Nicholls Blows Hole In Packed Bolehall Defence

A continuous strong wind with gusts you could lean into spoilt this game as a spectacle with players struggling to make headway before an estimated 120 fans. Brakes, playing against the wind in the first half, held on for 0-0 then had much the better of the second half though with only a Nicholls goal in the 58th minute to show for their efforts. But this was another three points on a day when Rugby Town lost though Romulus kept up the pressure, beating Shifnal Town 2-0, to remain the table-topping Brakes biggest rivals for the championship. It also marked two firsts, a start by Glen Webb this season and the first win over Bolehall after two draws and a defeat in the last two seasons.

A full coach blew along the motorway, passing a dejected-looking Forest Green Rovers team whose later result justified their seeming pessimism. A gale swept across the exposed ground on a diagonal from one corner to the opposite corner. The banging and crashing of anything loose, and the difficulty of opening doors against the wind, suggested that the game would be a lottery with havoc dictating play. Rubbish flew over our heads with what looked suspiciously like a bra, from some far-off wind-blown tryst or washing-line maybe, lodging itself in a tree. Some of us headed for the relative shelter of a seatless stand at the far side from the club-house reasoning that most of the play would be that side because of the wind. We took the direct route across the pitch and wondered how anyone could play football in these conditions.

Playing into the wind in the first half I was prepared to turn round in arrears. But it was soon clear that there was no huge advantage to Bolehall as delicate shots sailed high and wide and passes eluded players. In fact Brakes did extraordinarily well in almost impossible conditions with the strength of Webb, in his first start of the season, and Herlihy paramount. The main problem was in actually getting shots on goal and judging a final pass with the ball blowing back. Herlihy, Blake, Martin Thompson and Nicholls combined well in attack as Bolehall defended in depth and Brakes pushed players forward. Both Nicholls and Herlihy went close in the 18th and three minutes later a threaded pass by Nicholls was just blown off-course with Martin Thompson pulling the trigger.

A rare yellow for Martin Thompson after a late tackle in the 29th was more about commitment than any foul intent as both teams struggled to play the ball. Maybe Bolehall's defending in depth was unwise in a half where they should have had a huge, wind-assisted advantage but, with no hope of honours this season, they wanted to blood some new players and were understandably cautious. But Brakes were well on top in a half where it would have been no disgrace to concede. In the 34th the effervescent Blake just failed to meet a Nicholls pass when a touch would have brought a goal and a Timms strike minutes later sailed over the bar.

With the wind mostly behind them in the second half it seemed that Brakes must score soon but it was a little too strong to be a huge advantage. What looked like a delicate Timms chip in the 52nd swirled up into the sky and the goal, when it came, was more about persistence than power. Nicholls chased down Swifts' 'keeper to get to a ball outside the box and near the goal-line to the left of goal. Robbing the 'keeper they both fell but Nicholls was first to his feet and clipped the ball from a yard inside the line across the goal and gently into the far corner, 0-1 in the 58th minute.

Brakes didn't look like conceding and it was really only a question of whether or not they could add to their tally. Martin Thompson was unlucky in the 59th when the 'keeper just managed to turn a goal-bound effort round for a corner and Blake missed a golden opportunity in the 67th when, with only a touch needed, he blasted over trying to break the net. He nearly made amends in the same minute when a sweeping, glorious move ended with a Brakes' player adjudged to have used an elbow. A free kick in front of goal for Swifts in the 69th momentarily set hearts a-flutter but Brakes swept back and Nicholls nearly doubled the tally in the 72nd blasting over.

The fitter Brakes took command later in the game and Sleem, on for the tiring Martin Thompson, was showing neat touches. But Swifts in-depth defending was now paying off with the goalmouth blocked. Steve Thompson was getting down the left, which was probably the best approach in the still-strong wind. But it was a Steve Thompson header from in front of goal that so nearly led to the second goal when his headed pass was picked up by Blake who rolled the ball agonisingly just past the post in the 82nd. Rockcliff came on for Blake in the 83rd replacing Webb at right wing-back so that he could move to midfield. The new legs so nearly paid off as Rockcliff impressed with some runs down the right but the wind outran his efforts and also those of Sleem who was given offside as he closed on goal in the 85th having set off early in an attempt to reach the ball before it had to be retrieved from a field in the distance.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Glen Webb; Harj Dhesi; Tom Sidwell; Andy Gregory; Darren Timms; Stuart Herlihy; Josh Blake (Seb Rockcliff 83); Martin Thompson (Vernor Sleem 76); Paul Nicholls; Steve Thompson [Capt]
Subs Not Used: Andy McKinley

Team News: David Care (cracked rib) and Simon Wickson (Broken nose) out "4-6 weeks", i.e. effectively rest of the season, as are Anthony Episcopo (residential police training at Ryton) and, probably, Baz Shearsby and Simon Walker (injury and unfit); Jonny Burgess OK but was doing a work-related course.