Swifts Swoop For Share of Spoils

This result was a bitter blow to Brakes' Midland Combination championship hopes as a lapse in concentration by goalkeeper Richard Morris let Swifts in for an equaliser in a match which should have been wrapped up with all three points in the bag.

The bitterly cold wind that blew around the New Windmill Ground made for a difficult afternoon for the players and a feet-stomping one for the crowd of 411. Whilst many fans were still settling down after the kick-off, a second minute corner out on the right taken by Brett Larkins was carried by the wind into the net with Morris unable to prevent an opening goal for the visitors (0-1). Brakes' most dangerous forward Vernor Sleem had two chances to level, one being disallowed for offside. However, in the 31st minute, Sleem got on the scoresheet for real when he bundled a corner from Baz Shearsby into the net (1-1).

The most entertaining moment of the remainder of the first half soon followed when a cardboard box blew across the pitch hotly pursued by a little boy. Back to the real stuff. Martin Thompson had two great chances to take Brakes into an interval lead. The first was a fine solo run that ended with rather a tame shot wide and the second was unlucky when the ball bobbled up off the turf when he was about to shoot.

Swifts got the ball into the net again on 50 minutes but the strike was disallowed. Then in the 58th minute, the best move of the match involving Shearby and Sleem down the right saw Blake coolly put the ball into the net to put Brakes in front for the first time (2-1). This signalled Brakes' best spell and skipper Steve Thompson twice went close. However, the home side didn't capitalise on their pressure and Swifts' Dan Pennel got on the end of a free-kick in the 66th minute to level the score at 2-2 and take a share of the points.

This was a strange-looking side with Blake (in my view Brakes' most improved player of the season) out of position in defence and leaving huge gaps down the left-hand side when following his natural instincts to go forward. Stuart Herlihy was a tower of strength in midfield but needed more support. Harj Dhesi's influence was also missing at the back and overall this was a disjointed performance.

Manager Jason Cadden was far from happy after the match, saying "We threw it away. We haven't been defending well lately and should have shut up shop after taking the lead. Rich Morris called for the free-kick and missed it. We have made it tough for ourselves, but if we can get another thirteen or fourteen wins, we will be in there with a shout at the end."

On the injury front, Andy Gregory is about to return but both leading scorer Paul Nicholls and wing-back Dave Care will be missing for another two weeks.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Josh Blake; Simon Walker; Tom Sidwell; Niels Kristensen; Darren Timms (Mark Simmonds 84); Stuart Herlihy; Barry Shearsby (Simon Wickson 78); Vernor Sleem (Ryan Parisi 78); Martin Thompson; Steve Thompson [Capt]

Leamington Team News: Jonny Burgess on honeymoon.