Moment of Mackey magic seals Adders' fate

The New Windmill's highest crowd of the season came expecting to see a goal feast between the league's two most prolific scorers, but it was the defences that were on top and a solitary goal by substitute Ben Mackey was enough to wrap up all three points for Brakes.

This was a clash between the league's top two sides which had amassed 46 goals between them but, for nearly three quarters of the match, it looked like neither side would make the decisive breakthrough to seal victory. However, on 72 minutes, Mackey scored what was to prove the winning goal of the contest and stretch Brakes' unbeaten run which has seen only four points dropped from a possible thirty-six.

There was a minute's silence before the kick-off in memory of Gordon Hancocks, a Brakes legend of the 1960's. Also, friends of Matt Blunt, who tragically died on holiday aged only 39, held a collection for the Anthony Nolan Trust which set up a national register for bone marrow donors and has helped over 4,000 adults and children.

Brakes found it tough going against a resilient Adders defence that won everything in the air and opportunities were hard to come by. Adam Cooper's shot across the face of the goal on 38 minutes and Craig Dutton's long-range effort a minute later, which visiting 'keeper Richard Williams brilliantly tipped over the bar, could have opened the scoring for Brakes.

However, the best chance came with three minutes of the half remaining when Adam Knight rose to meet Jamie Towers' inswinging corner from the right, only to see his header cleared off the line by Cameron Stuart.

There were opportunities early in the second half for Mackey and Josh Blake before Adders came close to scoring when Daniel Gaunt finished off a fine run with a shot that Richard Morris tipped over the bar. Morris was again to the fore on 71 minutes making a flying save to deny Michael Swan. From the resultant corner, Morris gathered the ball and his throw found Jon Adams on the halfway line. The Brakes midfielder threaded an inch perfect pass through the defence to Ben Mackey who shook off his marker to slot the ball home low into the corner past Williams (1-0).

Almost immediately, Jamie Towers sent the ball low across the face of the goal, but Mackey couldn't quite stretch far enough to make a connection. Swan again went close with a curling shot that went just past the left-hand post before Mackey sent a header over the top from a brilliant cross from Craig Dutton out on the left.

The Brakes defence was again outstanding and Martin Hier, Adam Knight and Adam Cooper have formed a rock-solid partnership. With Tom Cudworth, Andy Gregory and Neil Stacey also in the squad and goalkeeper Richard Morris benefiting from the coaching of Jason Pearcey, the club has a solid foundation on which to build.

Gary Redgate had chances in set-pieces for the Adders for whom the experienced Leigh Everitt and former Racing Club defender Ashley Pringle put in good performances. However, overall, this looked like a match that Brakes had under control and Mackey's strike was enough to send the majority of the 690 strong crowd home happy, if a little wet from the downpour that saw two rainbows decorating the sky as if in celebration.

Manager Jason Cadden was understandably pleased, saying "This was a big match for us and we are chuffed to bits with the result. I felt that we created more chances and deserved to win over the 90 minutes. Our work rate was fantastic and we kept digging in and showing patience which finally paid off with Ben's strike. It has been a good week with nine points from three matches and no goals conceded."

Leamington Richard Morris; Jamie Towers; Martin Hier; Adam Knight; Craig Dutton [Capt.]; Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams; Dave Pearson (Ben Mackey 46); Martin Thompson; Josh Blake
Subs Not Used Morton Titterton; Tom Cudworth; Tom James; Jason Pearcey

Atherstone Town Richard Williams; Cameron Stuart; Gary Redgate; Ashley Pringle; Leigh Everitt [Capt.]; Thomas Groves; Daniel Gaunt; Jason Weafer (Steven Brown 42); Michael Swan; Roy Dunkley; Danny Haynes (Mark Williams 53)
Subs Not Used Christopher Partridge; Matthew Smith; Callum Clarke

Attendance 690

Author's Man of the Match Adam Knight

Photographs from the game can be found here»