Brakes make the ton

Today was all about celebrating and 1,027 turned up at the New Windmill Ground to see Leamington 'lift' the Southern Premier League championship trophy. 'Lift' was the operative word given the weight of this impressive item which has the names of the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town engraved on it. As for the Holleran 'death mask', that can be re-used at Halloween.

It wasn't a classic match, as the minds of the Leamington players increasingly seemed to switch off as the final whistle approached. In the first half, St.Albans pressed hard down the slope in the opening half hour or so. Given the swirling wind, and even a hailstorm, it was difficult to play good football despite the excellent condition of the pitch.

Brakes had a chance to go ahead when an open goal was presented to them and I thought that the angled shot from Dodd was going to go in, but it just missed. Then Dodd put in a great cross, but the ball ended up in the side netting. Daly put in a stinger of a shot from distance, but the visiting keeper pulled off an excellent save.

Then Brakes won a penalty after Dodd was tripped and Batchelor put the ball into the top right-hand corner to make it 1-0 on 36 minutes. Then on 44 minutes Ricky Johnson made it 2-0 to Leamington after confusion in the St.Albans defence left the goal at his mercy.

Leamington were increasingly casual in the second half: I don't think the three substitutions helped, but I guess the players brought on needed a run out. St.Albans didn't give up and they were rewarded with an excellent consolation goal from distance on 89 minutes. Then it was time for the celebrations.

It's going to be a lot harder next season, but for now we can enjoy this year's success. I will be sorry to say goodbye to the Sheepside Stand, but needs must and no doubt many of the characters will find a new place to congregate.

Dampener at Harbury Lane

The problem with building up expectations about a match is that they may be disappointed. That is what happened at the New Windmill Ground today with Leamington drawing 1-1 with Weymouth. However, the Brakes would not have won the Championship today anyway with Stourbridge forging ahead at a faltering Gosport, eventually winning 3-1. Leamington are now six points ahead of Stourbridge with a game in hand.

The match certainly drew in a crowd with a record attendance for the season of 891, including quite a few Terras who celebrated their away point as if it was a win. However, they hardly saw a feast of football. The Terras were very physical, but Brakes played some flowing football for at least parts of the first half. Even so, they did not always impose themselves and they missed a number of chances, finally going ahead on 40 minutes through the tireless Batchelor.

In the second half the play was very scrappy and Brakes seemed vulnerable to Weymouth counter attacks down the slope to the Harbury Lane end, the visitors equalising on 78 minutes. Some newcomers in front of me commented that Leamington relied on the long ball too much. Certainly we need to keep the ball on the ground more, rather than resorting to hoof and hope.

It had been a sunny morning in Leamington, but the clouds soon built and the rain arrived just as the game kick off. The increasingly slippery surface did not help quality play, but it is not a reason for the result.

Leamington's first chance came early in the game when the ball was cleared from just in front of goal. Batchelor fired in a scorcher of a shot from distance and it was only just over. The Terras keeper dropped the ball, but we were unable to take advantage and score. Craig Duff picked up a yellow card for the Terras. Batchelor then scored from close range, but in the minutes left the Terras nearly scored with a shot that was just wide in what was their most significant attack of the half.

In the second half, a back pass put Walker in the Brakes goal under pressure. Jamie Richards fouled Dodd in a challenge that in the Premiership might well have attracted a red card, but he only got a yellow. Dodd tried to play on but had to be replaced by Lee Moore. There was an outbreak of handbags in which Matt Groves for Weymouth seemed to be the aggressor, but he got a yellow card along with Daly.

A rush of blood to the head saw Walker charge out of his goal, allowing the Terras to equalise. Some of the referee's decisions had been odd and there were shouts of 'chicken' after he failed to award a penalty to the Brakes after an apparent foul by the keeper on Chilton. Indeed, at first some thought that he had pointed to the spot rather than for a goal kick. However, it was marginal as the contact was minimal. Weymouth charm merchant Ed Palmer picked up a yellow card. Leamington made a real effort to get the winner in the closing minutes, but to no avail, the frustration showing on Daly's face.

Thanks for the memory

There's only one Wayne Blossom and he was back at the NWG

There was a good turnout of Banbury supporters in the 734 crowd which saw Leamington win today's derby game 4-1, a match that was more tightly contested for much of the time than the scoreline suggested. I suppose that if you were a Puritan you would call it the M40 derby because that would be the easiest way of reaching the New Windmill Ground, while I prefer the title the Chiltern Line Derby as Banbury's ground is so close to the station. There have been some entertaining contests over the years, but now it looks as if the Brakes are on their way to the Blue Square North and we won't be meeting for a while.

It was Liam Daly who opened the scoring for the Brakes on three minutes. I thought the corner had been overhit, but Daly was not marked and he made good use of his free header. Brakes had a chance to go two ahead, but under pressure from Stefan Moore, the visiting keeper grabbed the ball in the end. Magunda picked up an avoidable yellow card, which I think leads to a suspension.

It was getting a bit tasty in true derby fashion and the goofy referee often seemed a bit hesitant in his decisions. Brakes were two on one on the keeper, but instead of firing in a shot looked for a tap in which didn't come. As more trouble broke out, one time Brakes player Wayne Blossom (who I think has also appeared for Oxford City) got mouthy with the referee. The overall story of the first half was one of missed chances which I thought we might rue in the second.

Half time: Brakes 1, Puritans 0

Stephan Morley was taken off immediately after the break and I assume this was for an injury (I think he got a kick in the first half) with Martin Naylor coming on. Banbury were looking lively and we were looking a bit flat. We gave away an unnecessary free kick on 50 minutes and from some distance out then shot from Michael Hawkins went through the wall and just evaded the hand of the generally impressive Lawrie Walker in goal. Sheepside hero Ricky Johnson picked up a yellow card. Playing down the slope towards the Harbury Lane End, the Puritans broke well and Walker got the tip of his finger to a fast ball at the expense of a corner.

Brakes went into the lead when Daly took a free kick from just outside the box. It took a deflection on the way in and was really an own goal but was credited to the impressive Daly. Johnson blasted over when he had a chance to score from six yards out. Charm merchant Blossom got booked, as did another Banbury player. Banbury had a great chance to equalise, but Walker pulled off the save of the match.

Then on 83 minutes Dodd burst through with great speed and accuracy to make it 3-1. For me that was the goal of the match. Ricky Johnson then played Stefan Moore in to make it 4-1. There were some calls for the 'old five', but the main remaining action was a double substitution for the Brakes. All that was then left to do was to chant 'Viva Holleran!' and to start thinking more seriously about the end of season champagne.