Leamington	3-1	Meir King's Arms
Blake 33, 82  Nicholls 59  Rowland  Att: 374		S. Reaney 57(p)

10 Man Brakes Outclass Poor Meir Outfit

Team: Morris; Thompson, Rowland, Sidwell, Crabtree (Gregory), Burgess (Adams); Timms, Webb, Shearsby (Hammond); Nicholls, Blake

As befits an opening match of the season, the New Windmill was bathed in sunshine throughout. Before kick-off, the Leamington team lined up for the first official team photograph of the season.

Brakes started brightly, and arguably should have had an early penalty when Nicholls was brought down just inside the area with five minutes on the clock. Alas, the referee waved play-on, much to Nicholls' and the watching Harbury Laners' chagrin.

It didn't take long for Leamington's superior ball-play and passing in midfield to make a difference. Webb was running the show with good delivery to Thompson and Burgess on the wings, and confident dribbling. He was unlucky not to score when a good effort midway through the half was saved well by the visiting goalkeeper.

The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute after good individual skill from Blake. He took the ball into the area, beat two defenders, and as he was hauled to the ground for a certain penalty, managed to toe-poke a shot under the diving keeper. It was fitting that Leamington's first goal in the Premier be scored by the club's leading goalscorer.

Despite dominating the rest of the half, and playing delightful football, the Brakes were unable to add to the scoresheet, and the teams went in level at half-time.

Leamington started the second half as they had ended the first, although without the unlucky Shearsby who suffered a clash in the area and landed awkwardly on his ankle at the end of the first half.

Everything could have changed for the worst in the 57th minute. On a rare foray forward, the ball came to a Meir attacker who found himself unmarked on the edge of the area in a central position. He lashed a hard shot goal-bound, which beat Morris, but not the safe hands of centre-back Mark Rowland, who was dismissed for deliberate hand-ball. As expected, Meir right-back Reaney converted the penalty, sending Morris the wrong way.

The adage that a team is never more vulnerable than when having just scored proved true again. Within two minutes, Leamington stunned Meir and re-took the lead with a good effort from Nicholls.

From then on it was plain sailing despite being a man down. Leamington passed the ball around the tired visitors, who seemed to have had all the stuffing knocked out of them.

Sure enough, a third goal did arrive courtesy of Glen Webb, whose brilliant 40 yard cross-field pass found Blake who dinked it over the on-rushing keeper from 6 yards out.

A good battling victory from the Brakes, who if truth be told, would probably have scored more with a full complement of players against a Meir outfit who lacked fight and bite.

NBB Man-of-the-Match: Glen Webb

Match report by Simesy