Blake and Adams seal local derby victory at windy New Windmill

A bumper crowd, that took the New Windmill attendance figure beyond the 13,000 mark for the season, saw a tense match played in a swirling wind that made life difficult for both sides. At any level of football, missed chances cost matches and so it proved here as Brakes took full advantage of their visitors failure to convert the opportunities that came their way.

Any latecomers would hardly have had time to settle into position before Ben Mackey capitalised on a mistake by Brakes' keeper Richard Morris to convert a cross from the right in the 3rd minute (0-1). A long-range shot from Alex Rodman was all that the home side had to offer in response before Paul White had a golden opportunity to put the Racers further ahead on 17 minutes, but Morris made amends saving with his legs.

Had White scored, he would have given Brakes a mountain to climb, but they began to assert some authority over the play and, when Stuart Herlihy and Martin Thompson combined on the right in the 20th minute to send a cross into the penalty area, Josh Blake was on hand to stab the ball home for his 14th goal of the season and level the scores (1-1).

Back came the visitors and White again should have scored, but Morris made a crucial save. For Brakes, Thompson made a storming run into the penalty area before Jon Adams put a shot over the bar. Ashley Pringle then put his shot high over the bar and the clubhouse roof and another golden opportunity fell Racing's way when White put Ben Steane through, but Morris was again equal to the task.

The deciding strike came on 43 minutes when Jon Adams rose to score (2-1) his first headed goal for Brakes from a precision James Husband cross, the ball just creeping inside the post to beat 'keeper Mike Payne.

The second period was again scrappy as the wind continued to wreak havoc. On 53 minutes, Payne failed to gather an Alex Rodman inswinging corner from the left and Pringle headed clear to save the day. At the other end, Morris touched a Steane free-kick over the bar and substitute Jermaine Gordan shot straight at the Brakes' keeper. Racing could have levelled on 80 minutes, but Steane's shot hit the post. Right at the end, Morris was booked for time wasting and, despite a few minutes of added time, Brakes held on to win.

Helihy and Adams were again strong in midfield and Morton Titterton, playing deep to support the defence, was influential in everything that Brakes did. James Husband went off with a knee injury that will keep him out of Tuesday's Polymac Services Cup semi-final, but everyone else should be fit for duty.

Racing Club manager, Marcus Law summed it all up, saying "We have no excuses and have got to accept the result. We are a good technical side and had a lot of possession, but simply didn't take our chances. If the table was decided on chances created, we would be promotion contenders. The Leamington midfield protected the goal rather than the defence but, when needed, their 'keeper made some good saves and was by far the busier of the two."

For Brakes manager Jason Cadden there was the satisfaction of seeing his side win all four South Warwickshire derbies this season. He said "These were difficult conditions, but we were slow to start and conceded a poor goal, We showed character to claw our way back and Josh's opener came from a good move from midfield whilst Jon's header was a collectors' item.

Having gone 2-1 up at the break, we defended well against the wind and got a welcome three points. However, we have got to play better on Tuesday and this was just the kick up the rear that we needed not to take anything for granted."

Leamington Richard Morris; Alex Rodman (Ryan Howell 85); Mike Feely; Neil Stacey; Tom Cudworth; Morton Titterton [Capt.]; Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy; Josh Blake; Martin Thompson; James Husband (Leon Morgan 68)
Subs Not Used: Paul Eden; Andy Crabtree; Paul Shepherd

Racing Club Warwick Mike Payne; Scott Lower; Nick Green; Robert Betts; Thierry Bateman; Ashley Pringle; Michael Hayden (James Wood 68); Ben Steane (Gavin O'Toole 80); Ben Mackey; Paul White; Danny Williams (Jermaine Gordon 60)
Subs Not Used: Tom Stevenson; Craig Jones

Attendance 785

Match photographs»