Hanrahan Header Hits Hundred as Brakes Recover to Beat Coleshill

Brakes shocked their 416-strong following by going 2 goals down in 17 minutes as, it seemed, every player sought to be the scorer of Brakes' 100th league goal. That honour fell to Hanrahan with Nicholls and Gregory adding two more for a 3-2 half-time lead. A fourth shortly past the hour, Nicholls' second, rubbed in Brakes' superiority though Coleshill never gave up and mostly dominated the last 20 minutes.

An overcast day that turned to driving rain dampened Brakes' sixth 400+ crowd on the trot, every home game this year, but there was a buzz as speculation was rife as to who would score first to get the 100th league goal of the season. But despite the early pressure it was Coleshill who took the lead when Howard drove a free kick under Morris's dive for 0-1 in the 4th minute. Though Nicholls, then Jon Adams, both went close against a frail, Coleshill defence there was a feeling that too many were trying too hard to make that 100th and that the shape of the team as a whole was suffering. Indeed, despite more Brakes' pressure, Coleshill took an unlikely 0-2 lead in the 17th when Campbell stroked the ball home after a swift break upfield.

Brakes had now conceded two goals in barely 1/4 hour after conceding one in the previous five games, and still no sign of that 100th. This was not in the script and there were fears that this could be the equivalent of the batsman stuck on 99 after scoring freely. But salvation was at hand in the form of Hanrahan and a glorious goal it was, in the 22nd with a flicked header wide of the 'keeper from a Tank long ball, 1-2 and 100 up.

The team settled and, although Coleshill still looked dangerous on the break, their defence was wobbly but marshalled well by ex-Brakes favourite, Miles Day, who had an excellent game in goal, though since playing for Brakes he's added a barrel to his name to become Millington-Day and one round his midriff as well. Steve Thompson, probably the star of this match, was getting over some excellent crosses from the left and, from one of these, Nicholls made it 2-2 with a superb header in the 31st. Nicholls has been gradually coming back to form with some excellent performances of late and now the goals are coming back as well.

Now Brakes were on fire and, first Gregory, then Jon Adams twice in a minute, nearly broke through before Gregory put Brakes into a 3-2 lead in the 39th with another header, the 3rd of the game, from another perfectly placed Thompson cross into the box, this time from a free-kick. Brakes seemed to be in control as the half ended but there was always a fear that Coleshill still had something to offer up front with the Brakes' defence seeming less secure than of late.

Brakes were still on top at the start of the second half, that dangerous time when momentum has been interrupted and teams who look beaten can claw their way back. In the 54th there was a bizarre incident when Richard Adams was fouled, I thought just inside the box, but continued on his run past the flailing defenders. The referee blew for a free-kick as a reflex action assuming, unlike many Brakes' fans, that the advantage had been lost, though Adams had kept his feet and seemed likely to score. Nicholls blasted just over from the free-kick awarded just outside the box.

But it was only a matter of time before another goal came and, in the 66th a superb through ball from Richard Adams was picked up hy Nicholls who ran on before knocking it past Day, 4-2. Richard and Jon Adams combined well soon after and Jon was unlucky to have his shot blocked by Day.

Coleshill, to their credit, moved up a gear in the final 20 minutes and largely dictated play but the Brakes' defence was resolute with Timms and Burgess coming on to provide fresh legs as Brakes snuffed out the Coleshill attack. Brakes have now avenged all three previous defeats in the league and, except for Meir where both home teams won 5-0, have "won" on aggregate goals.

Both Bloxwich and Marconi of the three other title contenders won today with Sphinx, playing, and winning, in yet another cup match, giving themselves a mountain to climb by slipping to six games behind Brakes. All three will still be 10 points adrift of Brakes even if they win all their games in hand.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Ben Adams (Jon Burgess 81); Darran Tank; Steve Smith; Andy Gregory; Stuart Herlihy; Chris Hanrahan; Jon Adams; Richard Adams; Paul Nicholls (Darren Timms 73); Steve Thompson [Capt]
Sub(s) Not Used: Simon Walker

Team News: Josh Blake, returning from injury, available next week - suspension now through (1 March) and is 5 weeks from Monday 21 March, returning Monday 25 April, ie, if fixtures stay the same, until the final league game at Griff on 30 April; Leon Morgan misses another game after accumulating five yellows and will now be unavailable until Monday 14 March, ie, if fixtures stay the same, until the next home match on 19 March Vs Shifnal; Tom Sidwell on holiday "skateboarding"!