Brakes unbeaten 50 years ago

‘AP Leamington had to wait until the last minute of the opening half for a goal against a Dunstable team given an 8-0 drubbing the previous week by Bromsgrove.   The visitors looked likely to score in the second minute when Talbot was left clear but the angle proved too narrow and his cross shot was put behind for a fruitless corner.

For a while it was Dunstable that called the tune.  Full back Taylor cleared a Whitaker shot off the Leamington line.    The visitors were soon back on the attack and Dunstable goalkeeper Barr made two good saves from the ever threatening Talbot.  But in the end it was a mistake by Barr that gave Leamington the lead.   He failed to hold on to a fairly harmless shot from Palmer and as the ball rolled loose, Hubbard was there to crack it home. 

Leamington lost some of their grip on the game in the early stages of the second half and Dunstable looked threatening.  The home side produced the best move of the match in the 55^th minute.   Player manager Thear started it in midfield and finished when he headed just over from a cross by Davis.’

‘Compact AP made no mistake in this Southern League Cup replay to earn themselves a tough away draw with Tamworth in the Third Round.   Meeting Enderby for the fourth time this seasion, Brakes gained their first victory with confident ease.  And disappointing Town, so vigorous in previous clashes, were a well-beaten side long before the end.  

Mick Boot slammed AP in front from close range after 10 minutes and Trevor Hubbard quickly made it 2-0 with the neatest of headers.  But Town managed to reduce the arrears before the interval when Neil Matthews bunled in a corner at the near post.   Leamington were rarely threatened in the second half, however, and with Ivor Talbot sparkling on the left wing they were able to clinch victory with goals from Talbot and Hubbard.  Injury hit AP played local amateur David Garrett in goal, and although at fault when Enderby scored, the youngster did a useful job and made two very fine saves in the second half.’

In the FA Trophy, ‘After dictating matters for an hour, AP all but allowed gritty Darlaston to snatch a shock victory.  But Brakes managed to hold in the face of determined raids and will start tomorrow’s replay as red hot favourites.   Attacking down the pronounced slope in the first half, the visitors established a 2-0 lead through a couple of goals from leading scorer Norman Foster.  Home centre half Keith Warhurst was unwittingly involved in both, his back pass setting up the first and a lack of pace allowing the second.  

But the change of ends brought about a dramatic change of fortunes.  Darlaston suddenly got their game together and AP’s defence were run ragged for a spell.  Veteran Les Cocker cut the arrears on the hour.  And five minutes later Graham Bevan slammed home the equaliser from close range.  And in the final analysis Leamington must have been happy with the draw as their West Midlands League rivals got a little too close for comfort.’