Leamington	2-2	Bolehall Swifts
Thompson 40, 57 Agar Att: 408		Sperin 45 Phillips 55

Brakes finish third after thrilling final day 2-2 draw

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

The weather conditions for the final match of the season at the New Windmill were more wintery than summery, with a strong wind blowing towards the North Bank and the heavens threatening to open at any moment. A healthy crowd of 408 would perhaps have been larger if not for this.

Leamington began the game well, looking to push for the win that would guarantee a third place finish. Ben Adams skimmed the crossbar with a cross-shot from the right wing early on, and Chris Hanrahan had a shot blocked just inside the area. Bolehall also showed their early intent, as one of their players carved his way through Brakes defence after possession was lost in midfield, with no challenge going in, to hit a low shot that James Gettings pushed away for a corner. The young keeper was called into action again shortly afterwards, coming to the left of his box to smother another effort.

Josh Blake twisted and turned at the other end of the field, trying to force a way through, but was blocked by a defender. Bolehall's number five was then booked for poleaxing Steve Thompson with a blow to the head. Leamington continued to play the ball around well, which was good to see, given the conditons. Ben Adams sped away down the right and attempted to slip a pass through for Brian Agar, but a defender intercepted to give a throw away. Bolehall's number nine then accepted a pass from the right, went outside his man and shot over the bar. A defender nearly put a low cross from Barry Shearsby into his own net. Blake then surged through on the goalkeper, with two defenders on his tail, but his attempted flicked shot didn't quite get the height he intended, and was cleared.

Bolehall didn't really try and use the wind to their advantage in the first half, but Gettings was forced to push one corner over his bar, before a good ball down the left channel set Thompson away, and, leaving the chasing defender trailing in his wake, he smashed a low shot through the keeper into the net. Leamington looked good to go in at the break a goal up, but were cruelly denied as Bolehall equalised on forty five minutes from a free kick just outside the box, the ball going in low under Gettings's diving body. Leamington went straight back on the offensive, Blake nearly broke through on the keeper again, but was denied by a last ditch boot in from a defender.

The second half began with a scare for the Brakes defence, as possession was lost in midfield and the Bolehall attack somehow found themsleves three on one with Gettings, but Andy Gregory got back to make a superb recovery tackle just inside the box. Play switched ends and a shot was saved by the Bolehall keeper. Leamington found themselves behind on fifty-five minutes, as Gettings hesitated on a short backpass from defence, was dispossessed,and the forward managed to roll the ball into the net, and gave it the 'big-un' to the Harbury Lane End, expecting to get some response!

Gregory was again involved in preventing a further deficit, blocking a shot which could have put the game out of reach for Leamington, had it gone in. With the wind now behind them, the same player hit a good shot at goal at the North Bank end, which was held easily. Nick McFarlane was desperately close to connecting with a corner from Nick Mort, the ball flashing inches wide of the post. Within a minute though, Leamington were all square, with Thompson again on target. The ball somehow fell to him from a richochet in defence, and with the keeper and another defender grounded, he shaped and knocked the ball into the empty net.

Brakes pressed for a winner after this, and Mort had a long range effort saved. A long throw from Thompson was collected by Paul Nicholls, on for Blake, and he turned and hit a shot in the six yard box that was clearly deflected out by a defender. The referee signalled a goal kick, then after a long coversation, sent off Bolehall's number eleven.

Agar had the next opportunity, Thompson shaped to send a high ball in, dinked to him instead, and his shot was blocked. The defence was pushing upfield at every opportunity, noticeably McFarlane. Bolehall broke away again, and nearly went back in front, as their first shot was blocked, the second went wide.

A very good piece of play, in the shape of a throw from Thompson was knocked cross-field by substitute Darren Timms to Shearsby, who sent a good deep cross in from the right for another substitute, Jonny Burgess, to head on goal. Unfortunately he couldn't get quite enough purchase on his header.

Play switched once again, and Gettings did well to cut out a cross from a threatening looking attack. Leamington forced a corner close to full time, and Gregory had a header blocked on the line, but the follow-up was claimed at the second attempt by the keeper, who appeared to be in some discomfort. But there was not enough time left for Brakes to test him further.

So, a draw means we cannot be passed by Bolehall Swifts, who play their final game on Monday, and third is our final positon. Disappointing when you look at our position a couple of weeks ago, but the team has shown it can compete well in this division, and with a couple of additions to the squad next season, we should be in a good positon to challenge again, a hopefully, go one better.

NBB Man-of-the-Match: Thompson

Match report by Paul