Adams On Fire As Brakes Put Five Past Meir

A four goal haul by striker Richard Adams was the highlight of Brakes' sixteenth consecutive home win in the league and helped erase the memory of that 5-0 reverse at Meir on the opening day of the season.

It was clear from the kick-off that the visitors had come to stop the Brakes goal machine from functioning as they often had eight or nine men in their own penalty area. However, the early play suggested that they would have their work cut out as Brakes poured forward and 'keeper Phil Hughes had to save at the feet of Josh Blake as early as the seventh minute. Chris Hanrahan had a good chance shortly after when getting onto a good cross from the right by Ben Adams, but he sent his shot over the Harbury Lane End stand from close range.

However, the opening goal was not long in coming as, in the 14th minute, Leon Morgan had a shot blocked on the line but picked up the rebound to thread the ball through a mass of bodies past Hughes, 1-0. This was Brakes' 100th goal in all competitions and just what the crowd of 413 had come to see.

It was 2-0 only two minutes later in the 16th when Richard Adams ran through to thump the ball past Hughes. Adams was again on target in the 26th minute cutting in from the right and unleashing a powerful shot that Hughes could only get a hand to before it hit the net, 3-0.

Meir's first real shot came virtually from the re-start, but Richard Morris was up to saving Matt Kinsey's effort. Leon Morgan was booked for a foul on Darren Reaney, a decision that could prove costly with the player already facing suspension. On 33 minutes, Blake blasted over when in a good position and, on the stroke of half-time, an attempted clearance form Hughes hit Stuart Herlihy but, much to the relief of the Meir 'keeper, the ball bounced over the bar into the North Bank.

The second half was strangely quiet as Brakes took their foot off the pedal (I have been wanting to write that one for a long time!). Steve Thompson could have scored on 60 minutes, picking up a pass from Blake and shooting across the face of the goal. Matt Borthwick was then booked for a foul on substitute Jon Adams, who was returning after a groin injury, and Tom Sidwell almost added a fourth but saw his shot cleared off the line.

Paul Nicholls looked like scoring on 81 minutes but, having weaved his way past three defenders, he was brought down on the edge of the penalty area by Lee Horton. Given that Horton was the last defender and the Brakes striker had a clear run on goal, the resultant yellow card must have come as a relief to the Meir player.

There was still time for Brakes to add to their goal tally and Richard Adams provided two fine individual moments, running past numerous defenders for his hat-trick in the 84th, 4-0 and then beautifully lobbing Hughes who had strayed off his goal line in the 87th to make it the perfect result, 5-0.

In the final moments, Scott Reaney was booked for a foul on Darren Timms and Hughes saved what looked like goal number six when getting down to the foot of the post to stop a Ben Adams shot.

With Bloxwich Town beating Coventry Marconi, the gap at the top stays at 12 points, although Town have a game in hand. There are still 13 games to go and every one is important, but the visit of Bloxwich to the New Windmill on 12 February is looking increasingly important and is one that Brakes do not want to lose.

Manager Jason Cadden said "Our first half performance was quality play as we controlled the game. It is sometimes hard to keep going when you are three goals up but we stuck to our task and got two more late on. The final scoreline was no more than we deserved."

Leamington: Richard Morris; Ben Adams; Darran Tank; Tom Sidwell; Andy Gregory; Chris Hanrahan; Leon Morgan (Jon Adams 57); Stuart Herlihy (Darren Timms 66); Josh Blake; Richard Adams; Steve Thompson [Capt] (Paul Nicholls 64)

Meir KA: Phil Hughes; Scott Reaney; Matt Borthwick; Lee Horton; Adam Cartlidge; Darren Reaney; Dean Owen; Danny Hancock (John Johnston 80); Andy Simpson; Matt Kinsey; Antony Byles. Subs not used: Joe Owen; Jamie Robinson

Team News: Ryan Howell (ligaments) misses about a month; Steve Smith missed because he was in the US, no injury