League & Cup Results 2002/03
  
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Leamington 2 Feckenham 1 - 14/12/02 - Midland Combination Premier Division
Taken from the Leamington Courier Online
   
 DESPITE falling behind to a breakaway goal on the stroke of half-time, Brakes staged their now familiar second-half rally to clinch all three Midland Combination Premier Division points.

On a gloomy afternoon, the New Windmill floodlights were on from the outset and Brakes mounted wave after wave of attacks in an opening spell that saw goalkeeper Andy Biffin reduced to role of spectator. The best of the early chances fell to Josh Blake whose fine solo run on 12 minutes ended with his right-footed shot rebounding off the crossbar. The woodwork again came to Feckenham's rescue when Paul Nicholls' header form a Harj Dhesi corner hit the foot of the post.


In the absence of Steve Thompson, Darren Timms took over the captaincy and he combined well with the impressive Andy Ellis to prompt further attacks on the visitors' goal. Defender Andy Gregory had the best chance to break the deadlock but his 34th-minute header went over the bar.
With half-time approaching, the match took a bad turn for the home side.  Glen Webb was carried off with an injured right knee. Before Brakes could bring on substitute Simon Wickson, Feckenham broke away and scored through Paul Court with keeper Biffin lying injured on the edge of the box.

The half-time team talk again did the trick for Brakes. Within three minutes of the re-start top scorer Nicholls headed home Nick Mort's corner. Nicholls was soon upended just outside the penalty area and Harj Dhesi stepped up to take one of his trademark free kicks, curling the ball into the top corner. Brakes again piled on the pressure and a good cross by Jonny Burgess was
just headed wide by Nicholls.

With time ticking away, Brakes lost another player to injury when keeper Biffin was carried off at the end of normal time with a broken leg. Substitute Tom Sidwell, took his place between the
posts and the defence played well to shield him in injury time. Blake worked hard all afternoon, tackling back when needed from his wide position on the left. Ellis looked a class player in the mould of crowd favourite Brian Agar. The good news for fans is that the evergreen Agar is
ready to return to increase the midfield options.


Co-manager Barry Proctor said: "I felt we were the better team throughout and always looked to play it along the ground rather than a long-ball approach adopted by Feckenham. In the second half in particular, we played the simple ball, keeping possession and being patient in our build-up"
This was a hard-fought victory over a side near the foot of the table and the significance became clear as news filtered in of second-place Alvechurch's surprise home defeat by lowly Meir KA and Rugby Town's draw at West Midlands Police. This meant that Brakes had closed to within two points of the top and have still to play leaders Rugby Town home and away.