Leamington superb but leave it late against spirited Pershore team
Team: Morris; Thompson, Gregory, Rowland, Sidwell, Adams; Timms, Webb, Hammond; Nicholls, Blake
Leamington's first league game under floodlights proved to be one of the best yet seen at the New Windmill Ground.
Brakes went on the attack from the off, continuing the good form which they displayed for much of the second half against Meir. Within 5 minutes, a Nicholls free-kick from just outside the area went narrowly over. Minutes later he went close again with an ambitious overhead kick.
It was Nicholls who created the second chance after 22 minutes, when the ball ricocheted off him in a midfield skirmish, and Blake ran through onto the unintentional pass only to put his shot wide of the keeper and far post.
Despite coming under immense pressure and not troubling Morris in the home goal, Pershore managed to keep the honours even going into the half-time cup of tea.
The second half fare was much the same as the first - relentless Leamington attacking and robust (at time too robust) Pershore defending.
With the pressure mounting and time fast running out, it looked like the visitors would snatch a point. However, Brakes got the breakthrough they deserved on 77 minutes, thanks to the Blake-Nicholls combo.
A long throw on the right from Thompson found the closely marked Nicholls. Despite his size, he got an incisive flick-on which deceived the visiting keeper and rebounded upwards off the top of the crossbar. The ever-alert Blake raced onto the loose ball and headed it over the line.
Leamington's superior physical fitness started to tell as Perhsore seemed to wilt. Countless balls down the left found either Blake or Thompson, and, although the quality of the deliveries wasn't always up to standard, more times than not there was no-one there to get a decisive touch.
A second goal did come, right on full time. Another ball down the left was blocked for a corner. Hammond whipped it in to the centre of the penalty area, where Nicholls - this time unmarked - headed powerfully home from 10 yards. Match report by Simesy
NBB Man-of-the-Match: Joshua Blake
