Another defeat for Brakes

AP Leamington’ woes continued 50 years ago in the early autumn of 1976.  Having at best drawn matches, they went down 2-0 away to Burton Albion.  ‘Brakes may be renowned for their slow starts in seasons past, but on this showing, it is going to be a long time before they win their first Premier Division game.   

AP manager Jimmy Knox was as aware as anyone that Leamington never got going until the last ten minutes – and even then, Burton’s defence never seemed like folding.  Indeed, AP looked at their most dangerous only when skipper Roger Brown moved up front to supply added height and it was he who was involved in two of three Brakes’ moves that deserved goals.  

AP’s so-steady rearguard of last term looked uncharacteristically jittery in the opening half and it was no surprise that Burton went in at half time 2-0 ahead.   Leamington gave no indication that they were going to surrender so meekly – and indeed had the ball in the net after 11 minutes.  Brown went forward to head on a Lee free kick, but Keeley who nodded the ball home, was ruled marginally offside.   

With the talented Moore getting more involved, AP were forced to take a back seat.  Garratt tipped a deflected shot on to his right-hand post.   From the corner, the ball ran out to Spinner, who had time and space to pick his spot before shooting low and hard into the corner through a ruck of players.  Moore was allowed to wriggle inside and let fly two minutes after and the former Manchester United player was behind Albion’s second in the 33^rd minute.  He broke down the left and hoisted a far-post cross that eluded Kavanagh for Fearn to hook in.   

Burton continued to make all the running but AP were unlucky not to pull one back just before half time.  Lee crossed and Talbot did well to get in a volley – but Alcock was in the right spot to deny Brakes.  AP gained a lot more possession throughout the next 30 minutes but without ever really threatening to cut the deficit.   

Only in the last ten did they show anything like their best.   Brown had a super header stopped by the well-positioned Gregg.  Stewart went close with an acutely angled effort, and then in the last seconds a Boot drive was blocked by Hallsworth.  But hat was virtually the sum total of Leamington’s offering on a greasy surface that was never conducive to fast, attractive soccer.’  Attendance 738.

Brakes had a chance to redeem themselves with a trip to Hillingdon Borough who had lost all their matches and were two points adrift of AP at the bottom of the table.  Nevertheless, Hillingdon managed to secure a 1-1 draw at the Monday night game.   ‘Leamington had the man-of-the-match in striker Adrian Stewart whose deceptive pace and tantalising runs caused the Borough defence no end of trouble, but unfortunately his finishing did not match his approach work and although he did net his side’s goal, he also let countless other chances go begging.   

Play evened up after the break but the best chances still fell to Leamington.  With 65 minutes gone Borough conjured up an equaliser out of the blue.   Pearce’s low centre caused panic in the Leamington goalmouth and with the defence failing to get the ball away John Griffiths and stabbed it in from close range.’