By Roger Vincent

Brakes Make it 9 Wins in a Row

The Midland Combination's October "Team of the Month", in both their division and overall, booked a passage to a 3rd round tie at home to Feckenham on 8 Dec. by beating another Premier outfit, Pershore Town, before 451 people. Agar scored the only goal in the 18th minute but they should have scored more. Timms drove a penalty wide in the 34th and the team which scored 7 in both their last 2 outings put as many more the wrong side of the woodwork in what was otherwise a magnificent team performance with much good football.

Although Brakes had a couple of early chances it was Pershore who made the early running but the Brake's defence, with McGovern superb, were combining well to snuff out any threat. But as Blake's speed started to unsettle Pershore and the on-form Agar's skills started to create chances it was Brakes who went ahead in the 18th. Blake sped through a static Pershore defence forcing the goalkeeper to leave his area and head clear, but only to Agar who calmly placed the ball in the vacant net, 1-0.

With the defence sound and the powerful Webb and Timms controlling the midfield Brakes were now well on top and it seemed only a matter of time before they increased their lead. Timms, Webb, Blake and Agar all went close before, in the 34th minute, a through ball from Mort released Blake who was bundled over in the box. Uncharacteristically Timms drove the penalty just wide. The half finished with Timms close to making amends when he cleverly back-kicked a shot on goal from a Thompson long throw.

Pershore, surprised to find themselves still in the game, started the second half with more self-belief and Morris had to stretch for a magnificent save as he tipped the ball over the bar in the 49th. The game was now more even with the Pershore no. 5 playing well and the whole team looking more dangerous. But this was a fine, battling performance from Brakes who rarely let Pershore settle; as the game progressed it seemed less likely that Pershore would get themselves into a shooting position.

Gradually Brakes started to impose themselves again and looked likely to score. A Pershore defender summed it up perfectly when he admonished his faltering defence with the observation that "if we go 2-0 down we're f****d". Yet at only 1-0 there was always the danger of a breakaway but with McGovern playing a blinder it was Brakes who went close through Webb, Timms and Blake with the latter seemingly inexhaustible as time and again he ran down a tiring Pershore defence.

Leamington: Richard Morris, Ian Billington, Will Payne, Liam McGovern, Tom Sidwell, Glen Webb, Nick Mort, Darren Timms, Josh Blake, Brian Agar [Capt.], Steve Thompson
Subs Not Used: Jonny Burgess, Andy Dix, Neale Perry

Other Endsleigh Challenge Cup results:
R2: Meir KA 0 Coventry Sphinx 2; Wilmcote S&S 1 Coventry Marconi 3; Blackheath Inv. 1 County Sports 2; Handsaker 0 Cheslyn Hall 1
R3: Highgate 4 Northfield Town 0