By Roger Vincent

Brakes KO Meir KA

Brakes started where they left off last season with their 19th unbeaten league performance in a row, 16 of them won. Significantly they have conceded no goals in 10 of those and the defence, again, played a leading role today before 374 people in the hot sunshine. Ultimately it was a comfortable victory over toothless Meir KA at the New Windmill Ground although Brakes were down to ten men in the 58th when Rowland was sent off for a brilliant, goalkeeping save, Meir equalising Blake's early strike with the penalty. The home side finished the stronger and secured victory thanks to a Paul Nicholls strike and a second from Blake.

Brakes could have taken an early lead when Nicholls appeared to be upended in the area in the 6th. The impressive Webb was Brakes playmaker in midfield and nearly scored in the 23rd, but his shot was well saved by the 'keeper. Constant pressure paid off in the 33rd minute when Blake waltzed past two defenders to score low into the corner of the net for Leamington's first goal in the Premier Division since 1988, 1-0.

Goalkeeper, Morris, had little to do but, in the 57th, Brakes conceded a (converted) penalty when Rowland pushed out a goal-bound shot, 1-1, and received the mandatory red card. However, the visitors fell to the sucker-punch as Paul Nicholls restored the lead two minutes later, 2-1, and Blake latched on to a fine pass from Webb in the 82nd minute to score and seal the 3-1 victory.

This was a good, solid performance especially given the energy-sapping heat typical of the first day of the football season. Joint-manager Barry Proctor pronounced himself pleased saying, "I thought that we showed a lot of character to lose a player and the lead, but we came back the stronger side. I was also pleased with our two new players, Ben Adams and Chris Hammond, who came on and looked quality signings."

Leamington: Richard Morris, Jonny Burgess (Ben Adams 73), Mark Rowland, Tom Sidwell, Andy Crabtree (Andy Gregory 22), Darren Timms, Glen Webb, Barry Shearsby (Chris Hammond 46), Josh Blake, Paul Nicholls, Steve Thompson [Capt.]

Team News: Andy Crabtree has a slight pull and went off as a precaution but Baz Shearsby's injury may prove to be slightly more serious.