Brakes faced the toughest possible Southern League Premier Division baptism at Plough Lane on Saturday. The prospect does not worry them.
Said manager Jimmy Knox: “We are in the top flight on merit and are capable of giving anyone a run for their money. Wimbledon will be more concerned about our unknown quantity than we are about their known strength. It’s the perfect start,’
The summary report in the Coventry Evening Telegraph stated: ‘Leamington shocked Wimbledon supporters by holding the home team to a goalless draw. Dons, who hit 74 goals last season and are seeking their third successive Southern League championship, failed to open their goal account. It was refreshing to see Leamington playing attacking football away from home. But their fine spirit deserted them in the final period when, playing for a point, they fell back on defence. Fortunately, Dave Garrett made a string of magnificent saves and set the seal on his fine performance with a penalty save in the 90th minute.’ A local newspaper report from the area praised AP’s ‘stubborn defence’ and said that they could be a surprise package of the division.
The Courier reported: ‘Dave Garratt should have been playing a leisurely game of cricket on Saturday but instead found himself repelling wave after wave of Wimbledon attacks. Garratt, injured for most of last term, and having played only 45 minutes of a pre-season friendly since the end of May turned in a brilliant show – included one in which the Dons’ own Dickie Guy, who denied Leeds two years ago, said he would have been proud of.
Yet until 11 am that morning he had no notion he would be playing at Plough Lane. It was only when John Davis failed to appear for the trip south that manager Jimmy Knox called up second choice Garratt … and what a game he had. In the first ten minutes he achieved what he set out to do – have a great start. In the fourth minute, he safely took a Cooke flick-on, and got down superbly to block a Connell drive, as Brakes took time to get into gear.
But it was really in the second half that the AP keeper distinguished himself. Kent referee Don Jackson (the match was featured in the Thanet Times) awarded an innocuous penalty after Alan Jones beat Marlowe in the air fairly and squarely. However, Garratt put justice back on the rails when he flung himself to the right to parry Holmes’ spot kick. In the closing 15 minutes, Wimbledon really stepped up the pressure and Garratt excelled himself, denying an Edwards blockbuster in the 80th minute, helping his own defence hack away a goal line scramble five minutes later, and then stopping Tilly in the last minute.
Probably Garratt’s save of the day came in the 86th minute when Dons looked like breaking through. Marlowe nodded in a fast and low header from ten yards. However, Garratt pulled out a tremendous reflex save to parry and save AP.
The Windmill outfit never looked out of their depth and had many chances
to shock the top Premier Division outfit.
Talbot went close with a far post header; Keeley had a fierce volley
blocked; and Stewart brought out the best from Guy in a run from the halfway
line. Finally, perhaps it was fitting
for a game marred only by some astounding refereeing divisions that the final
whistle should be blown when Stewart had broken through and was running towards
the home goal. Attendance 1225.’
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