Brakes' Fans Salute Hero Gettings

Brakes struggled against Polesworth and gave a tired performance against lower division opponents who seemed to have more desire to win. 184 spectators thought that Brakes had done enough at 2-0 to win the game with goals by Sidwell, with his first of the season in the first half, and Sleem on the hour, but Polesworth came back with two goals from set pieces to take it to a goalless extra time and penalties which Brakes won 3-2 thanks to two magnificent saves from star of the match Gettings. Brakes now go into the 3rd Round draw on Monday (6 Oct.).

Gettings kept his side in the tie with early saves as Brakes struggled to find their early-season rhythm at a windy Polesworth. On a narrow pitch play seemed bunched and frenetic with nobody having, or making, the time to control the game. But a Nicholls' header hit the intersection of bar and post from a Shearsby corner in the 23rd and Nicholls, again, drove just wide a minute later as Brakes started to get on top.

In the 36th minute Brakes made it 0-1 through the unlikely boot of Sidwell who scored his first of the season, and, as far as I recall, his first non-header, when he smashed home a blockbuster of a shot when the ball ran loose after a Shearsby corner. Nicholls went on one of his jinxing runs in the 39th, but was robbed in the area, then fastened onto a beautiful through ball by Dhesi in the 41st but, for once, failed to round the goalkeeper who came quickly off his line.

Harri, making his starting debut after three games off the bench, was finding it difficult on the small, narrow pitch to find space to run into but did get through to a shooting position in the 49th only to drive just wide. It was a tight game and, although Polesworth were battling hard and winning balls against a, sometimes, lethargic Brakes they were having few real chances. When they did Gettings was safe and competent in the Brakes goal. The game seemed as good as over in the 61st minute when Sleem made it 0-2 ending a barren spell when he lifted a through ball from Shearsby over the Poles' goalkeeper into the net.

But Brakes had a reality update in the 66th when Gettings superbly turned a goal-bound free-kick onto his bar. Nicholls missed a golden opportunity to, probably, put the game beyond recall in the 70th when he put a Sleem pass just wide. Then another free kick for Polesworth in the 76th was smashed into the net to make it 1-2. Polesworth, sensing that the game was not lost after all now went for Brakes' jugular and drew level in the 85th, at 2-2, with yet another free kick, this time from the left with a superb header beating Gettings. Brakes threw everything at Polesworth to try and win it in the 90 and Blake drove over before Burgess netted with time running out to be denied by an offside decision. There were few chances in extra time though Nicholls got down the right and sent a low drive across the face of the goal in the 105th and was denied by a very good save in the second period.

And so to penalties, the first time Brakes have been involved in a shoot-out apart from a pre-season friendly. Poles scored with their first shot and Nicholls rounded off an unproductive day (which he's allowed from time to time) by having his shot saved, 1-0 to Poles. Both teams scored their second shots though Gettings got a hand to Poles'; Timms was Brakes target man, 2-1. Gettings saved the next Poles effort but was adjudged, correctly, to have come off his line too quickly, but as he made a superb save when it was retaken despair turned to more jubilation, enhanced when Hanrahan hit an unstoppable drive into the corner, 2-2. Poles 4th effort missed the goal and Parisi strode up to make it 2-3 with a confident strike well wide of the 'keeper. And so to the final denouemont: the Poles' penalty-taker smashed a terrific shot to Gettings right but Brakes' young 'keeper was equal to the situation, diving at full-stretch to win the game for Brakes and receive a tumultuous accolade, fit for a hero, from the fans behind the goal and, later, on his way into the club-house.

Leamington: James Gettings; David Care; Harj Dhesi; Tom Sidwell; Niels Kristensen; Barry Shearsby [Capt.] (Darren Timms 96); Chris Hanrahan; Jammes Harri (Jonny Burgess 71); Vernor Sleem (Ryan Parisi 112); Paul Nicholls; Josh Blake

Team News: Andy Gregory not injured, planned absence; Andy Biffin at match and in training; Martin Thompson at match, Physio. Tuesday and hopefully available for selection next Saturday; Baz Shearsby went off with calf strain but "should be OK"; Steve Thompson at a wedding; Scott Easterlow gone to Rugby Town - good luck Scott.