Inscrutables No Match for Brakes

The Tony Allden Memorial Trophy was first played in 1970 to commemorate a six foot plus central defender killed by lightning in a FA Amateur Cup tie between Highgate United and Enfield Town. Both Coventry Sphinx and Leamington have been finalists before, but neither have won the trophy, Brakes losing to Romulus in 2004. Tonight Leamington won a convincing 5-1 victory against the Midland Combination Premiership leaders at Harbury Lane.

With a squad of 33, there has been much debate about whether Leamington need a reserve side as well as a youth team, but there have been fears that attendances might not reach triple figures. Tonight a weakened Leamington side attracted a crowd of 215 to the New Windmill Ground on a wet night with the Champions League on the box.

Long serving Paul Eden opened the scoring for Brakes on 11 minutes. Later as 'Sniffer' used his pace to win a corner, we shouted 'Now use your height' to the vertically challenged player who appropriately once played for the Jockeys. Ryan Howells scored a hat trick for Brakes to take the score to 4-1 with Jon Adams getting the fifth.

We often urge linos to go to Specsavers, but the Sheepside lino was wearing what looked like a brand new pair of glasses. After last night's disappointment against Fulham, seen by many Townsmen on Sky, it was a fun evening at Harbury Lane - and the wind wasn't blowing from the chicken farm.