By Roger Vincent

Brakes Off to Open Up 4 Point Gap

A 44th minute, Daz Timms free-kick from the edge of the box was all it took to secure all 3 points. Wilmcote are one of the only 2 teams that could, in theory, stop Brakes being promoted; the other team is Rugby. And, just to round off a good day results-wise, Rugby lost at home to Burman Hi-Ton leaving Brakes 4 points clear at the top, still with 3 games in hand.

Brakes played in their away kit of white as there would not have been enough time to wash and dry the home kit in time for Monday's clash with Rugby. With Wilmcote in yellow it took me a little while to get orientated

In truth there is not a lot of incident to report, which is not to say that it wasn't an absorbing game in some ways with both teams plugging away and Brakes always looking the more likely team to win it. It's just that nothing unusual happened. The defences were certainly on top, helped by a tendency to pump the ball upfield rather than build attacks with slick movements along the ground which is what we used to do. I believe that there are 2 reasons, currently, why this isn't happening.

Firstly, the fans who shout "keep it on the ground" are not always aware that, although looking OK from a distance, the pitch is extremely uneven. Secondly every match is now a big one with other teams wanting to beat us and our players nervous about throwing away promotion and an unbeaten record.

I know the managers want "a display" for the crowd. Perhaps, soon, we'll be so far ahead of the following pack that we can all relax and it will happen - perhaps very soon.

Leamington Richard Morris; Ian Billington; Stuart Hepburn; Liam McGovern; Will Payne; Darren Timms; Simon Wickson; Barry Shearsby (Glen Webb 23m); Josh Blake; Brian Agar (captain); Steve Thompson
Unused subs: Kevin Ariss, Jon Burgess