Blake Strikes To Keep Brakes On Top

Having dominated for much of the game, a solitary goal from Josh Blake early in the second half was enough to secure victory over visitors Shifnal Town and maintain Brakes' title challenge.

On a blustery afternoon, with just enough sunshine to hint at Spring around the corner, a crowd of 379 waited eagerly to see if Brakes could extend their winning sequence to six. The players did not let them down attacking with some purpose from the kick off with Vernor Sleem just failing to connect with a Stuart Herlihy cross in the eighth minute. Josh Blake then made a fine run into the penalty area and his pass was picked up by Sleem whose shot was palmed away by visiting 'keeper Luke Philip. Sleem was again in the thick of the action on 10 minutes, but this time he could not reach Steve Thompson's cross and the ball went across the face of the goal and clear of the danger zone.

Leamington 'keeper Richard Morris had his first real save to make in the 13th minute, safely gathering a free-kick after Andy Gregory had been penalised. On 25 minutes, Gregory popped up at the other end to have a shot which Philip saved comfortably. Ryan Parisi, who has been impressing in recent matches, went off with a pulled hamstring on 33 minutes to be replaced by Jonny Burgess. With five minutes to go to the interval, Burgess made a run down the right and crossed to Blake whose shot was smothered by the increasingly busy Philip.

Despite all their possession, Brakes went into half-time on level terms. However, the home supporters' anxiety was relieved within seven minutes of the restart when a long clearance was headed on by Sleem to Blake who rifled a shot past Philip for his twentieth goal of the season, 1-0 in the 52nd minute. It could have been two almost immediately, but Mark Simmonds' cross from the right just eluded Blake with the goal at his mercy. Paul Nicholls made his second appearance since his spell out through injury and immediately added some pace and determination to the attack. Together with Martin Thompson, who is also finding form and fitness after injury, he ran straight at the Shifnal defence causing some panic and increasing the pressure as the clock ticked away towards full-time.

There were a few anxious moments as Shifnal tried to snatch an equalizer, but the returning Tom Sidwell was solid in defence and Morris was also equal to the challenge.

All in all, a satisfactory, if unspectacular performance, which kept manager Jason Cadden happy. He said "We knew it wasn't going to be easy and, in the end, it was a hard fought win. We had enough chances to be three up at the break, but we kept working and got the breakthrough we deserved early in the second half. I was pleased with the defence and another clean sheet."

Leamington: Richard Morris; Ryan Parisi (Jonny Burgess 33); Harj Dhesi; Tom Sidwell; Andy Gregory; Darren Timms; Stuart Herlihy; Mark Simmonds (Martin Thompson 71); Josh Blake; Vernor Sleem (Paul Nicholls 69); Steve Thompson [Capt]

Team News: Chris Hanrahan still injured; Glen Webb knee operation (?); Baz Shearsby still carrying injury; Si Walker unfit; Daz Timms faces 1-week ban from 29 March for five yellows.