Team: Gettings; Dhesi (Blake), McFarlane, Ball, Burgess; Thompson, Mort, Hanrahan, Adams (Shearsby); Agar (Timms), Nicholls

There aren't enough superlatives to do justice to what must have been one of the best team performances seen at the New Windmill Ground since Leamington re-emerged. Brakes overcame a fourth minute deficit to grind down and eventually outplay a big, physical Alvechurch side. The whole team played out of their skins, and in doing so put themselves in with a real shout of the Midland Combination Premier Division Championship.

We had seen enough of our visitors over three games already this season to know that they were no mugs, and were a very useful side. They illustrated this fact in the opening exchanges, as their attackers surged forward, taking on all-comers, and Brakes defence looked like they were in for a difficult evening. James Gettings had already saved them from going a goal down before he was beaten by a simple side foot from close in after a good cross.

Alvechurch looked to stamp their mark on the game, as well as Leamington's players, with some nasty early tackles. One of their defenders was booked for going in hard on Brian Agar, which resulted in a mêlée, in which one of their coaching staff dashed onto the pitch. The referee perhaps should have done more to stamp his mark on the game early on, but to his credit it never got out of hand.

Leamington were struggling to get a foothold in the game at this stage, and Paul Nicholls looked to be presented with an opportunity in front of goal from a free kick by Nick Mort, but somehow the goalkeeper claimed it. Another free kick was awarded when perhaps advantage should have been played, as Steve Thompson was played into a good position, but it was pulled back, and Nick McFarlane was wide with a header. Brakes were fortunate not to go two goals down, and had Gettings to thank once again, as an attacker, bearing down on his goal, with McFarlane desparately chasing at his heels, bought a splendid save from the young keeper, who pushed the ball away to his left. However, it was played back in, but Gettings was first again to the follow up effort.

On thirty-two minutes Leamington were awarded a somewhat fortunate penalty, as Paul Nicholls fell in the area, and stepped up to covert the spot kick. Apparently the Alvechurch keeper was injured in a challenge with Thompson just before this, but it did not become apparent to those of us standing on the North Bank until Leamington took the lead, minutes later. The keeper attempted a throw out to a defender, but it was intercepted by Nicholls, who made him pay by lashing the ball past him from 18 yards. Play was stopped for several minutes after this to allow treatment for the keeper. As the game restarted Alvechurch tried to hit back, but the new defensive partnership of McFarlane and Jamie Ball, making his debut after Andy Gregory's weekend injury, stood firm. At the other end, Leamington tried to pressurise the Alvechurch keeper, Agar playing Thompson in with a neat ball, but his shot hit the side netting. McFarlane was a model of composure in defence once again, refusing to let the constant harrying of the Alvechurch fornt line affect him, and more than once he won the ball and played it confidently out of trouble. Leamington held their lead to half time

The second half started end to end, the visitors trying to counter, their strikers always looking to take people on. Although they are both big lads, it is not difficult to see why they have scored so many goals this season, but they were up against a Leamington back line in no mood to concede another goal. The communication and link up play at the back was outstanding. Brakes notched their killer third on sixty minutes, Thompson's corner from the left met with a glancing header by Mort, who celebrated wildly in front of the North Bank. With half an hour still to go, Brakes could not afford to loosen their grip on the game. The Alvechurch number three was replaced after being injured in a challenge in his own half. Ironic, really, that it was the visiting players coming off worse, after being so physical during the first half. The second half did not see too many scoring opportunities for either side, as most of the game was played in midfield, but by now Leamington were dominating it, and Alvechurch were penned in their own half for periods.

Good play on the left between Harj Dhesi and Thompson presented an opportunity for Nicholls to volley at goal twenty five yards out, but the ball didn't quite sit up for him properly. Leamington were now able to win posession back far easier than previously, and the visitors began to lose heart as time ticked on. Gettings was still alert enough to claim a cross whipped in by an Alvechurch substitute. Josh Blake was bought on to further wear down the visitors, along with Darren Timms and Barry Shearsby as the game drew to a close. Alvechurch pressed for a goal back, and Chris Hanrahan got in well to block a shot that was certainly goal bound. Another header was flicked past the post, with Gettings dashing across to cover.

The whole team got a standing ovation off the pitch, at the end of a thoroughly deserved victory. WELL DONE LADS!

NBB Man-of-the-Match: McFarlane

Match report by Paul Edwards