BRAKES kept alive their faint hopes of catching leaders Rugby Town with a fifth straight Midland Combination victory on Wednesday night.

Strike partners Paul Nicholls and Josh Blake got the goals which sank Division One hosts Handsaker in Birmingham.
The result closes the gap on Rugby to 12 points, with Jason Cadden and Barry Proctor's men having three games in hand. Fourth-placed Loughborough slipped out of the promotion race after losing to Brakes on Saturday and Wilmcote on Tuesday; third-placed Knowle are seven points behind Brakes and have played a game more.
Ex-Wilmcote striker Nicholls scored his seventh goal for Brakes on 21 minutes, rising well to meet a curling Nick Mort cross. Nicholls put another first-half chance over the bar and Blake headed a corner over the bar.
The game was effectively sewn up early in the second half. Nicholls completed a fine passing move by teeing up Blake, who headed his 25th goal of the season from close range.
It was an efficient performance by Brakes, who were never in trouble against a side they drew 0-0 with in the President's Cup semi-final first leg.
"It was a good performance on a hard, bobbling pitch.
"We've got eight league games to go now and we know we've got to win them all to have a chance of winning the league now.
"But we believe we can go and win them all because we are playing with confidence and belief. We've just got to hope that Rugby slip up somewhere.
"If they win the league they will deserve it - but we'll push them all the way."