Leamington	0-0	Rugby Town
Timms Att: 771

Biggest game of the season ends scoreless

Team: Day; Dhesi, Sidwell, Gregory, Adams; Ellis, Handrahan, Timms, Burgess; Nicholls, Blake

Firstly, I apologise in advance to anyone from the opposition who might happen to read this. If you are of the opinion that it is biased, I do tend to watch games through Leamington-tinted specs, as it were, but I try to tell it as I see it.

A dreary December day drew a crowd of 771 away from the sales, to watch a game that was at times, low key, and disrupted throughout by the referee's whistle, which was sometimes unnecessary. As seems to be the norm in games between these two teams, nobody took control in the opening stages, though Town enjoyed early pressure. Leamington were first to threaten, from a short corner. Andy Ellis sent a high ball into the box, Tom Sidwell headed down at the back stick for Paul Nicholls, whose shot was blocked. From the clearance, the ball found its way back to Nicholls on the left edge, and he curled a powerful shot towards goal which Brooks did well to parry, but the ball ran to Ben Adams on the right, who returned it with interest into the box. It cannoned round the Rugby area before running free for Ellis, who struck a drive over the bar from distance.

Some spectators who turned up just before kick-off ended up having to park at the Chicken Farm because the car park was full, and some missed the first 15 minutes. Nicholls produced a neat bit of skill in turning a Rugby defender and shooting wide from 25 yards, before Rugby again pressed forward, a low cross-shot flashing across the Leamington goalmouth. Town were certainly having more of the play at this point, but it was broken up when they gave away a free kick in midfield, a late challenge by Jason Woodley on Darren Timms. Leamington lost posession from the free kick, and the ball was played out to Rugby striker Martin Thompson, but Myles Day came out well to clear the danger.

Brakes pushed forward again. Jonny Burgess chose to push the ball through to Blake, who struck the ball back across the goal. Harj Dhesi chipped a defender for Blake to have another effort, but Brooks was out well to smother. A lot of the play was in midfield, with Rugby giving away a number of free kicks, most of which were wasted by Leamington. Paul Gibbons was booked for scything down Timms. Rugby continued to attack dangerously, Tom Sidwell giving a free kick away, which was sent into the box. Day punched clear, but the return ball was put over for a corner. A poor flag kick was played out quickly by Brakes. Paul Nicholls tangled with a defender who appeared to handle as he went down, but the referee gave the free kick Rugby's way. Another free kick on half time saw a header well gathered by Day.

It was nice to see our injured duo, Glen Webb and Andy Biffin at the game, along with Nick Mort, Mark Rowland, and two ex-players spying on us before our New Year's Day clash at Alveston - Morris and Dave Care! Jack Chapman, Brakes trainer from the Graham Allner era, was also spotted.

The North Bank gathered under the Harbury Lane terrace for the second half to get behind the team. The second half began with a free kick (recurring theme here, isn't there?) for Town. A dangerous ball into the box was sliced out of play by a forward. Leamington had a glimpse of goal when Nicholls went up for a hanging cross with Brooks and a defender, and the ball dropped for Timms, who kneed and handled it wide!

Thompson headed wide for Rugby from a good cross. The defensive pairing of Gibbons and Woodley were playing particularly well, Gibbons winning many challenges in midfield, injuring himself in one. The referee continued his bizarre practice of ordering injured players off the field after treatment, then allowing them back onto the field after play had re-started!

A long range set piece was caught without too much trouble by Day, during a scrappy opening to the second half. A Brakes set-piece in a good position was put beind, the resulting corner producing a shot from Nicholls which Brooks palmed round the post. Sidwell powered a header in from the second kick, straight down the keeper's middle.

Rugby sent in a free kick from the right which Day raced from his line to claim well. Timms was booked for a challenge from the clearance. A Rugby head put the ball wide from the free kick. As play switched ends Timms headed well over after good work on the right from Burgess and Adams. A battle in midfield saw the ball played to Martin Thompson, but Day again came off his line to challenge well. The striker received the ball again in the same positon, bearing down on Day, but placed the ball over the on-rushing keeper, and well over the bar. Town were having more of the play at this stage, Gibbons again trying his luck with a long range shot that was safely claimed by Day. Two more free kicks were conceded by Town, the second of which Dhesi planted straight into the keeper's arms. A mix up in the Rugby box between keeper and defender saw the ball deflect off Timms, with no threat to the goal. Dhesi then produced a great turn and pass to put Nicholls through on Brooks, but the Rugby keeper was first to the ball.

On 81 minutes Brakes had the ball in the net. Adams danced past two challenges on the right, was challenged on the by-line as he put a perfect ball in to an unmarked Timms, who gleefully smashed home. But our joy was short-lived - the linesman's flag was up, the ball was out of play. We were incensed, but those closest to the incident confirmed that the ball had indeed gone out of play.

Gibbons then bought Ellis down in full flight towards the box, and although the Leamington man pleaded with the referee, Gibbons walked. The resulting set piece from Nicholls hit the wall.

Leamington battled in the remaining minutes to capitalise on their numerical advantage, but Rugby hung on gamely. Nicholls slipped through to Blake, who shot against the keeper. Rugby had a chance to nick it when the ball was played in to Aston in a good position, but the substitute mis-kicked. The last action of the game saw Nicholls twisting to send a shot well over.

A draw was probably the right result, though the league leaders may be happier with it as they were perhaps not at their best. Both defences coped well, and Leamington became only the second team to prevent a Rugby Town goal in the league this season, though the visitors left the New Windmill with their unbeaten record at our home intact.

NBB Man-of-the-Match: Nicholls

Match report by Paul Edwards