Brakes make the ton

Today was all about celebrating and 1,027 turned up at the New Windmill Ground to see Leamington 'lift' the Southern Premier League championship trophy. 'Lift' was the operative word given the weight of this impressive item which has the names of the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town engraved on it. As for the Holleran 'death mask', that can be re-used at Halloween.

It wasn't a classic match, as the minds of the Leamington players increasingly seemed to switch off as the final whistle approached. In the first half, St.Albans pressed hard down the slope in the opening half hour or so. Given the swirling wind, and even a hailstorm, it was difficult to play good football despite the excellent condition of the pitch.

Brakes had a chance to go ahead when an open goal was presented to them and I thought that the angled shot from Dodd was going to go in, but it just missed. Then Dodd put in a great cross, but the ball ended up in the side netting. Daly put in a stinger of a shot from distance, but the visiting keeper pulled off an excellent save.

Then Brakes won a penalty after Dodd was tripped and Batchelor put the ball into the top right-hand corner to make it 1-0 on 36 minutes. Then on 44 minutes Ricky Johnson made it 2-0 to Leamington after confusion in the St.Albans defence left the goal at his mercy.

Leamington were increasingly casual in the second half: I don't think the three substitutions helped, but I guess the players brought on needed a run out. St.Albans didn't give up and they were rewarded with an excellent consolation goal from distance on 89 minutes. Then it was time for the celebrations.

It's going to be a lot harder next season, but for now we can enjoy this year's success. I will be sorry to say goodbye to the Sheepside Stand, but needs must and no doubt many of the characters will find a new place to congregate.

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.

Thanks for the memory

There's only one Wayne Blossom and he was back at the NWG

There was a good turnout of Banbury supporters in the 734 crowd which saw Leamington win today's derby game 4-1, a match that was more tightly contested for much of the time than the scoreline suggested. I suppose that if you were a Puritan you would call it the M40 derby because that would be the easiest way of reaching the New Windmill Ground, while I prefer the title the Chiltern Line Derby as Banbury's ground is so close to the station. There have been some entertaining contests over the years, but now it looks as if the Brakes are on their way to the Blue Square North and we won't be meeting for a while.

It was Liam Daly who opened the scoring for the Brakes on three minutes. I thought the corner had been overhit, but Daly was not marked and he made good use of his free header. Brakes had a chance to go two ahead, but under pressure from Stefan Moore, the visiting keeper grabbed the ball in the end. Magunda picked up an avoidable yellow card, which I think leads to a suspension.

It was getting a bit tasty in true derby fashion and the goofy referee often seemed a bit hesitant in his decisions. Brakes were two on one on the keeper, but instead of firing in a shot looked for a tap in which didn't come. As more trouble broke out, one time Brakes player Wayne Blossom (who I think has also appeared for Oxford City) got mouthy with the referee. The overall story of the first half was one of missed chances which I thought we might rue in the second.

Half time: Brakes 1, Puritans 0

Stephan Morley was taken off immediately after the break and I assume this was for an injury (I think he got a kick in the first half) with Martin Naylor coming on. Banbury were looking lively and we were looking a bit flat. We gave away an unnecessary free kick on 50 minutes and from some distance out then shot from Michael Hawkins went through the wall and just evaded the hand of the generally impressive Lawrie Walker in goal. Sheepside hero Ricky Johnson picked up a yellow card. Playing down the slope towards the Harbury Lane End, the Puritans broke well and Walker got the tip of his finger to a fast ball at the expense of a corner.

Brakes went into the lead when Daly took a free kick from just outside the box. It took a deflection on the way in and was really an own goal but was credited to the impressive Daly. Johnson blasted over when he had a chance to score from six yards out. Charm merchant Blossom got booked, as did another Banbury player. Banbury had a great chance to equalise, but Walker pulled off the save of the match.

Then on 83 minutes Dodd burst through with great speed and accuracy to make it 3-1. For me that was the goal of the match. Ricky Johnson then played Stefan Moore in to make it 4-1. There were some calls for the 'old five', but the main remaining action was a double substitution for the Brakes. All that was then left to do was to chant 'Viva Holleran!' and to start thinking more seriously about the end of season champagne.

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.

The Brakes go marching on

Leamington consolidated their lead at the top of the Southern Premier League with a 2-0 win over Redditch United in front of a crowd of 301 at a cold New Windmill Ground tonight. It wasn't always straightforward, but all the teams in this division are competitive, particularly if they are in a relegation struggle.

The first half was a story of missed chances. Playing towards the Harbury Lane end, the visitors applied some early pressure. Then the ball was cleared off the line from a Brakes corner. Cooper in the Leamington goal had to make a good save. Then Stefan Moore rounded the keeper and seemed certain to score, but a defender manabed to put the ball over. There appeared to be a handball from the corner, but the referee saw nothing. A second corner followed but eventually the pressure faded. Chilton had a screamer tipped over by the Redditch keeper who had a good game.

One Sheepsider turned up after the break having been to the races at Cheltenham in good time to see both goals. Jamie Hood put Leamington ahead on 64 minutes. Then Brakes were awarded a penalty on 77 minutes, although former Leamington player Asa Charlton got away with a yellow card although he was the last man. Ricky Johnson, who had been upended dispatched the penalty efficiently to the surprise of those around me. Brakes kept up the pressure, but there was no third goal, but two were certainly enough.

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.

Ten man Brakes out of cup

Leamington went down to a third home defeat at the New Windmill Ground when they went out of the Red Insure Cup 1-2 to Aresley Town, but it was an honourable defeat after they had played with ten men for most of the match and battled away for the tie. We had the company of the Aresley manager in the Sheepside for most of the match as he directed a string of expletives at his players.

Brakes had gone 1-0 ahead in the first minute after Storey had burst through in impressive fashion to put the ball in the net. However, playing towards the Harbury Lane end, Aresley then started to pile on the pressure with a succession of corners. The turning point in the match came after 14 minutes with the sending off of James Mace. He went in with a two footed tackle in the box and although the referee seemed to hesitate at first and might have gone for a yellow, he flourished the red card after five Aresley players had surrounded him. Aresley then converted from the spot to make it 1-1.

Brakes worked hard to contain the visitors for the rest of the half. Cooper had to make a good reaction save at short range. There was a blow when Owen went down and had to be helped off the pitch, we have enough injury problems with the crucial game at Gosport coming up. Batchelor came on in his place.

Naylor was brought on in place of Stefan Moore after the break. Aresley stepped up the pressure and Cooper had to make some good saves. We also created some good chances, one out of nothing when Stephan Morley put in a shot from near the half way line which their keeper had to tip over the bar. But the failure to take the chances from corners counted against us and on 74 minutes Aresley went ahead. In the meantime, the officious referee had booked Daly for dissent after he complained about the failure to give a penalty. The referee said it was a yard and a half outside the box, but some thought he needed to go to Specsavers.Hood got a yellow for a clash of heads.

We continued to battle away with Morley putting in another of his long range speculative efforts and there was a flurry of corners and free kicks in the closing minutes, but to no avail. It was a good, open game, relatively sparsely attended (the attendance was not announced). As the Sheepside wags said at the end, 'That's half of the double gone' and 'We won't be going to Wembley this year.' Now we can focus on the league and one good piece of news was that Hemel Hempstead went down 6-1 at St.Neots.