Brakes Find Form in Racing Encounter

After falling behind to a freak first-half goal, Brakes stormed back after the interval to snatch victory against old rivals Racing Club Warwick. A crowd of 304 turned out to see the first encounter between the two clubs' senior sides since the 1980s and were rewarded with an impressive display from a Leamington team beginning to find its feet in readiness for the new season.

The early action saw the visitors bearing down on the home goal, but the first real chance fell to Brakes in the fifth minute when Darren Timms just failed to get his head to a fine cross from David Care. On 10 minutes, Care again crossed from the right and this time new boy Paul Frost met it well, but Lee Keyte in the Racing goal was up to the task, making a good save. Just when it seemed that Brakes were getting on top, Gary Faulconbridge sent a long cross into the penalty area which drifted onto the far post and into the net past the stranded James Gettings to give Racing a 12th minute lead (0-1).

Brakes quickly got back into the action and a fine solo run from the hardworking Darren Timms ended with a shot over the bar. Frost and Care, as well as Josh Blake, had goal chances but failed to hit the target. Then on 33 minutes, good work by ex-Alveston player Vernor Sleem saw Blake clear in the penalty area, but the striker appeared to be held by a defender close to goal.

An equaliser looked to just a matter of time and it nearly came two minutes before the interval. David Care (a much improved player from his previous spell with the club) embarked on another solo run but saw his shot blocked by Keyte. Steve Thompson picked up the rebound but his goal-bound effort was kicked off the line. Just as the excitement was dying down, Racing broke away and Gettings in the home goal saved well from Moussa Sylla who was to play an even more prominent role before the match was over.

Andy Ellis gave way to Baz Shearsby at the start of the second half and the Brakes midfielder immediately made an impact prompting a number of attacks. The threatened equaliser duly arrived in the 56th minute when a move involving a number of players saw Timms' header picked up by Blake who shot low into the corner wide of Keyte's outstretched hand (1-1).

On 60 minutes, Shearsby nearly got on the scoresheet himself but, after beating the defence, he pulled his shot just wide of the right-hand post. The introduction of youth team star Neil Stacey in a triple substitution added more pace and strength to the attack and it was his beating of two defenders with two minutes remaining that set up Brakes' second. Keyte pushed Stacey's goalbound shot away but, this time, Jonny Burgess steered the rebound wide of the covering defenders into the net (2-1).

Just when it looked all over, Racing were awarded a penalty but, to the relief of the home support, Moussa Sylla sent the spot kick high into the Harbury Lane end stand.

A delighted Jason Cadden greeted his side's first win from their three matches against Midland Alliance opposition saying "This was a good performance, especially in the second half when we played some nice football. We were unfortunate to be a goal down at the break but, in the end, it was a fair result. I was happy with the build up for both goals and the way the new players performed."

Leamington: James Gettings; David Care (Paul Holland 77); Simon Walker (Harj Dhesi 64); Nick McFarlane; Tom Sidwell; Andy Ellis (Barry Shearsby 46); Darren Timms; Paul Frost (Jonny Burgess 54); Josh Blake (Ryan Parisi 64); Vernor Sleem (Neil Stacey 64); Steve Thompson [Capt.]
Subs Not Used: Niels Kristensen; Richard Morris

Team News: Paul Nicholls missing as he has to work Saturdays in the close season in return for having Saturdays off to play when the league starts; he also misses the league representative game 2 August for the same reason.
Paul Eden will not be signing; he has gone to Kenilworth Town.