Yellow submarine springs a leak

I don't know whether the playing of Yellow Submarine at the beginning and end of games does much for player or spectator morale, particularly given that we play in gold, but it is evident that the yellow submarine has sprung a leak in home waters. Leamington went down 1-3 at home today to Harrogate Town in front of a crowd of 482. Although we were treated to a display of poor refereeing, it has to be said that Harrogate deserved their victory.

Brakes keeper Collett is clearly no Tony Breedon, in fact he is much worse. It could be said that all three goals conceded today were down to him. Mind you, he didn't get much protection from our central defenders with Pierpoint failing to put a noose round the opposition. In contrast their central defenders largely kept Stefan Moore out of the game.

I occasionally go to Harrogate for work reasons and usually pass their neat ground. They were well supported considering the distance, although the chant of 'Harrow-gate' got a little monotonous. Paul Holleran had got his alibi in first by saying that their position in the table underestimated their strength and he seems to have been right.

The game started with controversy when Collett handled the ball outside the area. Some insisted that the rule book means that this is a red card, but I have seem a yellow given more than once, e.g., local lad Dean Kiely playing for Charlton at Newcastle. Perhaps the keeper's momentum carried him forward, but in any event he was fortunate. The resultant free kick came off the wall.

Harrogate's first goal on 14 minutes was the result of poor defending. The ball came down the left and our defender thought that it would run out, but the visitors were able to put in a cross and Harrogate scored through Callum Hassam with a tap in which Collett really should have got hold of.

Bloomer got booked for a professional foul on Morley. With Stefan Moore wandering on his own out in front of a team that was far too deep it was difficult to see where a goal was going to come from but Batchelor connected with a free kick to head the ball home on 42 minutes.

The referee increasingly lost his grip on the game, but Brakes supporters could feel at half time that there was some hope, even if the first 40 minutes had very poor. Indeed, we started off the second half reasonably well with Danny Newton having a shot.

Harrogate's Craig Nelthorpe had the appearance and manners of a Neanderthal (he did eventually get booked), but he possessed quite an engine and on 78 minutes he put a shot through a crowd of players that found the back of the net. Possibly Collett was unsighted.

Brakes looked for an equaliser, but on 86 minutes a ball played back in from a corner allowed McGurk to score at the far post. Again, Collett should have done better.

The referee continued to issue yellow cards and there was a quick whip round for a Specsavers voucher, but apart from the consolation goal it was Colwyn Bay all over again.

Not that relaxing

'Relax! Relax!' was the repeated cry of the referee at the New Windmill Ground. But it wasn't that relaxing as Leamington went down 0-1 at home to Guiseley with the referee and his incompetent linesman ignoring a handball from an extended arm in the area. The assessor ran out before the end of the game, but I hoped he noted the error in his report.

Having said that, I did not think our performance was all that good in a rather dull match. Stefan Moore is a cut above the other players, but the midfield still seems to fail to function properly. Of course, they may be because the ball is soaring over their heads. There was too much reliance on a rather predictable long ball. In the second half, moreover, we failed to get a really convincing shot on target. At times there were potential chances, but the advancing player failed to take a shot which might at least have led to a corner.

Some silky skills were shown early in the half when Danny Newton released Stefan Moore but the Guiseley keeper managed to save. A good Leamington attack then broke down through ball watching. Guiseley started a spell of pressure with two corners. It was a bit worrying that Guiseley's Gavin Rothery was virtually able to walk through the Brakes defence. Towards the end of the half Collett had to make a diving save, but it was one that a good keeper should have been able to make.

The new first aid facility was useful at half time when a number of fans in the crowd of 523 and the customary dog had to be treated for over excitement at the spectacle they had seen.

Guiseley had a near miss early in the first half. Danny Newton failed to make use of one of the best chances of the game for Leamington. On 57 minutes the visitors scored with a shot from distance. Collett seemed to be rooted to the spot, only making a slight movement as the ball went in the net.

The home crowd set up a chant of 'Richard Batchelor' and the 'impact player' came on and he certainly put himself about. Collett made a good save. We then had the handball incident which led to the rather unusual chant of 'You're not fit to run the line.'

The visitors were not really being troubled by Leamington and it was difficult to see where a goal would come from, although one late effort by Lee Moore was just wide of the post. Not a surprising result, but still a disappointing one.

One point gained or two points lost?

That was the question that faced Brakes fans after this afternoon's 2-2 draw at Oxford City. For me it was two points lost after we sacrificed a 2-1 lead at half time to concede the draw.

I'm grateful to the Brakes Trust minibus for taking me down and getting me back very speedily, as well as a rather battered Nimrod the cardboard dog and a cardboard cat. On the way down this included a tour of some picturesque Cotswold stone villages, but in fact it made sense to go via Islip to position correctly for the stadium located on the A40 with an excellent view of the John Radcliffe hospital. I recalled that the chairman of Oxford City was once Sir Norman Chester, warden of Nuffield College, Oxford, but also author of the Chester Report on football.

We started the game with the usual hoof ball, but started to settle down. We weren't helped initially by the antics of the linesman on the dugout side who gave an early corner to the home team when it should have been a throw in. Increasingly losing his cool with the Leamington bench as the game went on, he later yelled at Holleran to 'Shut up!' Unlike those linos from preserved railways who are always waving their flag, he was reluctant to recognise an offside.

One sensed that a goal was coming and Newton provided one on 25 minutes with a header, although it was poorly defended. Three minutes later City equalised: it was one of those goals where pressure in the box led to a result but no Leamington player was at fault. Newton then put us ahead with an excellent goal: he paused calmly before selecting his shot.

It was very much a game of two halves. On top in the first half, we started to be sloppy and casual in the second half with Ricky Johnson often at fault. Then Breeden had a rush of blood to the head and left his goal exposed. With no one on the line, City scored. Breeden did redeem himself not long afterwards with a spectacular save.

Matty Dodd collided with the keeper and got a harsh yellow card. The keeper continued after treatment, but not long afterwards he collapsed while taking a kick. Both female physios came on, leading the wag beside me to shout that he also had a bad back. The keeper had to be stretchered off and a paramedic ambulance later appeared.

I am told that the substitute keeper was a midfielder, but we never really tested him. A free kick from Stephan Morley in a promising position went wide when he could have fed the well positioned Daly. One of the best moves was when Richard Batchelor intercepted the ball as it went out of play, leading to an appreciative chant of his name from the Brakes supporters. It looks like we are staying up but not with much glory.

I think I heard that the crowd was 239, and at least a third of those attending were from Leamington. There were two dogs who had come together.

Convincing win for Brakes

Leamington secured a convincing 3-0 win over FC United of Manchester at the New Windmill Ground this afternoon who could well have been in the Conference North with us this season. The crowd of 505 included a strong contingent from the fan-run club.

The win follows the 6-0 trouncing of Stratford Town away midweek. However, one downside from that victory was the injury picked up by Richard Batchelor. He was said to be at today's game on crutches and has picked up a cruciate ligamate injury which may keep him out until Christmas.

The visitors play a neat passing game and came out best from the opening phase of the game. Lee Chilton put in an opportunistic rocket of a shot which was not far wide. Tony Breeden had to put in a good save to deal with a fierce shot from distance.

It was difficult to see where the first goal was going to come from other than a set piece. On 45 minutes Liam Daly marked his return with a free kick drilled through the wall to make it 1-0 to the Brakes.

The second half saw 'Roddy' Giggs in action, the spitting image of his brother, but not as skilled. The visitors piled on the pressure and should have scored with the goal open in front of them, but the shot went wide. Then on 80 minutes Breeden fed the impressive Stephan Morley who put in a great pass to Ricky Johnson who headed the ball in the net.

FC United's play became more ragged and there were quite a few incidents that would have received yellows in a competitive game. On 80 minutes Leamington won a free kick and Towers, who had been having a good game, blasted the ball in the roof the net to make it 3-0.

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.

Brakes accelerate to decisive win

Leamington continued their progress towards the title with a 3-0 win over Bedford Town at the New Windmill Ground last night. Some have said that it was 'easy' and the scoreline would certainly suggest that. However, virtually all the teams in this division are competitive and Bedford showed that they could play football, with their speedy Number 11 (Joel Gysai?) being particularly impressive (sorry for using numbers but I didn't get a team sheet).

The Eagles are not in contention for promotion, nor are they in danger of relegation, but they were certainly up for this match. They brought a small group of vociferous supporters ('there are only three of you singing' was one chant) and all credit to them for making the journey up to Leamington on a cold night. Bedford were certainly up for the match, so much so that things started to boil over and their charm merchant wearing the No.8 shirt was justifiably sent off in the first half which left the visitors stretched.

The teams changed ends at the start of the match with the Brakes playing down the slope towards the Harbury Lane End. The visitors threatened to open the scoring and on ten minutes a powerful shot went just wide of the post. On fifteen minutes a cross skimmed off the crossbar. Magunda picked up a yellow card (and may now face a suspension for two games for ten yellows) and I have to say I thought that on the whole the referee (David Avent) knew what he was doing. The call for a penalty when Stefan Moore went down in the box wasn't one. He often had a word or a joke with the players.

Brakes were coming into the game more and I thought that Batchelor had a great first half (he was substituted in the second, we don't want to risk any injuries to on form players). Ricky Johnson, the target of some complaining in the Sheepside, put in a speculative shot from distance which the keeper tipped round the post. On 28 minutes it was skipper Liam Daly who scored emphatically from the corner provoking a chant of 'He scores when he wants to.' Moore missed a chance to make it 2-0 when clear. On 39 minutes the impressive Lee Chilton burst through to make it 2-0, was one on one with the keeper and scored a great goal. Joel Gysai looked really crestfallen. The sending off incident happened not long after and the foul (difficult to see from the Sheepside, but probably a high and dangerous challenge) led to an outbreak of handbags but the referee decided to keep things calm by not making any more bookings.

The second half was less eventful and possibly Brakes took their foot off the accelerator, but they were still very much in control of the game. Indeed, in the match of the whole, they played some of the best football I have seen from them recently, keeping the ball on the ground and passing well, often in diamond shapes. Stefan Moore looked as if he had a goal in him and made it 3-0 with a great strike on 56 minutes after Johnson had provided the assist.

The attendance was 381, 80 up on the last night game. When you remember that Leamington Town were getting 2,000 one hundred years ago in a much smaller town, it gives pause for thought, although there were far fewer leisure options in 1913. For my part, I am going to redouble my efforts to brush up my Portuguese so that I can try and encourage people in the town's Portuguese/Brazilian community to come. They must like football.

Viva Holleran!

That was the chant that rang round the New Windmill Ground after Leamington celebrated a 4-1 win over Bashley in front of a crowd of 464 on a cold afternoon. But it was very much a game of two halves with a much better second half performance by the Brakes.

It was just like being in SE7 when the Charlton song Into the Valley was played just before the teams came out. After five minutes Stefan Moore put the Brakes ahead by lobbing the keeper.

The game then became rather scrappy with Leamington failing to keep the ball on the ground and the midfield going awol. Their failure to impose themselves on the game led to the inevitable consequence on 27 minutes when Bashley scored with a cracking shot, but they shouldn't have been given so much space. Bashley then had a chance to go 2-1 ahead with an open goal in front of them, but failed to take it.

A small knot of Bashley supporters had been singing the praises of their left back 'Olly', a chant that was taken up ironically by the Sheepsiders. He was then booked just before the break with the teams going in 1-1.

Brakes stepped up a gear in the second half and a move that started with a free kick ended with a goal for Daly on 50 minutes, his shot coming off the underside of the bar. A rather nervous period followed for the home fans as the visitors were still very much in the game and were capable of looking dangerous, even though Leamington were playing more football with some neat passing. Lee Moore got a yellow card for dissent.

A double substitution saw both Moores going off and Ricky Johnson and Sam Adkins came on. Batchelor then made it 3-1 in time added on 87 minutes following on from a rocket shot from Dodd. He was substituted in the dying minutes and received warm applause for his efforts througout the game. Johnson scored the final goal after the keeper had smashed a clearance against him to make it 4-1 in time added on.

Congratulations to the Sheepside linesman on an excellent game.