Sub Morgan breaks local derby deadlock with late winner

Substitute Leon Morgan struck with only three minutes remaining to settle this typically tense and close local derby and complete a hat-trick of wins inside eight days for in-form Brakes.

The swirling wind made for difficult conditions for the players and a finger-numbing afternoon for spectators. After decisive wins against Oadby Town and Biddulph Victoria, Brakes' confidence was running high and they started brightly with James Husband shooting just over the bar on three minutes. Stuart Herlihy, who is slowly regaining peak fitness after a nasty bout of 'flu, rose to meet a Jon Adams corner in the 9th, but sent his header over the top into the North Bank. Almost immediately, Dave Care lost the ball in midfield to Stratford's Martin Crowley whose pass found prolific striker Craig Pountney, but his shot lacked any real power to trouble Richard Morris in the home goal.

Town looked to have the taken the lead on 19 minutes but, fortunately for Brakes, Christopher Busby's header came back off the crossbar and his follow-up went over the top with the goal at his mercy. This signalled a period of sustained pressure on the Brake's defence with Stratford being quicker to the ball and not allowing their hosts any time or space. David Foy was prompting a lot of the attacks from midfield and Busby was proving a handful in the penalty area.

However, despite all their efforts, Morris was never really troubled and it was Brakes who could have taken the lead on the half-hour. The busy Jon Adams, revelling his favourite midfield role, went deep into Stratford territory and, as the ball ran loose, Morton Titterton seized the opportunity but his shot was deflected for a corner. Then Adams fed James Husband who raced clear, but visiting 'keeper Mark Shiels got down well to save. Adams was again involved in the attack in the 34th minute which nearly resulted in Nigel Niblett putting through his own goal.

With half-time approaching, Care fouled Busby on the edge of the penalty area and Titterton had to head Foy's free-kick over his own bar to keep Stratford out. Morris then got down well to foil the ever-threatening Busby and Brakes went off to muted applause from the crowd of 575.

Whatever manager Jason Cadden said during the break certainly worked as Brakes were much more lively and, on 49 minutes, Jody McKay went close with a header from a Husband cross. Then Shiels saved well from Herlihy before McKay and Husband combined well down the left to set up Adams who shot over the bar. The match looked like ending in stalemate until Leon Morgan, who had come on as a substitute for McKay, was in the right place to meet Adams's low cross from the left and slot home the winner in the 87th minute.

Stratford came back as the minutes ticked by and Danny Hicks shot through a crowd of players, but wide of the target. In the dying seconds, Morris made a one-handed save that looked easier than it was and kept his goal intact for the third consecutive match as Brakes continued their climb up the table.

Manager Jason Cadden was delighted at another win, saying "We had to dig in and grind out a result. There were not many clear-cut chances for either side, but we kept going and Leon took his goal well after some brilliant work by Jon Adams."

Before the match, Chairman Mick Brady presented Josh Blake with a memento to mark 250 appearances for Brakes, starting with the very first match (and first goal) at the New Windmill Ground back in August 2000. It was good to see Richard Adams back as a visitor after Redditch United's match had been postponed. He gave a pre-match interview to Keith Hancock and was last seen disappearing into the dressing room to offer his congratulations.

Leamington Richard Morris; Dave Care (Alex Rodman 64); Darran Tank; Ryan Parisi; Andy Crabtree; Morton Titterton [Capt.]; Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy; Josh Blake; Jody McKay (Leon Morgan 77); James Husband
Subs Not Used: Neil Stacey; Steve Thompson; Paul Eden

Stratford Town Mark Shiels; Ian Mitchell [Capt.]; Martin Crowley (Martin Hutchcox 76); Nigel Niblett; Danny Hicks; David Foy; William Dunn; Mark Faulds; Christopher Busby; Craig Pountney (Matthew Hawker 63); Michael Stephenson
Subs Not Used: Wayne McCarron; Johnathan Jackson-Berarey;Warren Ayres

Attendance 575

Player News Ryan Howell missed after being advised against playing by his dentist having just had remedial work as a result of his teeth-loosening experience at Colchester; Paul Shepherd has a hamstring problem.

Photographs from the match»