Thommo Carries On ...

High-flying Alliance outfit, Stratford Town, already had one friendly under their belts, losing 1-0 to league opposition, Kidderminster Harriers, last week. But Brakes, on their first outing, matched them until they conceded two soft goals, an own goal in the 15th and a defensive tangle in the 27th that left Cunningham unhindered in front of goal.

But there was nothing soft about Brakes' response in the 31st minute when a superb through ball from Shearsby was met by Steve Thompson who ran past the defence to volley home the best goal of an entertaining match to make it 2-1 at the interval. Steve Thompson scored both Brakes' goals in the final match of last season and will be sorely missed when his suspension starts.

Brakes were showing some of the inevitable problems of blooding new players with sometimes two or three bunching in the same area. Gettings made a superb save in the 54th before Brakes paid the penalty with two quick goals from a well-organised Stratford. In the 63rd minute the veteran Niblett scored with a powerful header and Cunningham knocked home his second, from a cross after a fine run down the right flank, to make it 4-1 in the 67th.

But Brakes kept plugging away and were unlucky when Care, who showed all his old appetite for the ball, ran through the Stratford defence in the 77th, Sheppard drove over from Nicholls' through ball in the 85th and Care, again, brought a goal-line clearance in the dying moments.

16-year old Jac Sheppard had come on after a couple of minutes, when Nicholls went off after an inadvertent poke in the eye, and showed promise although this was not an easy debut. Nicholls returned later to good effect and Cadden was able to interchange his players, mostly unenforced.

But Harri, who made some quicksilver runs, twisted his ankle and, ultimately, limped off unable to continue. The new, slim-line Timms moved well whilst Walker and Dhesi were in fine form in defence which, with the dependable McFarlane and hard-working Burgess, looks set for a good season. Blake ran hard all aftenoon and the tall, debutant Kristensen provided some badly-needed physical presence.

Leamington (From): James Gettings, Jonny Burgess, Harj Dhesi, Simon Walker, Nick McFarlane, Darren Timms, Barry Shearsby, James Harri, David Care, Josh Blake, Paul Nicholls, Steve Thompson [Capt.], Jac Sheppard, Niels Kristensen

Team News: Andy Gregory there but carrying an injury, Nick Mort filled in for Matt Papworth who is away, others on holiday or carrying injuries.