Brakes accelerate to decisive win

Leamington continued their progress towards the title with a 3-0 win over Bedford Town at the New Windmill Ground last night. Some have said that it was 'easy' and the scoreline would certainly suggest that. However, virtually all the teams in this division are competitive and Bedford showed that they could play football, with their speedy Number 11 (Joel Gysai?) being particularly impressive (sorry for using numbers but I didn't get a team sheet).

The Eagles are not in contention for promotion, nor are they in danger of relegation, but they were certainly up for this match. They brought a small group of vociferous supporters ('there are only three of you singing' was one chant) and all credit to them for making the journey up to Leamington on a cold night. Bedford were certainly up for the match, so much so that things started to boil over and their charm merchant wearing the No.8 shirt was justifiably sent off in the first half which left the visitors stretched.

The teams changed ends at the start of the match with the Brakes playing down the slope towards the Harbury Lane End. The visitors threatened to open the scoring and on ten minutes a powerful shot went just wide of the post. On fifteen minutes a cross skimmed off the crossbar. Magunda picked up a yellow card (and may now face a suspension for two games for ten yellows) and I have to say I thought that on the whole the referee (David Avent) knew what he was doing. The call for a penalty when Stefan Moore went down in the box wasn't one. He often had a word or a joke with the players.

Brakes were coming into the game more and I thought that Batchelor had a great first half (he was substituted in the second, we don't want to risk any injuries to on form players). Ricky Johnson, the target of some complaining in the Sheepside, put in a speculative shot from distance which the keeper tipped round the post. On 28 minutes it was skipper Liam Daly who scored emphatically from the corner provoking a chant of 'He scores when he wants to.' Moore missed a chance to make it 2-0 when clear. On 39 minutes the impressive Lee Chilton burst through to make it 2-0, was one on one with the keeper and scored a great goal. Joel Gysai looked really crestfallen. The sending off incident happened not long after and the foul (difficult to see from the Sheepside, but probably a high and dangerous challenge) led to an outbreak of handbags but the referee decided to keep things calm by not making any more bookings.

The second half was less eventful and possibly Brakes took their foot off the accelerator, but they were still very much in control of the game. Indeed, in the match of the whole, they played some of the best football I have seen from them recently, keeping the ball on the ground and passing well, often in diamond shapes. Stefan Moore looked as if he had a goal in him and made it 3-0 with a great strike on 56 minutes after Johnson had provided the assist.

The attendance was 381, 80 up on the last night game. When you remember that Leamington Town were getting 2,000 one hundred years ago in a much smaller town, it gives pause for thought, although there were far fewer leisure options in 1913. For my part, I am going to redouble my efforts to brush up my Portuguese so that I can try and encourage people in the town's Portuguese/Brazilian community to come. They must like football.

The Brakes go marching on

Leamington consolidated their lead at the top of the Southern Premier League with a 2-0 win over Redditch United in front of a crowd of 301 at a cold New Windmill Ground tonight. It wasn't always straightforward, but all the teams in this division are competitive, particularly if they are in a relegation struggle.

The first half was a story of missed chances. Playing towards the Harbury Lane end, the visitors applied some early pressure. Then the ball was cleared off the line from a Brakes corner. Cooper in the Leamington goal had to make a good save. Then Stefan Moore rounded the keeper and seemed certain to score, but a defender manabed to put the ball over. There appeared to be a handball from the corner, but the referee saw nothing. A second corner followed but eventually the pressure faded. Chilton had a screamer tipped over by the Redditch keeper who had a good game.

One Sheepsider turned up after the break having been to the races at Cheltenham in good time to see both goals. Jamie Hood put Leamington ahead on 64 minutes. Then Brakes were awarded a penalty on 77 minutes, although former Leamington player Asa Charlton got away with a yellow card although he was the last man. Ricky Johnson, who had been upended dispatched the penalty efficiently to the surprise of those around me. Brakes kept up the pressure, but there was no third goal, but two were certainly enough.

Viva Holleran!

That was the chant that rang round the New Windmill Ground after Leamington celebrated a 4-1 win over Bashley in front of a crowd of 464 on a cold afternoon. But it was very much a game of two halves with a much better second half performance by the Brakes.

It was just like being in SE7 when the Charlton song Into the Valley was played just before the teams came out. After five minutes Stefan Moore put the Brakes ahead by lobbing the keeper.

The game then became rather scrappy with Leamington failing to keep the ball on the ground and the midfield going awol. Their failure to impose themselves on the game led to the inevitable consequence on 27 minutes when Bashley scored with a cracking shot, but they shouldn't have been given so much space. Bashley then had a chance to go 2-1 ahead with an open goal in front of them, but failed to take it.

A small knot of Bashley supporters had been singing the praises of their left back 'Olly', a chant that was taken up ironically by the Sheepsiders. He was then booked just before the break with the teams going in 1-1.

Brakes stepped up a gear in the second half and a move that started with a free kick ended with a goal for Daly on 50 minutes, his shot coming off the underside of the bar. A rather nervous period followed for the home fans as the visitors were still very much in the game and were capable of looking dangerous, even though Leamington were playing more football with some neat passing. Lee Moore got a yellow card for dissent.

A double substitution saw both Moores going off and Ricky Johnson and Sam Adkins came on. Batchelor then made it 3-1 in time added on 87 minutes following on from a rocket shot from Dodd. He was substituted in the dying minutes and received warm applause for his efforts througout the game. Johnson scored the final goal after the keeper had smashed a clearance against him to make it 4-1 in time added on.

Congratulations to the Sheepside linesman on an excellent game.