Come friendly balls, fall on Slough

I have missed quite a few games at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium because I have been away quite a lot. I may well have missed some poor games, and I certainly missed some controversy, but I was heartened by what I saw last night. The full moon rose over the stadium, initially tinged red. With Champions League matches, attendance was 411, plus the usual dog.

John Betjeman once wrote a famous poem before the Second World War 'Come, friendly bombs, fall on Slough.' Despite their lowly position in the table, Slough are not without talent and they showed plenty of effort and determination, never giving up. Their No.10 looked quite dangerous, although I was amused when their No.7 completely lost it over a disputed throw in.

We were 3-0 up by half time with some excellent goals with Jack Edwards scoring two, the other from Ben Mackey on top form. There was a moment of danger when they had a chance to score just after we had gone 1-0 ahead, but somehow the ball missed the open goal and hit the post. Fans were hoping for 'the old five', but we weren't able to find the back of the net in the second half despite a couple of chances.

The result saw us go top of the table after Chippenham drew at Frome. It's a long old season, but it's looking encouraging. Some fans who have been at more games than me thought we weren't at our best last night, but I was quite happy.

Part-time documentary

For those who missed the documentary about the Brakes shown on the Community Channel last night, there will be three chances to watch it later in the month. As well as seeing some familiar faces, it offered a good account of the atmosphere and challenges facing a non-league club.

Using their new online format, Windmill Wonderland has published an extensive interview with the documentary maker Nick Leek: Caught on Camera

Brakes fight for victory

In a highly competitive match at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium tonight Leamington fought for a 3-2 victory over Kettering Town in front of a crowd of 545 and one dog.

After good work on the left involving Taundry and Moore, the ball was played into Jack Edwards on four minutes who put the Brakes 1-0 ahead with a good strike. Breeden made a great save to keep Leamington in the game. He was then in trouble when he challenged an attacker outside the area, but he was not the last man and the referee, after consulting his linesman, gave a yellow card. Breeden then got into trouble with the referee for time wasting.

Ogleby then got a yellow card for a foul. Kettering were keeping up the pressure and the ball had to be cleared off the line. Then on 35 minutes Brakes advanced down the left, finding plenty of space and Richard Taundry made it 2-0 with an excellent goal from a curling free kick.

HT 2-0

Things then went wrong early in the second half when Saul Williams scored for Kettering with a ball along the ground which was difficult to save. Kettering were then awarded a penalty which was duly dispatched. Ben Mackey then made it 3-2 on 63 minutes, making use of an angled pass from Ogleby. Both sides had half chances in the remainder of the game, but Brakes held on to take all three points.

'Return of the Mack to the Brakes'

This is the headline above an article about Ben Mackey's return to Leamington in today's Non-League Paper. However, the description of him as 'Big Ben' drew a sceptical comment from one contributor to The Banter: 'Not at the NWG, he ain't.

It notes how Mackey, 'then with St. Neots, decided to step away from the game in January with his hectic work schedule as a freelance project manager and travelling from his Warwick home taking is toll. It allowed the prolific striker time to concentrate on his work as well as his bodybuilding and Mackey is in tip-top shape.'

Mackey told the NLP: 'Leamington are on my doorstep and are a great club. I always knew I wanted to go back at one stage and I'm really looking forward to it. I've been into bodybuilding for a while but it doesn't really go hand in hand with football. Now I'm going to adjust my training and get ready for the running in pre-season.' The accompanying photos show Mackey to have an extensive collection of tattoos on his arms and upper body.

Mackey said: 'Leamington are the perfect club for me. Paul didn't have to tell me what his ambitions were. Leamington are a big team in the area and they'll be looking to win every game. If I'm playing I want to be winning and scoring goals.'

As always, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

Brakes fans make German press

13 Brakes fans have got their group photo in a German newspaper after a visit to SV Eichede: English football fans

Not good enough

Leamington were in the relegation positions this evening after their 1-2 defeat at home to Lowestoft Town. Stalybridge Celtic won 2-0 away.

Of course, it's not over until the fat lady sings, but on this showing, it's goodbye Conference North, nice to know you, and hello Northern Premier.

Over the 90 minutes we simply weren't good enough. We lost possession too easily, we failed to pass to our own players, there was too much hoofing the ball up in the air and too much panic defending.

The Trawlermen had to play their reserve goalkeeper who was variously described as the Jolly Pink Giant and Mr Universe. However, he wasn't just a towering presence, but seemed more than capable.

The Lowestoft players were very lippy in the first half, for example complaining when play was stopped after Chilton went down when seven players surrounded the referee, but he just responded by giving them lectures.

On 43 minutes Jack Edwards put Leamington ahead with a shot from a corner. Unfortunately, Edwards had to be substituted in the second half after a jaw injury: he was one of the more effective players. Earlier in the half both sides had chances to score, but failed to take the opportunities.

Brakes didn't look like scoring a second goal and on 77 minutes, Tank conceded a penalty which was efficiently dispatched. Then on 90 minutes Brakes hearts were broken when Lowestoft scored through a crowded box.

All credit to Chilton for unrelenting effort and some real skill.

Perhaps a returning Danny Newton can get us out of the mire. However, what worries me is the 69 goals we have conceded this season. I am a great believer in building from the back and that means a consistently reliable keeper, not a succession of custodians.

Brakes fight back to keep hope alive

I didn't write a report after Tuesday's defeat against Chorley because I was so downhearted. They weren't very good, but we were worse. It looked like the same story again after the first half today. We were poor and so were Stalybridge Celtic, but they saw their opportunity and scored.

For the opening period we were pinned back. The strong wind didn't help good football, but were hoofing the ball out in panic mode. Their goal came when the keeper spilled the ball and Sim seized his chance.

It looked as if they were going to win until the second part of the second half when we started to battle, although we did get the ball on the roof of the net earlier on in the second half in our best effort up to then. The difference was made by taking off the haples Liam Truslove and bringing on Richard Taundry who was on fire and looked like a footballer. Hicks then replaced Edwards and a further substitutions saw Magunda replaced by Bilal Yafai. It was good work by him and Goddard that enabled Hicks to find the back of the net.

We kept under the pressure in the closing minutes to raise the spirits of most of the crowd of 595, but could not find the back of the net.

Next week's opponents Gloucester City won 2-0 at Solihull Moors, but Brackley lost 1-0 at Colwyn Bay so that puts us one point ahead of them, just out of the relegation places.