We got the three points

Leamington secured three important points with a 2-0 victory over Paulton Rovers at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon. The crowd of 443 and one dog saw a rather uninspiring display by the Brakes, but we do go up to 3rd in the table, albeit Kettering have two games in hand over us. We will need to do better on Tuesday if we are to come away with anything.

An early penalty was awarded to the Brakes after the Paulton keeper (said to be 'a character on and off the pitch') came out and brought down Dubidat who had to go off injured. The referee did not show a card as the ball was going out for a goal kick, but I thought that a yellow was merited. In any event, Austin stepped and took the penalty to put Brakes 1-0 ahead. Ogleby came on to replace Dubidat.

We came close to scoring when the ball had to be cleared off the line twice, but the score remained at 1-0 at half time.

In the second half our play often seemed to be disjointed and we surrendered possession too easily. It wouldn't have been easy to work out which was the bottom team. Leamington did get the ball in the net after a nice move, but it was offside.

The sub was subbed and Ben Mackey came on. I wasn't sure why he didn't start. In any event he made it 2-0 on 88 minutes with a header from a corner.

League leaders beaten

League leaders Poole Town were beaten 1-0 in front of a crowd of 502 and one dog this afternoon at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium. For a team that are supposed to be invincible, Poole did not look that impressive. Perhaps they gained their exalted position by constant moaning and surrounding the referee. Poole's No.4 (Michael Walker) deserved a medal for his endless moaning.

Brakes started brightly, forcing an early corner, but then Poole came into the game more. However, Tony Breeden only had to make only significant save all half. Sam Austin was on great form.

Luke Burbidge, Poole's No.7, works as a diver in his day job and applied his skills to the land.

Towards the end of the half, Ben Mackey burst through, but put his shot just wide. However, the 0-0 half time score probably reflected the balance of play.

Unusually, Brakes warmed up before the half and looked the sharper side, despite a chant of 'We're going to score in a minute' from the visiting supporters. Mackie put the Brakes ahead on 57 minutes, deflected from a shot by Moore. In a double substitution, Poole brought on their big (actually physically rather small) new signing, Abudlai Baggie.

The ball had to be cleared off the line by a Poole player as Mackie threatened. Austin released Mackie who had an open goal but failed to score. Tony Breeden made a great save in injury time.

Leamington were in control, but the referee managed to add on 4 minutes 53 seconds (according to Keef) before the final whistle blew. Leamington are now 5th.

Two great strikes give victory

Two great strikes by Connor Gudger and Ben Mackey gave Leamington a 2-0 victory over Frome Town at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium this afternoon.

Brakes dominated possession in the first half. They were brisker than usual, possibly because of the very cold conditions, and passed the ball along the ground more often. Three great saves by the visiting keeper kept the score to 0-0 at half time, although Brakes did fade in the last ten minutes of the half.

Lee Chilton was injured in the second half and he had been one of the better players. However, Gudger put Brakes ahead with a great curving ball from 20 yards out. Mackey then made it 2-0 with another great strike from distance.

Frome threatened with a free kick from a dangerous position, but it came off the wall.

Will Green came on for his customary cameo, but there was to be no triumph of the Will.

I have never seen a referee laugh so much, particularly at some of Breeden's antics.

Attendance was 405. The customary dog was absent.

Fans vote with their feet

Leamington got three points this afternoon with a 2-1 win over Histon, but they made hard work of it and it was painful to watch much of the time. Admittedly, they weren't helped by a referee who was determined to give everything to the visitors.

It was a bitterly cold afternoon, but the attendance of 312 reflects what fans think of the current standard of football, even if we are in the play off positions.

The game was preceded by a minute's silence for the victims in France. In the latter part of this week, I was working in Brussels, using the Metro and everything seemed relatively normal. Today the city is in lockdown.

The Brakes had a few early half chances, but their efforts well off target. At times the game degenerated into a succession of throw ins for either side. The ball control by the Brakes was poor.

The young referee is obviously seen as a bright hope, but didn't have a clue. Tony Breeden won the ball with a tackle, but was shown a yellow card. The free kick came off the wall. Then Chilton was picked out well to score the opener with a tap in. All credit to Ben Mackey who pulled the ball back across the goal.

For reasons that were unclear, Histon withdrew captain Rogan McGeorge and brought on Lewis Clayton, one of only three subs on their bench. The referee gave Ogleby (or was it Magunda?) a yellow card for reasons that were unclear. The free kick deflected off the wall and was gathered by Breeden. Oulton then got a yellow card, allegedly for leading with his elbow.

After the break Chilton put in a couple of great balls across the front of the goal, but no one was able to connect. Histon were starting to get their act together, but fears of an equaliser were put to rest when Mackey scored (at least that's what it was announced as, but it may have been an own goal).

Luke Trotman replied almost immediately with a goal for Histon. The Luton Town loan player had been a real menace on the wing and he continued to be. He needed man marking, but was given acres of space in which to operate. Late on, he had a penalty claim.

A countdown had begun in the stands for the appearance of Will Green, but he came on as a very late substitution, Taundry having already been brought on in place of Mackey.

In the closing minutes, Chilton put the ball over the bar when he had an open goal in front of him. For a moment it looked as if the referee would book him for kicking the ball away.

Histon were there for the taking, but they nearly claimed a point. Given that we are second, this may all sound a bit negative, but I still think that we are hoofing the ball too much, although there was some good passing. Credit to Jamie Hood for some solid defensive work.

Brakes play football to win 6-1

In a complete contrast with Tuesday night, Brakes played football this afternoon to beat Barwell 6-1 in the FA Trophy. A hot line had been set up with air traffic control, but it soon proved unnecessary as Leamington start to play the ball along the ground with neat passing movements. Admittedly, Barwell's defence was not up to the standard of Redditch but, as they say, you have to play whoever is in front of you.

Barwell looked threatening in the opening exchanges. They won an early corner and continued to apply pressure as they sought an early goal. Brakes were forced back and some resolute defending was called for. It was Ben Mackey who showed what Leamington were capable of with a run which put him one on one with the keeper, but Barwell's experienced Liam Castle was able to claim the ball.

Then a good pass set up my sponsored player Lee Chilton in the left and he was able to provide the cross for Jack Edwards who scored a good goal to make it 1-0. Some more defending was then called for from Leamington. Barwell suffered a setback when injured Eddie Niscevic had to be replaced by Liam Kay.

On 29 minutes the keeper punched the ball out under pressure but Lee Chilton was there to pounce and make it 2-0. Then on 35 minutes Big Ben made it 3-0 for the Brakes. One time Leamington player Jamie Towers got a yellow card for a foul on James Fry.

Immediately after half time Barwell withdrew Cameron Powell and brought on one time Sky Blues bright hope Iyseden Christie, who also played at Mansfield. Brakes took off the returning Connor Gudger and brought on Rob Ogleby.

In the second half Brakes seemed to step off the gas a little and calls for the 'old five' sounded a little forlorn. Barwell suffered another blow when Alex Tomlinson was injured and Brady Hickey had to be brought on.

Ben Mackey made it 4-0 with a brilliant goal from a tight angle. Joe Magunda came off and was replaced by Jamie Tank. This gave Barwell captain and charm merchant Richard Lavery to have a go at the linesman on the stand side who wore shades throughout.

On 75 minutes Barwell scored their consolation through Anthony Carney after good work on the wing. Ben Mackey was taken off to warm applause and chanting and replaced by Will Green. A good run by Jack Edwards then enabled Lee Chilton to score and provide the old five. Will Green burst through to make it 6-1. Let's hope we can continue to play football on Tuesday.

I was pleased to see two visiting dogs and a very witty interview from our very own Jack the Dog in the programme. Attendance was 291. For once, Leamington decided to play to win a cup.

One is enough

Merthyr Town seemed to be aiming for the same score as the Welsh national team would be happy with in Bosnia tonight, and they nearly succeeded in returning to the principality with a share of the points. Although they were 19th in the table at the beginning of the match, they had only conceded fifteen goals and had a positive goal difference of four.

In the first half, and for much of the second, Brakes found it difficult to penetrate their in depth defence and resorted to long balls in 'hoof and hope' football. We also surrendered possession too easily.

Leamington did have a chance around the quarter hour mark when a free kick was tipped over by the keeper. Following the corner, the ball was cleared off the line.

Brakes did apply some pressure as the half hour mark approached, but to no avail. Tony Breeden then had to make a good save from their No.10. I don't have his name because the speakers sounded as if they were being operated by someone wearing a face mask in a deep sea diving bell. Whoever had got a lucky ticket for the half time crossbar competition wouldn't have found out from that source.

Breeden increasingly tried to provide assists in the second half, but in his frustration screamed 'midfield!' Leamington made a couple of substitutions, one being forced after Gudger was injured. Lee Chilton put in a good ball which was picked up by substitute Ross Oulton, but the ball just flashed across the front of goal.

The visitors were increasingly resorting to time wasting tactics, but the somewhat elderly referee was unwilling to do anything about it. No surprise then that there was an outbreak of handbags during a pause in the game with the referee and his assistants being unable or unwilling to identify any culprits, although I thought that their captain Ashley Evans had something to do with it.

Then on 86 minutes use was made of a throw in flicked on by a header by Jack Edwards allowing Ben Mackey to put the ball in the net. Merthyr now played with a new urgency, but great work by Lee Chilton secured a corner. Merthyr had a late corner but the confident Breeden claimed the ball with authority. Leamington are now top of the table.

Attendance was 623, but I didn't see the usual dog. However, I have now been told that it was there.

Come friendly balls, fall on Slough

I have missed quite a few games at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium because I have been away quite a lot. I may well have missed some poor games, and I certainly missed some controversy, but I was heartened by what I saw last night. The full moon rose over the stadium, initially tinged red. With Champions League matches, attendance was 411, plus the usual dog.

John Betjeman once wrote a famous poem before the Second World War 'Come, friendly bombs, fall on Slough.' Despite their lowly position in the table, Slough are not without talent and they showed plenty of effort and determination, never giving up. Their No.10 looked quite dangerous, although I was amused when their No.7 completely lost it over a disputed throw in.

We were 3-0 up by half time with some excellent goals with Jack Edwards scoring two, the other from Ben Mackey on top form. There was a moment of danger when they had a chance to score just after we had gone 1-0 ahead, but somehow the ball missed the open goal and hit the post. Fans were hoping for 'the old five', but we weren't able to find the back of the net in the second half despite a couple of chances.

The result saw us go top of the table after Chippenham drew at Frome. It's a long old season, but it's looking encouraging. Some fans who have been at more games than me thought we weren't at our best last night, but I was quite happy.

Brakes fight for victory

In a highly competitive match at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium tonight Leamington fought for a 3-2 victory over Kettering Town in front of a crowd of 545 and one dog.

After good work on the left involving Taundry and Moore, the ball was played into Jack Edwards on four minutes who put the Brakes 1-0 ahead with a good strike. Breeden made a great save to keep Leamington in the game. He was then in trouble when he challenged an attacker outside the area, but he was not the last man and the referee, after consulting his linesman, gave a yellow card. Breeden then got into trouble with the referee for time wasting.

Ogleby then got a yellow card for a foul. Kettering were keeping up the pressure and the ball had to be cleared off the line. Then on 35 minutes Brakes advanced down the left, finding plenty of space and Richard Taundry made it 2-0 with an excellent goal from a curling free kick.

HT 2-0

Things then went wrong early in the second half when Saul Williams scored for Kettering with a ball along the ground which was difficult to save. Kettering were then awarded a penalty which was duly dispatched. Ben Mackey then made it 3-2 on 63 minutes, making use of an angled pass from Ogleby. Both sides had half chances in the remainder of the game, but Brakes held on to take all three points.

'Return of the Mack to the Brakes'

This is the headline above an article about Ben Mackey's return to Leamington in today's Non-League Paper. However, the description of him as 'Big Ben' drew a sceptical comment from one contributor to The Banter: 'Not at the NWG, he ain't.

It notes how Mackey, 'then with St. Neots, decided to step away from the game in January with his hectic work schedule as a freelance project manager and travelling from his Warwick home taking is toll. It allowed the prolific striker time to concentrate on his work as well as his bodybuilding and Mackey is in tip-top shape.'

Mackey told the NLP: 'Leamington are on my doorstep and are a great club. I always knew I wanted to go back at one stage and I'm really looking forward to it. I've been into bodybuilding for a while but it doesn't really go hand in hand with football. Now I'm going to adjust my training and get ready for the running in pre-season.' The accompanying photos show Mackey to have an extensive collection of tattoos on his arms and upper body.

Mackey said: 'Leamington are the perfect club for me. Paul didn't have to tell me what his ambitions were. Leamington are a big team in the area and they'll be looking to win every game. If I'm playing I want to be winning and scoring goals.'

As always, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.