A sparkling six goal performance saw Brakes warm up for their biggest match of the season in style.
With Alvechurch visiting the New Windmill Ground on Tuesday night, it was imperative that Leamington continued their recent good form.
With perfect weather for football a large travelling contingent made the short journey to Coventry, and they were not to leave disappointed.
The match kicked off slightly late, as there was a minute's silence for the late Highgate United chairman, Terry Bishop.
Leamington had an early attack come to nothing as the Massey keeper claimed Steve Thompson's cross, but it was the home team who had early opportunities, with a header from an early right side corner forcing James Gettings to jump to push the ball round the post. Brakes' keeper claimed the second corner well.
Leamington then attacked quickly, Ben Adams breaking clear on the right and flighted a perfect ball right into the six-yard box for Darren Timms, whose shot from almost on the goal line was blocked, and shepherded out for a corner. The quality of Leamington's free kicks and crosses was a highlight of the team play throughout the game, with some excellent balls being sprayed around the field, by various players. A dead ball crossed in from the right by Nick Mort was dangerously back-headed just past the post by a Massey defender, but the home side had looked more threatening up to this point, with a 20 yard shot wide, another that Gettings held well, and one that he gathered at the second attempt, after spilling the ball.
Leamington came close when Thompson beat his man on the left and sent a good ball in which was met by a good header which the keeper stretched to save. A twice-taken free kick twenty-five yards from goal forced Gettings to push round the post, but Leamington went in front on twenty-five, a long throw from Thompson was headed on, and the ball was swept in by Ben Adams at the far post.
Nick McFarlane was having another outstanding game in defence, but he ventured up field and, having won the ball, sent a cross in, where one of his defensive colleagues, Andy Gregory, tried to head it down, but a defender nipped in to spoon it out for a corner. McFarlane then climbed well to meet another free kick from Mort, but placed his effort wide. Brakes were starting to take control of the game now, and the Massey goalkeeper was forced to come off his line and head the ball out of his box. Paul Nicholls won it back and threaded a pass through for Thompson, but he blasted his shot wide when he perhaps had more time to compose himself.
Just before the break Massey Ferguson were level, with a curling 25 yard shot that drew applause from the travelling support. There was still time for Leamington to attack, and good interplay between Adams, Nicholls and Mort saw Mort try to chip a shot over the keeper's head. Jonny Burgess was then played clear in the box, but the keeper palmed his shot out for a corner, from which a Massey defender appeared to handle, but the referee was having none of it.
Another corner was given, and McFarlane went up for the header, had a shot blocked as the ball came down, Paul Nicholls also had an effort blocked, before the ball found its way out to Chris Hanrahan, who smashed it home with interest from 18 yards.
A strong end to the first half was matched by the start to the second, as Leamington stamped their authority on the game early on. Ben Adams put over the perfect centre, and Steve Thompson met it at the far post, looping a header past the keeper into the opposite corner.
Several minutes later the home side were down to ten men, as their keeper handled as he attempted to clear the ball outside is area.
Harj Dhesi's free kick was pushed out right by the stand-in keeper, but Adams again sent in the perfect cross, to be met by Andy Gregory of all people, to score his first for the club. He was mobbed by what seemed like the whole team! Brakes were totally in control by this point, and brought on all three substitutes for a run-out. This backfired slightly, when Andy Gregory injured himself colliding with Gettings and a Massey attacker in the 81st minute. After lengthy treatment he had to leave the ptich, and the penalty awarded for the challenge was converted. Massey came back into the game a little after this, trying to unsettle Brakes, but they burst back, and despite being down to ten men themselves, made the game safe. Dhesi sent a fantastic cross-field ball out of defence to Blake on the right, and he crossed for Brian Agar, who evaded the challenges to turn and shoot past the substitute keeper.
With the match drawing to a close, Ben Adams scored the goal of the game, cutting in from the right and curling a beauty into the corner.
There was still time for him to attempt his hat trick, as he tried to head over the keeper. Gettings prevented another goal at the other end, blocking with his feet when an attacker was clean through.
The travelling support were sent home happy, and this was the perfect way to warm up for what is turning out to be the biggest game of the season, on Tuesday - the match that could decide the destiny of the title.
| NBB Man-of-the-Match: McFarlane | 
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Match report by Paul Edwards