Rocester Roasted (Again) at Icy NWG

An impeccably observed minute’s silence for George Best started proceedings on a day made bitterly cold by the brisk wind that seemed to be blowing only at the New Windmill. The attendance of 364 was on a par with cup competitions, other than the FA Cup. Captain Leon Morgan misses just this one match in his 7-days suspension for the diving save at Ossett.

Rocester lost 4-0 in the league at the NWG back in August but had shown recent signs of recovery after an appalling run without a win. But Brakes dispelled any burgeoning hope in the 3rd minute when Richard Adams made it 1-0 picking up a pass from Howell and running through to slip the ball past the ‘keeper.

Brother Jon nearly made it two only four minutes later when his goal-bound drive was somehow kept out and Rocester looked like a team expecting a thrashing as Brakes turned the screw. In the 19th Richard Adams ran down a ball that was on its way for a goal-kick and crossed for Howell to stoop low and head on target but, again, Brakes were denied by some desperate defending.

With Rocester offering little Tank moved up field to head just wide in the 20th and a ferocious drive by Rodman a minute later was beaten away. Titterton was turning past players in the centre and Kelsall dominating the right flank and the second goal came courtesy of a central defender, albeit one known for his goal-scoring up front for Leamington Youth. A Blake cross found the head of Howell but his effort was beaten away to the right edge of the box where Stacey smashed an imperious drive into the top left corner for 2-0 in the 25th, his first goal for the club at senior level.

Now well in command Brakes dominated without adding to the score before half-time though a Blake cross in the 45th, whipped across the face of the goal, deserved better.

The second half started with more of the same and Richard Adams brought a magnificent save from the admirable Wood in the Rocester goal diving high and wide to turn a shot bound for the top, left corner round the post. McFarlane, a Brakes’ favourite before he left to live and work in Yorkshire some two years ago, and who is now back in the area for a couple of months at least, came on to loud applause but in the same 59th minute Rocester were back in the game when Poole turned and hit a screamer into Brakes net, 2-1.

Brakes continued to stroke the ball around well but this was now a much more even game as Rocester enjoyed a surge of confidence and even a period of ascendancy. The game was more like a “real cup-tie” with end-to-end play and only the thought of extra time in the plummeting temperatures lessening the enjoyment. But Rocester still didn’t look like scoring.

An enormous cheer greeted the return of Steve Thompson in the 84th, back on the pitch for the first time since his horrendous injury at Sutton back in August. The temperature dropped further and dark grey clouds moved in as some less hardy souls started to leave with the game looking won despite only one goal difference. And they missed a final 10 minutes of complete control as Brakes reasserted their dominance.

To the sound of cold engines revving with car headlights showing up the training pitch, first McFarlane met a Rodman free kick from the right to head majestically over the ‘keeper for 3-1 in the 89th then, with Rodman running riot, Kelsall just missed, Martin Thompson hit the bar and Blake ran through, skimmed the ‘keeper and slotted home for 4-1 in added time after the 90th just as sleet and rain started to fall from the leaden sky.

The two late goals maybe flattered Brakes in the end but such was their dominance during most of the game that the late goals merely served to mark what was probably a fair result taking the game as a whole. And the welcome return, for different reasons, of both Steve Thompson and Nick McFarlane, with Stuart Herlihy’s due 4 December, gives Brakes options in the coming weeks at a time when many clubs are struggling for fit players.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Kristian Kelsall; Darran Tank [Capt]; Ryan Parisi; Neil Stacey (Nick McFarlane 59); Morton Titterton; Jon Adams; Alex Rodman; Ryan Howell (Steve Thompson 84); Richard Adams (Martin Thompson 72); Josh Blake
Subs Not Used: Jamie Coleman; Paul Shepherd

Rocester (From): Paul Wood; Nathan Gallagher; Tom Poole; James McCarron; Carl Allen [Capt]; Michael Ede; Robert Hubball; Anthony Collins; Paul Tortoishell; Neil Bayliss-Rowe; Craig Hancox; Tom Barnett; Lee Bloor; Mark Ruddock; Elliot Richards

Attendance: 364

Players' News: Paul Eden and Tom Sidwell both hamstrings (could be three weeks); Andy Gregory, bruised foot, another week; Steve Smith at a wedding; Andy Stidder has joined Southam United; Leon Morgan’s 7-day suspension ends after Sunday 27 November so he is available for Tuesday having missed just one match and Stuart Herlihy’s 35 days ends 4 December so he returns in time for Romulus on 6 December.

Other News: 100 Club winners for November are £100 – no. 072; £75 – no. 070; £50 – no. 059.