Timms bags a hat-trick in the pouring rain
Team: Day; Thompson, Rowland, Sidwell (Saunders), Gregory, Webb; Shearsby (Wickson), Mort (Dhesi), Hanrahan; Timms, Blake
Leamington progressed into the next round of the Willie Knibbs Memorial Challenge Cup thanks to a second half hat-trick from Darren Timms, following fine first half strikes from Glen Webb and Josh Blake, although they made hard work of knocking out a Meir KA side who staged a second half comeback.
The game suffered a 15 minute delay due to the Meir team being caught up in traffic congestion on the M6. Leamington should have taken an early lead in the fifth Minute when Timms found Blake in front of goal with a square ball, but his low drive from 12 yards out was easily collected by Paul Wade in the visitors' goal.
Possession finally paid off in the 32nd minute when Glen Webb thundered the home side into the lead with a cracking strike from 18 yards out which found the far top corner of the Meir net beyond the helpless Wade.
Leamington doubled their lead on 38 minutes when Thompson found Timms who slipped the ball through to Blake to hit home into the far corner from eight yards out. Leamington led 2-0 at half-time.
Meir started the second half in better fashion, and pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute when Cosgrove released Richard Johnson down the middle of the pitch. Advancing goalkeeper Myles Day blocked Johnson's initial shot but the loose rebound fell to Johnson once again and this time he rounded Day and slotted home from six yards out.
Daniel Beech shot just wide for the visitors as Meir had the better of play in the early stages of the second half, and continued to pressurise the home goal. Alan Hope flicked the ball through to Beech but his weak effort was easily collected by Day at the near post.
Leamington grabbed a third goal on 59 minutes when Timms latched onto a left wing cross and fired home from ten yards out.
Meir were awarded a penalty in the 74th minute following a Timms foul. Scott Reaney made no mistake with his low spot kick making it 3-2.
As this cup battle continued Hanrahan crashed a thumping shot against the Meir upright after 74 minutes. The visitors continued to look for an equaliser, Johnson firing just wide of the Leamington post following a Hope cross.
Timms made it 4-2, and secured Leamington's passage into the next round, with a low drive following a Harj Dhesi cross which was headed on by Blake.
In the closing stages, Banks saw his effort from six yards out tipped over the bar by Day following a Cosgrove cross from the right wing. Leamington scored a fifth goal on 90 minutes when Timms completed a second half hat-trick as he fired home from close range following a Thompson cross which was headed on by Blake.
277 spectators witnessed a good cup tie despite the very wet and soggy conditions. Match report by Glenn Lawrence
In the tenth minute, Blake found Steve Thompson on the left wing whose diagonal shot across the box was hit straight into the chest of Wade in the Meir goal. Leamington dominated the first half as Meir were reduced to defending.
NBB Man-of-the-Match: Darren Timms
