Sat, 29 Mar 2008 @ The New Windmill Ground. vs Bishops Cleeve (2-0). British Gas Business Football League Midlands Division. By D Hucker. With Ben Mackey and Robbie Beard still unavailable and Josh Blake, Stuart Herlihy and Liam Reynolds all injured, manager Jason Cadden was forced into rethinking his line-up.
Despite the conditions, which were probably the worst of the season so far, both sides put on an exciting end-to-end encounter to keep the crowd of 533 on their toes, with Leamington's James Husband controlling the midfield and the lively Marcus Jackson weighing in with some good passes and an all-action display.
There was little incident of note in the opening 15 minutes, with the wind taking the ball in all directions and one kick from visiting 'keeper, Sam Gilder, sailed past the Brakes goal with just one bounce. Things livened up three minutes later when Brakes took the lead with Justin Marsden, on loan form AFC Telford United, crossing from the right and Husband stealing in at the far post to slide the ball past Gilder (18 mins).
The post denied Marsden two minutes later but. with half-time approaching, the striker was to find the back of the net, meeting a Jamie Towers cross to beat Gilder to the ball (45 mins).
The visitors could have pulled one back in injury time at the end of the half, but a long-range shot from Nick Williams came back off the Brakes crossbar.
In the second half, Brakes thought that they shoud have had a penalty when Towers was brought down after a good move involving Martin Thompson, Marsden and Husband, but the referee waived play on. Marsden whipped in a cross from the left which Gilder dropped, but Richard Mansell was on hand to hook clear.
The Leamington back three of captain Arron Parkinson, Adam Cooper and Guy Sanders showed all their experience, putting up a solid display to hold the Bishops Cleeve attack, although the dangerous Michael Davis did hit the post in the 68th minute.
David Care, who last played for Brakes at the Bescot Stadium in May 2006, came on for Towers and Shay Morgan made his debut for the club, replacing Thompson. However, it was the third substitute, Glen Webb, who could have added to the scoring, being clean through with just seconds to go, but he put his shot wide of the far post.
Thompson deserved a goal for his endeavours and he was twice denied in the first half, initially by a good tackle from Nick Williams and then, after rounding Lydon Tomkins, by the legs of Gilder who was at full stretch.
In the end, this was a comfortable victory for Brakes that kept them in second place and just two more wins from their last five matches will guarantee a play-off place in their first season back in the Southern League.
Husband and Jackson were both strong candidates for the Man-of-the-Match accolade and Husband just got the vote for his influence on the outcome and again slotting well into a midfield role, rather than his normal wing-back position.
Manager Cadden said, "It was good to get back to winning form after Monday and we were good value for our win. We were pleased with the three points but, there are still five matches to go and we will be looking to win them all."
Brakes Richard Morris, Jamie Towers (Dave Care 83), Arron Parkinson [Capt.], Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders, Marcus Jackson, Scott Hadland, James Husband, Justin Marsden (Glen Webb 73), Martin Thompson (Shay Morgan 84), Ryan Parisi
Subs Not Used: Martin Hier, Neil Stacey
Bishops Cleeve Sam Gilder, Sam Avery, Richard Mansell, Nick Williams, Lydon Tomkins, Allton Axton, Matt Collins (Tim Haddock 53), John Meadows (Keith Knight 88), Lee Davis (Kacey Johnstone 78), Luke Corbett, Michael Davis.