it came as a shock to the vocal fans when Stratford scored, inevitably from a free kick, that was expertly struck home from the edge of the area in the 79th by Mortimer for 1-3.

Some excellent play down the left saw Kelsall release Howell who blasted over, then, with five minutes remaining, Howell turned provider with a superb pass for Stidder to lash just wide and, with Parisi a late replacement for the excellent Tank, Brakes saw out the remaining minutes comfortably enough for another excellent win.

The only sour note was that manager Cadden was annoyed that some fans were whinging at some of the Leamington players for playing defensively (I can hardly believe I'm hearing this). He asked for "understanding and patience in a learning situation for all the team as well as the management at, effectively, two steps higher than last season" and said that keeping possession was sometimes better than losing the ball in an attack rather than playing it back. He pleaded for the fans to get behind the team instead.

I obviously stand in the wrong (right?) place. All I hear from Leamington fans these days is a purr of satisfaction at the players, the facilities and, most of all, the superb job being done by the management team. As somebody said to me during the match "this is the best Leamington team I've ever seen". Perhaps those of us who are more quietly satisfied need to be as vociferous as the few detractors any well-supported club will attract.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Kristian Kelsall; Darran Tank (Ryan Parisi 90); Steve Smith; Andy Gregory; Steve Thompson; Jon Adams; Leon Morgan [Capt]; Richard Adams (Andy Stidder 75); Alex Rodman (Ryan Howell 55); Josh Blake
Subs Not Used: Paul Shepherd; Ben Usher

Stratford Town Starters: Shaun Hayes; Jamie Barnes; Philip Mortimer; Nigel Niblett [Capt]; Danny Hicks; Paul O'Brien; Nick Heath; Ryan Mahon; Paul Hunter; Craig Pountney; Patrick Connolly
Subs: Jay Holton; Carl Farquharson; Stephen Nock; Lee Millard