Title Race Goes To the Wire As Brakes Do Double Over Romulus

Put away those old Roy Orbison records 'cos it's not over yet. Despite going a goal behind in only five minutes, Brakes bounced back to ensure that Romulus will play Dudley Sports next week knowing that they have to win to guarantee the title.

On a sun-drenched afternoon, 813 people made this the best attendance of the season, eclipsing even the crowd for the Durham City FA Vase tie. Amongst them was staunch supporter David Clough from Whitnash who picked up the award presented by Glen Webb for being the 10,000th spectator of the season.

There was a mixture of anticipation and apprehension as the match got underway. Whatever the thoughts of the crowd, everyone apart from the small away contingent was stunned into silence in the fifth minute when a cross cum lob from out on the right by Lei Brown sailed over Rich Morris's head into the net to open the scoring (0-1). Brakes had a great chance to level two minutes later, but Paul Nicholls sent his free-kick high over the Harbury Lane stand. Plenty more chances were to come Brakes' way in the first half and another Nicholls free-kick on 26 minutes struck the top of the crossbar. Then, following a strong run by the energetic Josh Blake, Martin Thompson sent a shot over the bar from close range.

However, an equaliser was always on the cards and it came on 39 minutes courtesy of an own goal from Neil Cooksey who headed a Steve Thompson cross from the left perfectly past 'keeper Neil Olden (1-1). Three minutes later, Nicholls collected a long clearance from Morris and his efforts were thwarted by what looked suspiciously like a back pass to the 'keeper. Just to remind their hosts of their scoring ability, James Shipway sent a curling free-kick just wide for Romulus. Then with half-time approaching, a Nicholls shot was deflected onto the post and away from danger.

Nicholls was again soon into the action at the opening of the second half with Olden diving to save at the striker's feet. Although Brakes were having more of the play, it took a brilliant save from Morris on 61 minutes to keep them in the game. However, the tide turned in their favour three minutes later in the 64th as Martin Thompson harried and chased a defender and the keeper to get in a shot which Jonny Burgess bundled over the line to make sure (2-1). Cue the North Bank which erupted into song and a blaze of colour to remind everyone what a huge following the club has at this level of football.

Credit for the goal was still being talked about as I left the ground and, should it be resolved in Thompson's favour, then a correction to the official statistics will be made.

There was no doubting the third goal on 75 minutes as Martin Thompson picked up a through ball from Nicholls and placed his shot cleanly into the bottom right-hand corner (3-1). Almost immediately, Baz Shearsby made a welcome return to the side coming on for skipper Steve Thompson. Then, Stuart Herlihy cleared the ball well from defence to Nicholls who fed Blake out on the left but the final effort went wide. Brakes comfortably played out the final ten minutes for a deserved victory to take the championship race to the very last match of the season.

A beaming Jason Cadden was full of praise for his side saying that "after the early set back, we pulled two great second half goals out of the bag to clinch a deserved win. There is all to play for going into the last match and we will have two more training sessions on Monday and Thursday to be ready for Alveston."

Leamington: Richard Morris; Jonny Burgess; Simon Walker; Tom Sidwell (Harj Dhesi 79); Andy Gregory; Darren Timms; Stuart Herlihy; Josh Blake; Martin Thompson; Paul Nicholls (Vernor Sleem 81); Steve Thompson [Capt] (Barry Shearsby 76)