Memory of Win Fades as Brakes Take a Fall

As darkness fell over Sphinx Drive and the home side were getting changed for a well-earned drink, Brakes players were still out on the pitch as manager Jason Cadden and coach Steve Thompson held a long inquest into this disappointing result. Cadden described the team "gutted" by their below-par performance but too many players looked off the standard required if the team is going to achieve the goal of promotion this time round.

This was the third encounter between the two sides in a match played in memory of the former Sphinx chairman, Ron Cooper. Brakes had won the first tie in 2001 through a Darren Timms goal but, despite strikes from Josh Blake and Paul Nicholls, had gone down 2-3 at the New Windmill Ground last season.

Inevitably, the home side were well motivated and this showed in the early exchanges with James Gettings having to make the first of a number of saves in only the second minute. A break down the right involving Blake and Simon Wickson resulted in a corner, but the opportunity was wasted when the referee awarded a free kick to Sphinx for pushing by a Brakes forward inside the penalty area. The first goal duly arrived for the home side on 14 minutes when Tom Thacker rose unchallenged to head home a corner from the left (0-1).

It could have been two for Sphinx after 21 minutes, but a long range shot came back off the Brakes' crossbar. A Brakes equaliser almost came a minute later when Steve Thompson tried to lob the home 'keeper Steve Taylor and then Blake wasted a good opportunity on the right side of goal after being put through by Paul Frost. However, it wasn't long before Brakes did get the ball in the net as, in the twenty-seventh minute, a long pass from Harj Dhesi found Paul Nicholls with a clear shot on goal. Taylor managed to keep the striker's effort out, but Blake followed up for the simplest of tap-ins (1-1).

With only a minute to half-time, Sphinx went back into the lead when a speculative cross cum shot from the left by Robbie Stevenson evaded Gettings' clutches and rolled into the net. The young keeper still looked distraught after the match, but last season he improved with each outing and should be forgiven for what appeared to be a lapse of concentration. The Sahara-like wind that had engulfed this side of Coventry may have played a part and this was not a hanging offence by any means.

Any hopes of a comeback were sunk within two minutes of the restart when Paul Woods shot through a ruck of players past replacement Brakes 'keeper Richard Morris (1-3). The final goal came on 65 minutes through a shot by Luke Hopkins which went in courtesy of a post (1-4). There was never really anything for the travelling fans to shout about after that, apart from one effort by Darren Timms following sterling work by Simon Walker, who looked to be getting back to his best.

Both Nick Mort and Nick Mcfarlane were on holiday and the latter's class in defence was certainly missed. Manager Cadden tried to put a brave face on events saying "we had a decent first half and were unlucky to go behind to a freak goal. However, we were outfought in the second half and were not as up for it as Sphinx. We are still learning and will improve when the real season begins."

Leamington: James Gettings (Richard Morris 46); Jonny Burgess (Paul Holland 65); Harj Dhesi; Tom Sidwell; Simon Walker; Paul Frost (Chris Hanrahan 55); Simon Wickson (Darren Timms 55); Vernor Sleem; Josh Blake; Paul Nicholls (Scott Easterlow 65); Steve Thompson [Capt.]

Team News: Andy Gregory OK to play.