Brakes came close to getting a draw (and a replay) in the FA Cup

All the excitement about Leamington’s November 1974 FA Cup tie against Southend United ended in something of an anti-climax.    As the Sunday Express reported under the headline ‘A Fright for Southend’:  ‘Southend claimed their expected victory – but what a fight Leamington put up.  The lowly Southern League side fought back brilliantly after trailing 2-0 at the interval and skipper Steve Lee reduced the arrears seven minutes from time. In the last minute the Southend goal bore a charmed life.

Chris Guthrie, Southend’s £100,000 rated striker [just short of £1m in today’s prices] hammered the first goal after 15 minutes and 20 minutes later Peter Silvester headed a simple header.  But Southend were so lucky in those incredible final minutes.’

The Coventry Evening Telegraph commented: ‘For an hour Leamington failed to make a game of it, overawed and “frozen” by the occasion, and Southend’s two goal lead was established with clinical efficiency.   But the home players eventually got the message – Southend were ordinary folk indeed – and drawing on fresh reserves of energy they plugged away to produce a fabulous heart-stopping finish.

Steve Lee’s 83^rd minute goal brought the game to life and during an incredible late fling Brakes came agonisingly close to snatching a draw.   Three times in a matter of seconds full back Bob Worthington hacked shots from Tony Bowden, Doug Griffiths and Adrian Stewart off the line and Mick Keeley followed up by clipping a shot inches over after brilliantly working a clear opening.  How the ball did not cross the line during those breath-taking minutes I will never know.  But it stayed out and Brakes were forced to pay the penalty for that colourless first hour.  

They were heroes all, however, and despite Arthur Rowley’s uncharitable opinion that it was “easy” Southend knew they had been in a game – they were as good as dead at the finish as the part-timers took control.  Home centre half Roger Brown, classy left back Dennis Taylor and winger Ivor Talbot were as good as anything Southend had to offer and watching managers Ken Furphy (Sheffield United) and Harry Haslam (Luton Town) were genuinely impressed.  But the whole side warrant praise for giving the 2,600 crowd a battle royal. ‘

Then it was back to the league with a bottom of the table clash at Bury Town.    ‘It was Leamington who settled down to look the more dangerous side and worried the home defence with a series of attacks.  Talbot looked particularly dangerous and set up Leamington’s first chance, but Keeley’s shot was blocked.   Both sides played some neat football going forward, but the final pass was missing. Bury had to wait until the 35^th minute before they tested goalkeeper Garratt.’  Half time 0-0.

 Brakes lost 1-0 and ‘On the evidence of this defeat it is not difficult to see why AP Leamington are languishing near the foot of the Southern League first division table.  They have scored just nine goals in 12 league games this season, and they rarely looked adding to that total in this match.  For much of the match, particularly the first half, they looked the more positive side.  Bury exerted more pressure after the break’ and Leamington ‘were all at sea’ when they scored the winning goal.