Brakes warmed up for their forthcoming League Cup Final date by grabbing their final point in the Midland Alliance against former Racing Club Warwick boss Marcus Law’s Quorn side at the New Windmill Ground. With Romulus slipping to defeat at Bescot opponents Tipton Town, the final standings show Leamington seventeen points clear at the head of the table, which reflects their performance over the last nine months.

The visitors arrived on the back of some fine recent results, to provide a far different assignment than the one Brakes passed with flying colours when they returned from Leicestershire with a four goal win in February.

There was a real end of season feel about this contest between two promoted sides, and the lack of vocal support from the sidelines enforced this, as the crowd of 606 basked in the late April sunshine. The visitors took an early lead, as Adam Wigley forced home a loose ball on fourteen minutes, with the aid of a deflection, following a free kick on the right.

The game produced few real clear cut opportunities for either side, although Leamington came close to scoring when Dave Pearson’s run into the penalty area, and subsequent shot on goal was blocked, the rebound falling kindly for Stuart Herlihy, who crashed in a low effort which Dan Haystead in the Quorn goal pushed away to safety.

Martin Hier had already been harshly penalised after a tussle with Vijinder Sidhu, and the same player battled his way past the Brakes number three to send a cross in which was eventually headed clear by Adam Cooper. At the opposite end, Jamie Towers sent over a free kick which Adam Knight stooped to head just over the crossbar.

Sidhu was again involved as he tried to place a shot across Richard Morris into the far corner, which the Leamington keeper gathered before anyone could intervene. Sidhu’s strike partner Francino Francis played him in with a perfect pass, but his first touch let him down, and Morris was off his line quickly.

Stuart Herlihy’s attempts to get his name on the score sheet were thwarted again, when his header from Towers’ cross was headed away from goal, and Towers looked to be in with a chance when he lofted the ball past Haystead as he rushed out from his goal, only for Stuart Hamilton to head away to safety. Ben Mackey, who continues to be frustrated in his search for his thirtieth goal of the season, created an opportunity for himself when he wriggled away from his markers, only to thump his shot over.

The second half continued in much the same vein, with the visitors stifling Leamington’s creative play, and not really creating any chances to extend their advantage, apart from a snap shot from Gary Griffiths that whistled just over the bar, after a hopeful ball in from substitute Jamie Clarke.

Brakes:

Attendance 606