Brakes in the Driving Seat With Superb Run by Coach

Brakes were on top for much of this game, against higher league opposition, and played some good football in sometimes appalling conditions as heavy rain swept across a slippery pitch. "Coach" Steve Thompson (see Team News below) ran 40 yards to put Brakes into the lead on 40 minutes but with five minutes left the ball glanced off the head of the outstanding Dhesi into his own goal for Daventry to snatch an unlikely equaliser as Brakes strove to consolidate their lead. This was an excellent work out, with several outstanding performances and the return of some "old" faces. It demonstrated Brakes' strength in depth and they now seem an organised and cohesive unit.

There was no obvious surface water but heavy rain during the afternoon, and at times throughout the match, created slippery conditions that seemed to suit Brakes more than Daventry. Brakes looked the more determined from the start and were winning the 50:50 balls. Blake shot wide in the 7th minute and Sleem could have scored five minutes later as Brakes surged forward.

Frost was showing well in midfield and linked up with the impressive Sleem to set up Steve Thompson coming in from the right whose shot was well-saved. A trade-mark Dhesi free-kick in the 20th skimmed the bar before Frost and Sleem again combined well, this time with Shearsby, to bisect the Daventry defence. Timms drove wide after good work from Sleem and Burgess before the pressure finally told when Steve Thompson latched onto a loose ball, in the 40th minute 40 yards from goal and ran past a flailing defence to drive low and hard into the net, 0-1. On the stroke of half-time the rejuvenated Steve Thompson could have doubled the score volleying over from close range.

More heavy rain at the start of the second half drove the, mostly Brakes', fans into the stand as conditions became more difficult. Sleem and Frost were battling well in midfield with Walker, Sidwell and Dhesi rock-like in defence. Time and again Dhesi swept up at the back and created movement upfield in a performance that must rank among his best for the club. With Cadden ringing the changes to try different combinations Brakes faltered a little and had a let-off in the 59th when a powerful Walker header rattled his own cross-bar. Hanrahan had replaced Timms in the 50th and made an immediate impact and Nicholls had come on for the hard-running Blake five minutes later.

Two "old" faces returned in the 63rd with a double substitution bringing on Morris and Wickson; Parisi replaced Sleem with Easterlow making his debut shortly after. Paul Holland replaced Burgess in the 76th as the seventh Brakes' substitute of the second half but it is a credit to the team, and their coaching, that the changes seemed seamless and Brakes still remained in control and looking to extend their lead. Both Hanrahan and Nicholls could have doubled the lead but it was Daventry who scored when a cross glanced of Dhesi's head into his own net to level the score at 1-1 in the 85th minute. Yet there was still time for Nicholls and Easterlow to go close before time, finally, ran out.

Leamington: James Gettings (Richard Morris 63); Jonny Burgess (Paul Holland 76); Harj Dhesi; Tom Sidwell; Simon Walker; Darren Timms (Chris Hanrahan 50); Barry Shearsby (Scott Easterlow 74); Paul Frost (Simon Wickson 63); Josh Blake (Paul Nicholls 55); Vernor Sleem (Ryan Parisi 71); Steve Thompson [Capt.]

Subs Not Used: Andy Biffin

Team News: Nick McFarlane, at the match, has a dead leg - nothing serious.
Steve Thompson has been appointed Player Coach as senior team assistant to manager Jason Cadden. Congratulations Steve and you'll still be Tommo to us - despite what the team call you!
Josh Blake was selected to replace Paul Nicholls in the league representative side at Knowle on Saturday (2 Aug) as Nicholls has to work Saturdays in the close season in return for being able to play Saturdays during the season. But Blake now also has had to withdraw because of work commitments.
Simon Wickson is back at University for a final year, after course-related employment last year, and will train at the University during the week to be available for selection on Saturdays - much the same as seasons prior to the last one.
Andy Biffin's achilles tendon not as serious as feared and he was on the pitch helping the goalkeepers (not during the match, you know what I mean) and getting slimmer by the minute.