All Bluster and No Goals As Brakes Get Coalville Reality Check

After their dramatic FA Cup win at Oadby Town on Tuesday night, Brakes came back down to earth with a bang, putting up a lacklustre display to lose by a single goal at Owen Street.

There was blustery wind blowing from end to end which added to the Autumnal feel, in stark contrast to last week's sunshine at the New Windmill. Coalville play at a neat, well-maintained ground near the centre of town and the stage was set for Brakes to continue their good league form which had seen only one defeat in eight matches. However, a 25th minute goal from a well-taken free kick was enough to condemn them to their second reverse and evoke memories of that first loss at Oldbury which also came off the back of a penalty shoot-out in an extended FA Cup replay.

Brakes welcomed back Steve Smith in the heart of the defence alongside Ryan Parisi, pushing Andy Gregory into a midfield position. In an early period of pressure, Coalville's 'keeper Sean Bowles had to come well out from his goal to clear after the defence had failed to deal with a Kristian Kelsall cross to the far post. At the other end, Jason Weafer shot hard and low through a crowd of Brakes' defenders, but Paul Shepherd gathered easily.

In the 10th minute, Coalville skipper Dave Tonge was booked for a foul from behind on Ben Usher, but any hopes that the referee would crack down further on illegal challenges from the home side proved false, although he did make a second booking later in the match for not retreating ten yards at a free-kick.

Brakes lived a little dangerously with a cross from the left by Weafer leaving the defence exposed but, thankfully, nobody was on hand to take advantage. A corner on 22 minutes was headed on by Tonge to Joe Bunce, but the 15 year-old Leicester City Academy player put his shot over the bar. However, Coalville did find the back of the net three minutes later, in the 25th, when, from a free-kick outside the penalty area, Martin Fox stepped over the ball leaving Andy Tiday to put his shot wide of a static Shepherd into the corner.

On 37 minutes, Usher had a long-range strike go just over the bar and, shortly after, Gregory rose to meet a Josh Blake free-kick, but saw his header also just clear the woodwork.

Brakes pressed for an equaliser at the start of the second half but, despite their possession, didn't put Bowles under any sort of pressure. Leon Morgan had a good chance in the 65th minute but, after beating two defenders, his shot lacked power. On 72 minutes, Richard Adams went off with a nasty cut to the back of his head to be replaced by his brother Jon, who has recovered from the virus that affected him at Oadby. With just four minutes left, Tiday raced clear down the left and, with only Shepherd to beat, put his shot tamely into the 'keeper's arms. Right at the death, Brakes' best move of the day ended with substitute Andy Stidder shooting wide from close range.

To cap it all, the referee's official match report gave the result as a 2-1 win to Leamington. Enough said.

Manager Jason Cadden didn't mince words saying " I am far from happy, Our performances over the last couple of weeks have not been good and a defeat has been coming. I told the players that, unless we improved, it could happen today. We didn't create enough but despite that, Paul Shepherd had nothing to deal with other than the free kick. There will be changes with Neil Stacey and Andy Stidder coming into the reckoning."

Leamington: Paul Shepherd; Kristian Kelsall (Andy Stidder 87); Darran Tank; Steve Smith; Ryan Parisi; Andy Gregory; Stuart Herlihy; Leon Morgan [Capt]; Ben Usher (Alex Rodman 66); Richard Adams (Jon Adams 72); Josh Blake
Subs Not Used: Tom Sidwell; Ryan Howell

Coalville Town: Sean Bowles; Lee Miveld; Martin Fox; Ashley Brown; Dave Tonge [Capt]; Jason Knight; Danum Russell; Joe Bunce; Andy Tiday; Jason Weafer; Lee McGlinchey; Steve Fenton; Richard Walker; Phil Garner; Lee Harriman

Attendance 286

Players' and Other News: Former youth team player Neil Stacey has re-signed for the club, whilst still being registered by Moor Green. Stacey can play in defence or as an attacker, where he made a few first-team appearances in the Midland Combination.