By Roger Vincent

Honours Even at the New Windmill

Brakes always seem to play Sphinx in torrential rain and this was another wet occasion with the crowd kept down to 317 and the lights on in the first half. Sphinx had the better of the opening period when they led through a 21st minute goal but Brakes shaded the second half and Timms equalised in the 49th. Both teams could have won it but a draw was probably a fair result over 90 minutes.

Brakes, with Burgess up front, made a promising start with Blake turning well to shoot wide inside five minutes and Gregory, who had another excellent game, driving over from long range. Blake was narrowly offside when put through on goal by Burgess in the 17th. But Sphinx gradually assumed control and scored an excellent goal in the 21st when debutant Andy Biffin, in goal, was beaten by a well-placed header from a cross on the right, 0-1.

Sphinx continued to threaten but much of their shooting was wayward and Biffin looked secure when they were on target. Blake threatened, again without issue, when he was through on goal in the 40th but blocked without getting in a shot. Minutes later he was given offside, not for the first time, after a good 1-2 with Timms. Hanrahan's shot from distance in the 44th was Brakes only real shot in the first half to test the Sphinx 'keeper.

Brakes came out with more purpose in the second half and were rewarded in the 49th minute when Timms drew the goalkeeper and stroked the ball into the corner, 1-1, after a superb through ball from Hanrahan. But, though Brakes were now in the ascendancy, too often the defence gave away the ball as they moved upfield and were nearly punished. Blake was again put through on goal in the 57th but couldn't get away from the pursuing defenders.

The experienced Ellis, who works at Warwickshire College in part with the Academy team, replaced a struggling Tom Sidwell in the 58th and showed touches of undoubted class, keeping the ball on the ground and providing some telling through balls. He released Blake in the 63rd but the out-of-touch striker missed the opportunity. Burgess was combining well with Hanrahan and providing Brakes' main threat up front. In the 70th Burgess came close with a shot saved at the second attempt.

Nicholls came on for Blake in the 76th but is clearly not yet match-fit. But Brakes looked most likely to snatch a late winner. A flurry in the Sphinx goalmouth nearly brought dividends in the 81st and Saunders made one of his late forays in the 90th but was upended, the free kick coming to nothing. Hanrahan also went close but Brakes had a let-off in the seventh minute of added time when they conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box that many thought was a penalty but blocked the shot and managed to clear in a late flurry of activity.

Leamington: Andy Biffin, Tom Saunders, Andy Gregory, Simon Walker, Tom Sidwell (Andy Ellis 58), Glen Webb (Simon Wickson 65), Jonny Burgess, Chris Hanrahan, Josh Blake (Paul Nicholls 76), Darren Timms, Steve Thompson [Capt.]

Team News: Still lots of injuries: Andy Biffin from Shepshed Dynamo steps in for goalkeeper Myles Day, possibly out for 5-6 weeks