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.