Sorry Brakes Leave the Main Stage

Brakes exited the prestigious FA Cup after an 81st minute free kick from David Brown eluded Morris at a time when neither side had looked like scoring and Leamington fans, the large majority of the 267 crowd, were hoping for better things in the replay. As it is Brakes now play Banbury United in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Tuesday and will be looking for a vast improvement if they are to progress in that competition and in the league at Romulus next Saturday.

Lowly Rocester clearly had the greater hunger in the early stages and Brakes seemed lethargic as the Romans fought for every ball. Morris was down very late to a header in the 19th which hit the post before being scrambled clear. When Brakes did move upfield they pumped long balls up to lone front man Martin Thompson who could make little progress.

The first half died of boredom rather than coming to a seemly end but the second started a little brighter with Titterton's 49th minute cross into the box needing just a touch and a Towers' cross four minutes later causing minor mayhem in the area. But neither side brought a real save from the 'keepers.

Brakes had a brief purple patch for 10 minutes after Towers nutmegged a defender in the 70th and sent a low searching cross into the area that just eluded Thompson but the final touch was missing. Cadden rang the changes seeking the missing ingredient but was foiled in the 78th when Knight, who had another superb game in defence, limped off. This prevented Mackey coming on and in a game such as this he could have made the difference with his ability to hold the ball, an attribute that wasn't shared by his team mates on the day.

It just might have worked anyway because although Hier, a defender, came on instead and ensured the defence stayed solid it couldn't stop David Brown driving a free kick into the gaping Brakes net from 30yds in the 81st when he spotted that Morris was off his line.

Brakes pressed for the remaining time with Morris coming up to head the ball goalwards in the 90th as Brakes finally awoke and peppered the Rocester goal with two efforts after the 90 cleared off the line by a packed defence. The knot of Rocester fans in front the club house nervously grappled with the idea of celebrating a win, £2,250 prize money and a chance for more glory with the excitement of Monday's draw while Brakes faced the reality of a long journey home with those expectations dashed.

Rocester Paul Wood; Peter Johnson; Carl Allen; Richard Owen; Wayne Johnson [Capt]; David Brown; Kevin Milward; Chris Rowley (Mark Ruddock 84); Nick Ward; Matt Moran; Marc Hubbard (Glyn Douglas 77)
Subs Not Used Martin Gadsby; Michael Ede; Paul Ede

Leamington Richard Morris; Jamie Towers; Tom Cudworth; Adam Knight (Martin Hier 78); Andy Gregory; Craig Dutton [Capt]; Morton Titterton (Dave Pearson 71); Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams; Martin Thompson; Josh Blake (James Husband 77)
Subs Not Used Ben Mackey; Jason Pearcey

Attendance 267

Photographs from the match here»