Four goals in front of four figure crowd

Leamington won an emphatic 4-1 victory over Bremerton Heath Harlequins at the New Windmill Ground today in front of a 1,045 crowd to go through to the 5th round of the FA Carlsberg Vase for the first time. Although they fought valiantly, and the match was by no means as easy for the Brakes as the scoreline would suggest, the No.2 team in Salisbury were no match for the silky skills and pace of Leamington. This was in spite of the absence of Jon Adams and James Husband who had been called up for England duty in a UEFA European Championship pre-qualifier in Dava, Romania (futsal in case you're wondering).

Before the match a presentation was made to the 10,000th person through the turnstiles this season who happened to be Graham Thomson, a ground hopper from Bexleyheath who had visited over 600 non-league grounds.

Quins came out in their diamond patterned shirts to the cheers of a small knot of their supporters in the Sheepside stand. One of their predecessor clubs was Moon FC, but it was not lunar influences but a swirling wind that helped to shape the early exchanges in the match.

Martin Thompson pressed Quins hard in the opening phase of the game, but it was Ben Mackey who put Brakes 1-0 ahead on 22 minutes, winning me the golden goal. That was the way it stayed until the 45th minute when after a collison in the area, the officious referee, R J Parker, awarded a penalty to the visitors. Jason Pearcey managed to push the ball out, but it was not well defended and Quinns were able to seize the loose ball to make it 1-1 on half time.

Mackey had been displaying some magical skills and he put Brakes 2-1 ahead on 52 minutes. Quins fought hard to keep in the game and it was 77 minutes before Thommo got his just reward when he made it 3-1. A goalmouth scramble three minutes later looked as if might end in Quins narrowing the gap, but Pearcey stood firm. Substitute Dave Pearson then made it 4-1 on 84 minutes.