Leamington	5-1	Highgate United
Timms 28, 37 Blake 30, 43 Nicholls 65 Gregory Att: 243		Hustwaite 42

Highgate sunk by an old five

Team: Biffin; Dhesi, Gregory, Walker, Saunders; Thompson, Mort, Ellis (Hanrahan), Burgess (Adams); Timms (Nicholls), Blake

Brakes moved back to second in the table with a thrilling display of finishing against shell-shocked Highgate. Two goals each from Josh Blake and Darren Timms plus a superb volley by the returning Paul Nicholls demolished a Highgate side whose good start to the season put them among the front-runners.

But they looked more like relegation fodder, threatening little against a Leamington side exploiting their revised 4-4-2 formation to the full. Leading 4-1 at half time, Brakes never looked in danger get and barely resembled a side who have struggled for goals in recent weeks.

The damage was done in a 20-minute spell towards the end of the first half. Blake had carved out two good chances and Timms put a header wide before that - a sign of things to come. Makeshift striker Timms broke the deadlock on 28 minutes, powerfully directing a low header into the corner of the net after a build-up of pressure on the left flank.

Within two minutes the lead was doubled when Blake unleashed a ferocious drive from almost 30 yards out. The striker whipped off his shirt to celebrate a return to form after a long barren spell.

The game was starting to run away from Highgate, who didn't know what had hit them. Seven minutes later Timms got his second and Brakes third, slamming in the rebound from a Blake shot.

The visitors bundled the ball past Andy Biffin from a corner as halftime loomed but before they could gather their thoughts Blake met captain Thompson's cross with a flying header. Highgate were falling apart at the seams and the whistle could not come soon enough for them.

Things calmed down after the break. Ben Adams continued his comeback from injury by replacing the lively Burgess and Nicholls came on for Timms. The substitutes soon made their mark. Adams and Blake combined well on the edge of the box to tee up Nicholls, who produced a spectacular volley 20 minutes from time.

Not surprisingly, the game settled down a little after that. Chris Hanrahan came on for Andy Ellis, who had showed some classy midfield touches without stamping his authority on the proceedings.

Highgate completed their miserable night by having a man sent off when frustrations boiled over in the closing stages as Blake and Nicholls continued to threaten in the box.

NBB Man-of-the-Match: Blake

Match report by Simon Steele