Warwickshire & West Midlands Sport

Brakes tested by lowly Town

Leamington 2 Rugby Town 1
RELIEF greeted the final whistle as Brakes recorded the narrowest of Zamaretto Southern League Premier Division victories over basement-boys Rugby at the New Windmill on Tuesday night.
The hard fought success came at a price with top scorer Mark Bellingham limping off injured towards the end of the first half, while substitute Michael Touhy was sent off deep into stoppage time for a reckless lunge at visiting keeper Andy Steven.
It lifted Brakes up to ninth in the table but a push for the play-offs looks beyond them on the evidence of another below-par performance in which, yet again, they continually squandered possession which put themselves under pressure.
The work-rate throughout the side cannot be faulted but a lack of guile and creativity in midfield is causing problems and needs to be addressed for the much sterner challenges that lie on the horizon.
The much-improved visitors signalled their intent as early as the second minute with skipper Chris Tullen firing a fierce 30-yard effort just over the bar.
At the other end Bellingham had a well strruck 20-yard shot saved by Steven at full stretch but Rugby should have opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Matt Brown headed David Staff's cross down for Matt Gearing who failed to hit the target with his shot on the turn.
Following a franctic start the derby turned into a scrappy affair with both sides struggling to retain possession but Brakes broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a typical close range finish from Bellingham after Stuart Herlihy had flicked on Luke Corbett's cross.
Brakes were indebted to Chris Kiely for taking their slender advantage into the interval as the young keeper produced a string of smart saves to deny Liam Nicell, Mick Love and Staff.
Brakes strengthened their grip in the 65th minute following their one flowing move of the match which involved telling contributions from Richard Batchelor and Lewis but was started and finished by Corbett.
But Rugby got back in contention nine minutes later when Tullen's free kick was headed back across goal by Karl Fellows and Brown pounced from close range.
It set up a nervous finish during which Kiely did well to deny Ross Oulton but Brakes held on to pick up the points despite Tuohy's late indiscretion.
Brakes face the long trip to Truro City this Saturday (3pm).

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