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April 11

1953 - Brakes go down 4-1 at home to Redditch in the Birmingham Combination.

1977 - A 0-0 draw is played out at Chelmsford City in the Southern League Premier Division.

1981 - A 1-0 win over Yeovil Town in front of 400 at The Windmill Ground in the Alliance Premier League. Duncan Gardner scored the only goal of the game.

Team: Dulleston, Cooper, Montgomery, Jones, Kilkelly, Ashenden, Farrington, Gorman, Mee, Gardner, M Taylor.

1987 - A 1-0 defeat to Gloucester City at The Windmill. Our team that day was: Campbell, Chatwin, Upton, Britton, S Thomas, O’Hare, Coleman, Wilson, Draper, Curtis, Kavanagh. Sub: Williams (for Wilson).

2001 - A 5-0 win over Lichfield Enots at The New Windmill Ground in the Midland Combination Division 2 in front of a crowd of 361. Goalscorers were Darren Timms, Steve Thompson, Barry Shearsby, Josh Blake and Glen Webb.

Leamington 5 Lichfield Enots 0
Midland Combination Division Two
Wednesday 11 Apr 2001
By Terry Ford (with thanks to Craig Barnes)

Home at Last
To play or not to play? That was the question. After yet more rain, and the postponement of yet another home game, (Cadbury the previous Saturday) the prospects were not good for this Wednesday evening fixture. A weather forecast of "sunny periods & 19 degrees" didn't materialise, instead we got dull and overcast - but it didn't rain! Cometh the hour, cometh the man (or men!) and true to form, Kevin and Keith Hancock, along with other stalwarts of the FOLFC grafted through the afternoon, and at 4:00pm the pitch passed inspection - GAME ON!! (A million thanks again lads!)

A 6:10pm kick-off and an excellent crowd of 361 saw Leamington pressure from the off. A Jonny Burgess shot was saved in the third minute and an attempt by Josh Blake was thwarted by the Lichfield goalie in the fifth. Josh fired over the bar seconds later and for the next twenty odd minutes we watched frustrated as shot after shot from the Brakes either went over, wide or was saved by the keeper. The twenty eighth minute saw Bagar eventually get the ball in the net. But the referee saw fit to call the play back for a prior foul? However - play resumed and resulted in a Steve Thompson corner being lashed home by Daz Timms to break the deadlock.

The remainder of the half saw efforts from Webb, Billington and Thompson all resulting in disappointment for the goal-hungry Brakes.

With five minutes of the second half gone Thommo was fouled on the edge of the box but the referee waved play on much to the collective chagrin of the North Bank. A minute later and Lichfield suddenly threatened! With several of their players bearing down on our goal, our emergency centre back Ian Billington appeared as if by magic, and mopped things up. A further minute on and Lichfield had a shot!! A Will Cliffe effort went over the keeper, bar and stand!! Ha! E-NOT Score! Lichfield continued to have more of the play for the first fifteen minutes of the second half as well, "C'mon Brakes!", a number of these potential threats being averted by the timely intervention of Liam (Smile of an angel, Heart of an assassin) McGovern.

Just after the hour, Lichfield's Wayne Essex was booked for a foul on Jonny B. Good! Timmo neatly chipped the resulting free kick into the box, whereupon Thommo took one touch and fired the ball past the flailing goalie - two-nil! Fantastic free kick, superb goal. The sixty-fourth minute saw Jonny Burgess substituted by Baz Shearsby and it took just over five minutes for the super-sub scenario to come to fruition. The super-sharp Shearsby latched onto a loose ball and rifled home number three. With the game now safe, Martin Beeston replaced Billo for the final fifteen minutes and Hayden Proctor came on for Bagar for the final ten. Four minutes later, and after a goalmouth scramble Josh netted his 26th of the season. More Leamington pressure saw a final goal in the fading light as Webbo smashed the ball in from the edge of the penalty area to register his first for the club. It turned out to be a comfortable victory, which saw Brakes continue to do the job of keeping the pressure on the leaders. Before the match we had been eleven points adrift of Rugby Town with seven games in hand. Back to eight-six then - another great day at the office.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Ian Billington (Martin Beeston 76m); Will Payne; Liam McGovern; Adam Ball; Glen Webb; Darren Timms; Jon Burgess (Barry Shearsby 64m); Josh Blake; Brian Agar (captain - sub Hayden Proctor 80m); Steve Thompson.

2006 - Leamington 0 Chasetown 1 - The second leg of our Midland Alliance League Cup Semi Final ended in defeat, but an aggregate victory over the two legs sent Brakes to the Bescot Stadium to take on Barwell in the Final….

Leamington 0 Chasetown 1
Polymac Services League Cup Semi Second Leg
Aggregate score: Leamington 3 v Chasetown 2
Tuesday 11 Apr 2006
By Roger Vincent
Brakes at Bescot

Persistent rain overnight and during the day had cleared for a few hours then came down with a vengeance an hour before kick-off leaving standing water in the goalmouths. A brisk breeze marginally favoured the Scholars in the first half, kicking towards the North Bank, but they also had a mountain to climb needing three goals without reply to go through in 90 minutes after Brakes superb second half in the first leg a week ago gave them a 3-1 aggregate lead with away goals counting double if the aggregate scores were level after this second leg.

Both teams reached the FA Cup R1 Proper and are now suffering from a long and tiring season with too many fixtures bunched together not allowing recovery time. Consequently both teams have key players missing or less than 100%. The absence of both Horler and Bullimore probably cost Chasetown dear and Brakes had to introduce Adrian Fuller for his debut, with the agreement of his club, Banbury United. Fortunately, with some foresight, he’d been signed as a possible stopgap more than the required 21 days beforehand and he slotted in well from the start.

Chasetown started at a gallop clearly attempting to unsettle Brakes and get an early goal that would have made their task seem oh so possible. Morris saved from Huckfield in the 2nd minute, at the expense of a corner, and Fuller shielded the ball out of play for a goal-kick minutes later with nerve-settling aplomb as the Chasetown attack bore down on him.

But Martin Thompson was bustling to good effect at the other end and Brakes could have scored in the 14th when Morgan headed over from a Blake free kick. There was a lengthy delay whilst Chasetown replaced their ‘keeper, who looked to have some damage to his hand, but before the new man could be tested Chasetown pegged Brakes in their own half and forced an astonishing five corners between the 23rd and 29th minutes. With everyone back in defence Brakes seemed unable to escape and a goal seemed inevitable.

But Herlihy was having none of that and Brakes came closest to scoring when they escaped the siege, courtesy of a free-kick, and Herlihy charged down a loose ball setting up Martin Thompson who ballooned the ball over the bar from in front of goal in the 33rd.

And now Brakes had a bit of a purple patch: Blake slipped on the soggy turf as he prepared to shoot and Rodman got down the right but could have done better with his cross. Another let-off for Brakes in the 41st, when the ball hit the intersection of bar and post rebounding to a forward who headed straight at Morris, seemed to rejuvenate Brakes and both Jon Adams and Rodman had chances before Chasetown broke on the right crossing low and hard for Turner to head home for 0-1 in the 45th.

But Brakes came back with spirit and Rodman, Jon Adams and Morgan combined well to make inroads in the Chasetown defence before half-time that unsettled the Scholars’ defence into earning a yellow card.

Brakes were first to show in the second half when Rodman and Jon Adams combined well to release Herlihy who dragged his shot just wide in the 48th; then Chasetown forced two corners before Blake shot powerfully at the other end when it might have been better to pass to the unmarked Rodman.

This was now a humdinger of a cup-tie, not pretty but chances at both ends. Chasetown were not so in control as previously but, paradoxically, they now created better chances and first Stacey headed off the line then Jon Adams cleared from his own goalmouth in the 54th.

Martin Thompson may not be having much luck with his goal efforts at the moment but his contribution was supreme and earned the approval of the fans. Not only was his bustling strength up front important in preventing Brakes being swamped but he turned up in defence as well when necessary in as hard-working a performance as I’ve seen for a long time.

Though Brakes were still under pressure there was a feeling a corner had been turned; a little more desperation was creeping into Chasetown’s efforts as the clock ran down. Around the hour mark they’d used all their substitutes in a last, desperate throw of the dice with no contingency plan for possible extra time. Morgan missed a chance to put the game beyond their recall in the 65th with a delicate lob over the ‘keeper, but also over the bar and Martin Thompson was just wide minutes later with another real chance.

Then Blake pulled up when running back to help the defence and hobbled off but, as the tension mounted, Brakes had the perfect foil for a game like this with the welcome return of Steve Thompson after too long an absence. Howell had also come on minutes earlier and his strength and freshness with the industry and know-how of Steve Thompson started to turn the game round as Brakes, though missing Husband, began to look more like the team of the 1st leg second half.

There were a few handbags thrown with 10 minutes to go but nothing serious in a game that, though not for the purists, had been cleanly fought. Adams and Howell pushed up the right and Brakes were now, for the first time perhaps, on top for an extended spell. Care came on in the 88th but, with six minutes added, time to make a contribution. But despite a wasted free kick in front of the Brakes’ goal, which would have made the final two minutes of added time interesting, Chasetown had all but conceded defeat by now.

Leamington: Richard Morris; Alex Rodman (Ryan Howell 70); Adrian Fuller; Neil Stacey; Ryan Parisi; Morton Titterton; Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy (David Care 88); Leon Morgan [Capt]; Martin Thompson; Josh Blake (Steve Thompson 73).

Subs Not Used: Andy Crabtree; Paul Shepherd

Chasetown: Martin Taylor (Simon Bryan 17); Matt Bytheway [Capt]; Mark Branch (Neil Aulton 63); Richard Huckfield; Kevin Thompson; Steve Ulfig; Sam Smith; Nicky Harrison; Danny Smith; Steve Ball (Neil Granger 58); Andy Turner.

Subs Not Used: John Newell; Lee Parsons

Attendance: 520

Players' News: Adrian Fuller is on loan, but still with Banbury United; Josh Blake felt a hamstring go, could be several weeks; James Husband could also be out ‘weeks’ with twisted knee; Neil Stacey 35 days suspension starts Monday 17 April for first red card.

Other News: Arrangements will be made for trip to Bescot; note 7:30 ko, a little earlier than our norm, perhaps to allow plenty of time for Leamington to be presented with the cup.

The flask found at the ground after the RC Warwick game has been claimed; the watch has not - details to secretary@leamingtonfc.co.uk.

There is a POSTER advertising the final on www.leamingtonfc.co.uk, the official website, that you are asked to print off and put up in your local shop, pub, workplace, etc.

2009 - Marlow 0 Leamington 1 - A vital victory which put Brakes within touching distance of the Southern League Midland Division title. A 56th minute strike from Stuart Herlihy secured the points…
Match Report and Video Highlights below (Thanks to Nick Rogers again for these)

2015 - Tamworth 3 Leamington 2. A captain’s performance from Danny Newton on his return from suspension should have helped Brakes to 3 points - instead they fall to a defeat which pushes them to the brink of relegation….

Tamworth 3 Leamington 2
Vanarama Conference North
The Lamb Ground
Saturday 11th April 2015

A heroic effort from Brakes sadly wasn’t enough as they paid the price for an awful start to the game, and despite battering on the Tamworth door for large spells of the game they slipped to a third consecutive defeat at the home of the play off chasers.

The majority of the away support was trooping around the back of the Shed terrace towards the end Leamington were kicking when their team conceded in the opening minute, Shane Clarke rising unmarked to head in a corner, Jonny Maddison only able to help the ball into the roof of the net.

Joe Magunda almost put through his own net soon afterwards, his defensive header thudding against the crossbar, but Brakes shot themselves in the foot again, allowing Jon Adams acres of space to side foot home a right wing cross to double Tamworth’s advantage.

Danny Newton wasted little time getting back into the thick of things on his return from suspension, seeing a header held under the bar by James Belshaw, firing in a well struck effort that was saved by the Lambs keeper and then heading over the bar from a corner kick.

A good break up the left saw Lee Moore tee up Connor Gudger for a shot that was blocked at source, before Lee Chilton’s shot was cleared away by Josh Sampson from a half cleared corner.

Leamington were right back in the game on 28 minutes when Jack Edwards’ header towards goal was stabbed in on the line by Newton. The game went through a rare quiet spell after this, but exploded into life again prior to half time as Paul Holleran’s men went for the jugular.

Richard Taundry’s well struck free kick dropped just past the post before Belshaw made a spectacular save to push a flying header from Newton onto the bar. Gudger then crashed a long range drive against the post from a lay off by Taundry to give the travelling support renewed hope going into half time.

Kicking down the slope in the second half and with the vocal element of their support taking up residence at the end of the Shed terrace, Brakes quickly picked up where they had left off. Jordan Goddard was left frustrated as his low drive was kept out by the legs of Belshaw, James Mace powering a header a whisker over the bar from the resulting corner.

Magunda then sent a header just past the angle of post and bar following great work by Newton down the right to keep the ball in play.
Brakes were almost undone at the back again when Dave Hibbert took on the defence but was crowded out as he attempted to fire a shot in. The chances were continuing to flow at the other end however, Newton firing over the bar from the edge of the box before Mace forced Belshaw into another good save at his near post after Edwards headed the ball back across goal.

Newton and Edwards both saw shots blocked as Leamington continued to search for a leveller but they were dealt a sickening blow when Lambs substitute Leon Mettam latched on to a long ball, firing in a shot which Maddison looked to have covered but somehow the ball struck the post and trickled into the back of the net off the young keeper.

It would have been easy for heads to drop at this point, and while Reece Styche fired a shot over the bar for the hosts Leamington continued to push forward and create opportunities. Delroy Gordon’s header from a free kick was comfortable for his former Nuneaton team mate Belshaw, who in a cruel twist of irony was announced as the man of the match over the PA just as a fizzing drive from Newton whistled past him into the net to set up a nerve wracking finale.

Over the course of the game the Tamworth keeper probably earned his side the three points, and he saved bravely at the feet of Ashley Worsfold as the Leamington substitute almost poked the ball past him. The Harrogate loanee was heavily involved in the closing stages, firing wide before latching on to Newton’s header to crash in a volley which drew another great save from Belshaw, who then saved Jack Edwards’ header from the corner.

Sadly an equaliser did not arrive and Brakes were left to reflect on the errors that cost them despite a hugely spirited performance. While all is not lost just yet they will have to rely on results going their way in other games even if they win their final two fixtures against North Ferriby United and Boston. They didn’t half give it a go today though.

Attendance: 809

Tamworth: James Belshaw, Rob Purdie, Joshua Sampson, Tom James, Phil Trainer, Jonathan Adams, Paul Green © (16 Connor Taylor, 60), Shane Clarke, Kayden Jackson (12 Leon Mettam, 66), Dave Hibbert (14 Reece Styche, 73), Brendon Daniels.

Subs not used: 15 Kevin Thornton, 17 Sean Wilkins.

Leamington: Jonny Maddison, James Mace, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda (12 Ashley Worsfold, 76), Jack Edwards, Delroy Gordon, Lee Chilton, Richard Taundry, Lee Moore (15 Bilal Yafai, 82), Jordan Goddard, Danny Newton ©

Subs not used: 14 Nathan Hicks, 16 Jamie Tank, 17 Lewis Fenney.

Referee: Tom Neild

Assistant Referees: A Dallison & J Rhodes

Brakes Man of the Match: Danny Newton.