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Another pre-season crowd of over 400 gathered at the
New Windmill on a cloudy evening to watch their team tested against
another higher level side. More importantly the evening also
marked another phase in the redevelopment of Leamington FC as the
newly installed floodlights got their first proper usage.
Apart from being a pre-requisite for entry into the Midland
Combination Premier division the floodlights also help make the New
Windmill feel more like a ground. This is not to belittle all
the efforts on the ground up to this point its just, even on
Saturday with them not switched on, the New Windmill finally looked
like a "proper" ground.
The visitors for the evening were Halesowen Town
who, after upgrading their own ground last season, sold the
floodlights to Leamington. Halesowen kicked off attacking the
North Bank and before any team had time to settle found themselves
1-0 up after 7 minutes. Again the blame for the goal
unfortunately lay with goalkeeper Sidhu, he came for a ball that a
Halesowen player was quicker too, and while making his mind up
whether to retreat or narrow the angle was beaten by a well placed
shot along the ground.
5 minutes later the visitors doubled their lead
through some quick one touch passing - the ball was played out wide
right, then into the box and the striker made no mistake from just
inside the area. Leamington hadn't really got into the game
and a rout was looking on the cards.
Brakes then managed to settle and pass the ball
around. As against Nuneaton they passed the ball around well
from defence to midfield, but passes in the last third of the field
were letting them down. Too many times balls were played to
the wings too long, or the intended recipient had misread the pass.
The intention was good just the execution the problem.
 It
was a long ball forward that bought a Leamington goal, with no
Brakes player in close attendance a Halesowen defender somehow
played the ball past his advancing keeper into the Harbury Lane net.
Perhaps reward for Leamington's toil, and hopefully would also give
them a lift in the second half.
Halftime saw the switch on of the lights.
Various club officials, sponsors, newspaper & fanzine editors
along with the players gathered on the pitch. After much
talking and countdowning the switch was flicked and, accompanied by
fireworks behind the dugouts, the lights came on one by one.
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