Air ambulance halts match

Leamington maintained their leadership of the Midland Combination Premiership with a convincing 4-1 victory over Massey Ferguson at the New Windmill Ground, but only after the match had been suspended for some ten minutes. Useless referee Mr Lethbridge turned out to be deaf as well as blind as the Northants and Warwicks air ambulance hovered over the pitch seeking to land. Eventually it had to land in the field by the Sheepside and the hapless referee eventually brought proceedings to a halt after being flagged by his lino. It was learnt that a fan had slipped down the North Bank and injured himself on the concrete path at the bottom.

By that time Brakes had already gone 1-0 ahead with a Richard Adams strike. After the resumption, referee Lethbridge gave the Tractormen a penalty after Brakes had won the ball in the area making it 1-1. However, a bullet header by Andy Gregory converting a corner made it 2-1 on 26 minutes. The useless ref had to reverse a free kick decision about screams from the crowd and from the alert lino, raising his arms and shouting out 'my mistake'.

With the crowd depleted by Christmas shopping we were unusually able to find standing space on the popular side after we had gone to the Vice-Presidents' lounge for our half time cuppa. Josh Blake had been making sizzling runs all match and made it 3-1 on 54 minutes. Richard Adams then got his second after 58 minutes to make it 4-1.

Brakes then put their foot on the wrong pedal and eased off their speed, the best chance falling to Clunes look alike Martin Thompson who had come on as a sub, giving the crowd a chance to chant 'There are only two Tommos' followed by 'Leamington Spa - ooh aah!' The Tractormen had a couple of chances to get one back, stressing out manager and Christmas tree entrepreneur Jason Cadden in the dugout.



Josh Blake in front of the North Bank