Brakes Pluck Late Winner For Vase R1

With extra time, and a possible replay, looming Richard Adams struck in the 86th minute with a rocket from the edge of the box into the top corner to break the stalemate. Leamington probably deserved the win over 90 minutes but both teams found it difficult to break down defences on a beautiful late summer's day with the prize of a R1 match falling to Brakes who have a Second Qualifying round bye with the withdrawal of Radcliffe Olympic.

This was an entertaining game with two equally matched sides playing a teasing game, more like a chess match in warm sunshine. But though Studley were more direct, with Brakes playing the passing game, it was Brakes who made the most chances in open play.

Kelsall, back to his best after a quiet game last week on his return from injury, was working the right side well and getting in some telling crosses for the onrunning Richard Adams but the closest either side came in the first half was in the 26th when the Adams brothers combined well to release Herlihy who powered past three defenders before being stopped. Richard Adams nearly wriggled through on a teasing, testing run and Howell used his strength to get close in the 41st. But it wasn't all one way; Gregory was booked in the 23rd and Shepherd had to be on his toes more than once, most notably with an excellent stop in the 42nd to deny Studley from a free kick outside the box in front of goal. A dipping free kick from Blake was just over the bar and a powerful Howell header from Blake's cross after good work by Morgan brought a goalless first half to a close.

Handbags soon after the restart earnt Herlihy and Studley's Fitter yellow cards but it wasn't a dirty game and was played in a good spirit. Brakes were getting on top and a period of head tennis in front of the Studley goal was followed by the best move of the match so far, in the 53rd, when Morgan set up Howell for a superb nod into the path of Richard Adams who drove narrowly wide. But Studley could have taken the lead five minutes later with a diving header.

Rodman came on for the tiring Kelsall in the 61st and made an immediate impression with his deceptive speed and strength. In the 65th Howell had the ball in the net but was given offside; this was his last contribution to a match where he had run himself into the ground with Nicholls replacing him in the 73rd. In the 80th Blake was put through by Nicholls but the referee had blown already and the game was brought back for a Brakes' free kick which Rodman smashed superbly against the left post with a swerving, low drive that had beaten the Studley 'keeper.

Brakes were now well on top, as Studley added to their yellows count, and forced a succession of corners, but with it seeming likely that Studley would hold out for extra time Richard Adams picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and rocketed it into the top corner for 0-1 in the 86th. Brakes never looked like conceding their frail lead and Nicholls was close to adding from a Blake cross as the match drew to a close landing on his elbow after an acrobatic leap to be replaced, briefly, by Ben Usher.

Leamington: Paul Shepherd; Kristian Kelsall (Alex Rodman 60); Josh Blake; Darran Tank; Tom Sidwell; Andy Gregory; Stuart Herlihy; Leon Morgan [Capt]; Richard Adams; Ryan Howell (Paul Nicholls 73 (Ben Usher 90)); Jon Adams
Subs Not Used: Ryan Parisi; Paul Eden

Studley: Jason Print; Andrew Smith; Jason Dyer; Quentin Townsend [Capt]; Steven Hands; Christopher Johnson; Simon Fitter; Adam Blake; Warren Givans; Lee Ross; Robert Ager
Subs used: Aaron Williamson; Andrew Grubb Subs not used: Daniel Styles; Scott Walsh; Trevor Whittington

Attendance 230

Players' and Other News: Although Brakes are now 6th in the MFA, league results on Saturday mostly went their way. Barwell go top after a good win at Tipton, two points ahead of Brakes but having played three more, and Quorn and Romulus both drew