High Noon For Highgate As Gregory Strikes To Steal the Points

It was a long time coming but, when Andy Gregory crashed the ball into the roof of the Highgate net in the final minute, the roar from the crowd told the story better than any words that I can write. In the first half alone, twelve clear chances went begging as Brakes failed to capitalise on their territorial advantage over a defensive Highgate team and it looked for 89 minutes as if this was going to be "one of those days." But Gregory, who had a storming match in defence, came forward to bolster a depleted attack and send the majority of the 386 crowd home happy.

In the absence of Paul Nicholls, who was unavailable, Josh Blake and Richard Adams renewed their attacking partnership. As early as the fifth minute, Blake was through on goal, but Highgate 'keeper Jamie Creevy saved and the ball ran into the side netting. Within a minute, Creevy pulled off another save, this time from Richard Adams who had latched on to a pinpoint clearance from defence by Simon Walker. Adams came the closest to scoring on 12 minutes when he stooped to head over Creevy, but the 'keeper scrambled back to scoop the ball off the line and deny Brakes an opening goal.

Highgate's first chance came in the 13th minute when Liam Daly put a free kick from the edge of the penalty area wide of the post. A shot by Myrone Palmer was then safely gathered by Richard Morris and this signalled the end of Highgate's attacks for the rest of the half. For all of Brakes' domination, the nearest that they came to scoring was a Richard Adams shot onto the post in the 21st minute, as a combination of poor finishing and the agility of Creevy kept the score level at half-time.

Highgate were fortunate to go into the break with all eleven players still on the field as Glen Simms had fouled Richard Adams on the edge of the penalty area when the Brakes striker was clear on goal. A free kick was given, but the referee deemed that it was not a scoring opportunity and took no further action (as this is the official website, I am not allowed to crticise match officals, but those who were watching will draw their own conclusions).

The second half was very much like the first with Brakes pressing forward and Highgate seemingly content to keep the score level and take away a point. The match could have changed on 57 minutes when Richard Adams was sent off for violent conduct, having been deemed to be the culprit rather than the victim that (admittedly biased) fans around me clearly thought he was. Even with an extra man, the expected Highgate surge did not materialise and it looked as if the tactic had worked as the clock ticked down towards a draw. Goal attempts by Steve Thompson (which Creevy saved with his feet) and Stuart Herlihy (making a welcome reappearance in the starting line-up) went close but not close enough.

With time running out, Thompson sent one final inswinging corner across from the right, Jon Adams' shot came off the 'keeper and Gregory was on hand to finish in the best possible way. Phew!

Chris Hanrahan finished with nasty cuts above and below his right eye and will have a real shiner in the morning. This was certainly not a match for the faint-hearted but, as with last week at Bloxwich, this Brakes team showed that they can tough it out when needed and are not just a pretty footballing side that will fall over when challenged. Just for the record (and I know that the manager is always pleased with this fact) this was a third clean sheet in a row and, although the goal machine is not firing on all cylinders, we are sitting on the top and deservedly so (one for the Barnt Green programme scribe).

"One of our best performances of the season so far" was how a relieved manager, Jason Cadden, described the result. He added "In the end we got what we deserved, but it was a close call. Having failed to capitalise on all our chances in the first half, we said to the players at the interval to keep going, no matter how long it took to get the goal. When it came, Highgate had no time to hit back."

Leamington: Richard Morris; Ben Adams; Simon Walker; Steve Smith; Andy Gregory; Chris Hanrahan (Jon Adams 72); Leon Morgan; Stuart Herlihy; Josh Blake; Richard Adams; Steve Thompson [Capt]
Subs Not Used: Vernor Sleem; Phil Daly

Team News: Richard Adams faces a ban of 3-5 weeks for retaliation; Paul Nicholls at a christening.