Blake and Morgan gain revenge over the Ravens

Spring finally arrived at the New Windmill and, on a perfect afternoon for watching football, a goal in each half sealed victory for Brakes over highflying Coalville and avenged the 1-0 defeat at Owen Street back in October.

This was Brakes' third win in six days and lifted them up into fifth place in the table. With Barwell's defeat at Malvern Town, they have a real chance of making this their finishing position. The scene is now set for Tuesday night's visit to Leicestershire and victory over Barwell will guarantee that top five spot.

The opening period was scrappy with both teams showing the effects of a long and hard season. For the visitors, Danum Russell shot well wide from a good position and then Brakes' Jon Adams (playing his 61st competitive match of the season) set up Martin Thompson with a perfectly-weighted free-kick, but the striker's shot went across the face of the goal.

Adams then made a good run into Coalville's penalty area, but was thwarted by a timely tackle by Russell. At the other end, Richard Morris punched a Lee Quincey inswinging corner out from under the crossbar, but could only watch anxiously as Ashley Warner wasted a good opportunity putting his shot into the Harbury Lane end stand from close in.

Quincey was lucky to escape injury when he clattered into an advertising board after a tackle from Steve Thompson and then referee Mr Cook went off for treatment on a calf strain that necessitated one of his assistants taking over in the second half.

The deadlock was broken in the 44th minute when the superb Morton Titterton sent a low cross in from the right to Jody Mckay who stepped over the ball to allow Josh Blake to slot home inside the post (1-0).

Blake (who was making his 57th appearance of the season) could have doubled the lead soon after the break, but he just failed to connect with an Adams inswinging corner from the right. In the 55th minute, Morris got down well to save from Lee McGlinchey and a few seconds later also foiled substitute Richard Saunders, pushing his shot over the bar. Coalville 'keeper Steve Wilson rushed from his goal to deny the industrious Blake and then the post and crossbar came to Brakes' rescue as Coalville piled on the pressure.

With the home crowd getting more anxious that Coalville would finally get the goal their play deserved and level the match, Leon Morgan wrapped up the three points in the 85th minute, calmly slotting the ball past Wilson after good work by Martin Thompson (2-0). Prior to the restart, Coalville's Jason Knight was booked.

Earlier, Paul Eden came on for the struggling McKay and was greeted by a welcome round of applause. It is amazing what a goal can do to change peoples' perceptions. Club captain Steve Thompson again completed a full match and had a more comfortable time at the back than in the previous week's encounter at Quorn. Jon Adams went off in the 78th minute, one of the players feeling the effects of the season's efforts.

The 4-4-2 formation used in the latter stages of Thursday's match at Alvechurch was again the foundation of the team's success and there are many who would like to see this become a permanent feature.

Manager Jason Cadden admitted that this was not Brakes' best performance of the season, but added "we were pretty solid and took our few chances well. It has been a long season and everyone is tired. We are trying to look after the players, resting them when we can. We are on a good run at the moment and I have lost count of the number of clean sheets we have now kept."

Leamington Richard Morris; Ryan Parisi; Steve Thompson; Tom Sidwell; Tom Cudworth; Morton Titterton [Capt.]; Jon Adams (David Care 78); Stuart Herlihy (Leon Morgan 73); Martin Thompson; Jody McKay (Paul Eden 67); Josh Blake
Subs Not Used: Ryan Howell; Paul Shepherd

Coalville Town Steve Wilson; Adam Hart; Ashley Brown; Jason Knight; Tyrone Mintus; Dave Tonge [Capt.] (Richard Saunders 49); Danum Russell; Lee Quincey; Ashley Warner; Lee McGlinchey; Martin Fox
Sub Not Used: Lee Harriman

Attendance 412

Match photographs»