Team: Gettings; Dhesi, Gregory, Sidwell, Burgess; Thompson, Mort, Timms, Parisi (Ellis); Agar, Nicholls (Shearsby)
The general consensus on the North Bank was that Brakes had not played particularly well, but still picked up three points, not a view shared by the Press. Still, everyone sees the game from their own point of view.
Leamington had Thompson and Agar back after injury, but it was worrying to see Blake and Adams missing. Paul Nicholls probably had one of his less effective games for the club.
The first half was largely uneventful, save for a brilliant shot which smacked against the bar from young Ryan Parisi, making his home début, in the fifteenth miute. He looked dangerous when running at the visiting defence, and will doubtless give some team the runaround in future games.
Neither team had any real clear cut efforts on target in the first half, though Harj Dhesi was well placed to clear a slice from Darren Timms off the line. Timbers number 10 had several wayward efforts, much to the delight of the crowd.
Both teams upped the tempo a little in the second half, and Leamington did their usual trick of going a goal behind at home, in the 62nd minute, a gooder header from Timbers number nine, celebrated Rugby Town stylee by their bench. However, they did not have long to celebrate, as after 69 minutes Jonny Burgess slotted home from inside the box after picking up a pass from Agar. Timbers keeper got a hand to it, but not enough to keep it out.
The relief was evident, and Brakes started playing more confidently, as they always seem to after scoring. A minute later, and we were 2-1 up, as Agar forced the ball home despite the challenge of the keeper, from a cross from the right. Nicholls shot wide before being replaced by Barry Shearsby, and another substitute, Andy Ellis, shot just over before the end.
There were a few hairy moments before the final whistle, but Brakes held out for their second 2-1 scoreline of the year. Match report by Paul Edwards
NBB Man-of-the-Match: Burgess
