Brakes win sixth league game in a row

Leamington won their sixth league game in a row when they beat Evesham United 1-0 this afternoon in front of a crowd of 566 at the New Windmill Ground.

Brakes had the chance to go ahead after two minutes when keeper Nathan Vaughan was caught way off his line, but all they achieved was an unproductive corner. On the whole it was a scrappy first half with Evesham flooding the midfield and pouncing on any loose balls. Leamington got caught offside more than once.

There was a call for a penalty for Brakes for handball but it looked like ball to arm to me. Batchelor fired just over and towards the end of the half Vaughan had to save by turning the ball on to the post.

Half time: Brakes 0, Evesham 0

A spectator I saw just after the break told me she was there to support one of the linos who was her boy friend which I suppose is one motive for going to a game.

Brakes looked livelier in the second half with Jacko, who had had a poor first half, improving.

Batchelor roared up the pitch on his own, but put his effort just wide. The crowd were calling for changes and with some 20 minutes to go new signing Alex Taylor came on to replace the indifferent James Husband. Immediately afterwards Luke Corbett came on in place of Matt Lewis. Corbett's dad was being interviewed for the fanzine in the vice-presidents before the game.

It was great work by Taylor that set up Corbett to score the winning goal on 77 minutes. After that Leamington looked in charge but Batchelor got himself sent off for a second yellow in time added on (the first was for dissent). Keeper Vaughan came forward to take the free kick, but the ball came off the bar, maintaining the clean sheet and three points for Leamington who are now 4th.

Winning ways continue

Leamington continued their good run with a 2-1 victory at the New Windmill Ground over moneybags team Brackley Town in front of a good mid-week crowd of 503 on a wet night.

Brackley certainly showed some pace and both sides had their chances in the first half, but it was 0-0 at the break. Play was often halted by the fussy referee who showed one of the Brackley players a yellow card as the teams went to the dressing room.

Luke Corbett unleashed an absolute cannon ball of a shot on 65 minutes at the Harbury Lane end to put Brakes ahead. It is one of the best goals I have seen at the NWG and provoked a chant of 'Where were you when Corbett scored?' from the Harbury Lane end.

Richard Batchelor then put the Brakes 2-0 ahead with an emphatic strike. Brackley managed to score a consolation goal in the dying minutes, but never looked like securing the 2-2 draw they got in the recent FA Cup match.

Jacko had a bit of an off night, but I was impressed by the new signing from Hinckley, Stephan Morley, who came on as a sub put in an instinctive shot from distance that troubled the Brackley keeper. We also saw some more of the new signing from Canvey Island, James Rowe.