Leamington	1-1	Alvechurch
Agar 78 Gregory Thompson Att: 473		Skinner 89

10 man Church survive and charge into final

Gettings; Gregory, Sidwell, Saunders; Thompson, Ellis, Shearsby (Timms), Eden, Adams; Agar, Nicholls

Going into the match a goal down from the first leg, Brakes had a tough task against a side with title aspirations of their own. In one of the best matches yet seen at the New Windmill, they weathered an early storm and looked odds-on to progress when Paul Smith was sent off for the visitors.

Brakes swamped the Alvechurch half after that and created a succession of chances including a goal direct from a Steve Thompson corner which was bafflingly disallowed. Agar's 78th-minute overhead kick equaliser from the goal-line was just what his side deserved, but Brett Skinner charged into the box a minute from time to clinch it.

It was a harsh way to go out, but Cadden was philosophical about the defeat, watched by a crowd of 473 - Brakes’ third-best of the season. His side seemed to have done the hard work when Brian Agar levelled the tie, but ten-man Alvechurch kept going and scored a deserved clincher on the break a minute from time.

Cadden said, "Their keeper made save after save. It was a nightmare really, but we kept going. We worked hard and we got the goal, but maybe we were trying to rush it a bit and trying to finish it off inside 90 minutes. The lack of concentration for their goal happened because of that. Over the two legs we probably deserved to go through but life isn't like that. Fair play to Alvechurch."

Cadden added that the side must learn from it and maintain the position at the top of the league table. "We haven’t been in this position before - we've been up there but never on top. I like being top of the league because everyone else has got to get the points to keep up the pressure on us," he said.

"We're in a better position than we've ever been in. The other sides have got games in hand but it doesn't make much difference because we've all got to play each other. We've got to go and do the business on Saturday. We've set out our stall over the past five games and we've got to keep it going. The lads are all really focused and up for it. They can see light at the end of the tunnel. I believe if we can win ten out of our last 12 games we've got a chance - that's what I've told the lads."

NBB Man-of-the-Match: Gregory

Match report by Simon Steele