Sun Comes Out as Brakes Cruise to Another New Windmill Win

The mist which had hung over south Warwickshire for most of the day finally cleared to let the sunshine through as Brakes impressively beat a stubborn Shifnal side to stretch their unbeaten run to 21 matches. Two first-half goals by Josh Blake proved enough but, had it not been for the string of saves by visiting 'keeper Adam Lane, Brakes would have added to the tally and improved their impressive goal difference even further.

The new changing rooms were in use for the first time and the crowd of 434 saw the teams emerge from the opposite side of the ground. It didn't take long for Brakes to start piling on the pressure and a ninth minute inswinging corner from Steve Thompson was met by Blake whose goalbound header was cleared off the line by defender Simon Shenton. Shifnal's first goal chance came on 15 minutes when 'keeper Andy Harper collided with Stuart Woodman, but recovered well to save the striker's shot. Another chance went begging for the visitors when the Brakes' defence failed to clear a cross from the right and George Williams shot just wide.

This seemed to spur the home team on and a Paul Nicholls shot was deflected for a corner which came to nothing. However, the first goal was not long in coming as, in the 29th minute, a free kick from the left by Chris Hanrahan was met by Josh Blake whose header this time found the net. (1-0). Blake could have added a second in the 36th minute picking up a pass from the superb Jon Adams, but he sent his shot over the bar. He fully made amends shortly after, when in tye 39th minute he guided the ball over Lane after Hanrahan had made a run down the left and provided the perfect cross.

A third looked on the cards three minutes before half-time, but Stuart Herlihy's stinging long-range shot hit Lane and went just wide.

With virtually all the play in the second period, more goals looked to be coming Brakes way, but Lane pulled off save after save. He twice denied Blake his hat-trick when saving with his legs in the 62nd minute and then again at point-blank range fifteen minutes later. There were chances also for Steve Smith and Jon Adams whose wonderful lob on 78 minutes went just over. Right at the end substitute, Richard Adams, went on a dazzling run down the right and, having cut into the penalty area, fired over from a difficult angle.

Although it was one-way traffic for most of the second half, Shifnal did try to catch Brakes out with some swift clearances from defence. However, they were thwarted by a solid back three, in which Simon Walker was, as usual, thoroughly dependable. When they did break through, Andy Harper made important saves, his confidence clearly growing as the match progressed.

Jon Adams was booked for dissent after challenging the referee's decision once too often, a pity given the quality of his performance. His award for February Player of the Month was handed over at half-time and, on this showing, he will be a contender again in March. The loss of Josh Blake for all the remaining matches apart from Nuneaton Griff will be a blow but, when you have a top-scorer like Richard Adams to bring into the starting line-up, the gap will be filled to some purpose.

Reflecting on a job well done, manager Jason Cadden said "That was a good all round performance in which every player contributed. We were disciplined and defended well, which was important after conceding goals in the last two matches. Josh's strikes were superb and the win takes us three points nearer our goal of the championship."

Leamington: Andy Harper; Ben Adams (Jon Burgess 79); Simon Walker; Darran Tank; Steve Smith (Tom Sidwell 80); Chris Hanrahan; Stuart Herlihy; Jon Adams; Josh Blake; Paul Nicholls (Richard Adams 70); Steve Thompson [Capt]

Shifnal Town: Adam Lane; Simon Shenton; Ben McAvley; Craig Vale; Mark Wells [Capt.] (Craig Picken 59); George Williams; Mervyn Joseph; Luke Brown; Andrew Syder; Stuart Woodman; Ryan Garbett (Sean Hennessy 66)
Sub(s) Not Used: Andrew Davies

Team News: Andy Gregory unavailable; Leon Morgan available after suspension but unwell; Josh Blake now suspended (from Monday) until final game of the season at Nuneaton Griff