*** Match report courtesy of Leamington FC ***

Brakes kept up their pursuit of leaders Evesham with a hard earned win over North Warwickshire neighbours Bedworth United at a blustery New Windmill Ground. Second half goals from Liam Reynolds, Josh Blake and Guy Sanders ensured that second spot in the Midland Division was reclaimed from Sutton Coldfield Town, who had won at Rothwell on Friday evening.

With Ben Mackey, Robbie Beard and Adam Cooper unavailable, Justin Marsden returned to the starting line up, having been recalled to Telford the previous week. Jamie Towers also stepped up from the bench, and Scott Hadland, one of a number of former Bedworth players in the Leamington ranks, made his debut after signing from Brackley Town. With the weather causing havoc every time the ball entered the air, both sides found it difficult to perform. To add to this, regular intervals of snow showers and sunny spells left the crowd of 611 sheltering from the elements one minute, and shielding their eyes from bright sunshine the next.

The visitors were the first to show as an attacking threat. With the strong wind at their backs, kicking towards the Harbury Lane End, Simeon Williams attempted to find Paul Spacey with a cross, but he was hurried into his shot and put it wide. Adam Kinder also had an early header well wide of the target.

The first signs that the wind would interfere with play were evident when Marcus Jackson's cross was cleared by Ben Thackeray, only for his clearance to loop behind for a corner, from which Andrew Kemp's punch clear was lashed back over the bar first time by James Husband.

Jackson was then spoken to by Referee Sian Massey, as Bedworth's staff and supporters clearly saw something they disagreed with when Paul Spacey was bought down in midfield. The Greenbacks manager Liam O'Neill was also spoken to, as the officials outlined their intentions early on to take the heat out of such incidents before talking to the players involved.

Both sides were committed to attack, and the Greenbacks' Jamie Williams had the first shot on target, which Richard Morris gathered easily. His kick up field was picked up on the left by Justin Marsden, whose cross came out as far as James Husband. The midfielder cracked in a powerful first time shot, but saw it cannon back off the underside of the crossbar. Jamie Towers, who had an intriguing battle with Jamie Williams, set off on a mazy run, and saw his attempted shot deflected, and loop into the hands of Kemp. He also had a header from a free kick which held up in the wind, allowing Kemp to claim.

Towers was heavily involved during the first half, and his corner kick led to debutant Scott Hadland striking the Bedworth bar for a second time from close range.

The visitors were matching their hosts stride for stride at this stage, and Morris bravely came off his line to claim a dangerous cross from Neil Lazarus, with Adam Kinder ready to pounce on the loose ball. Guy Sanders could well have blamed the swirling wind for a free kick that was not up to his usual standards, as the first half drew to a close.

Simeon Williams had the first effort of the second forty five, latching onto a long goal kick from Andrew Kemp, but his well struck shot was straight at Morris. Adam Kinder sliced a shot wide moments later. Marcus Jackson helped to create Leamington's first opening, as he beat a defender down the left. His cross looked to have been cut out but Marsden picked up the loose ball. His shot was met by a green shirt, but the clearance hit a team mate and Kemp did well to block the ricochet with a reaction save.

Jason Cadden made a substitution that was to prove pivotal on fifty minutes, replacing Stuart Herlihy with Liam Reynolds. Within eight minutes he had opened the scoring, side footing home firmly from a Towers corner. Kemp made another good save from the unfortunate Husband, before Luke Baker, a half time substitute for Bedworth, was stretchered off following treatment, after coming off worse from a 50-50 challenge with Reynolds. He had looked lively in the short time he was on the pitch, although he was cautioned for scything down James Husband, but thankfully his injury was not too serious, but he was replaced by James Fox as a precaution. The after match diagnosis was a twisted knee, which still sounds painful, and he was seen to be limping in the clubhouse. Bedworth seemed to be shaken by this set back, and they went further behind as the game moved into the final quarter. Josh Blake won the ball outside the penalty area on the left, and stabbed a ball across the goalmouth from the touchline. Jamie Towers steamed in unmarked, and sent the ball back towards the six yard box, where it seemed to hit Blake, and rolled apologetically towards the goal line. Kemp scrambled back to try and claim it, but the assistant on the far side ruled that it had crossed the line.

There were loud Bedworth protests when they felt Adam Kinder had been impeded in the area, as they struggled to find a way back into the game, but Referee Sian Massey, who handled the match firmly but fairly throughout, waved play on. Former United defender Guy Sanders put the seal on the game for Leamington with a thumping header from another Towers corner kick, three minutes from time to send Brakes into Monday's crunch clash with Stourbridge in good spirits. Kemp ensured that Marcus Jackson did not add to the score further, as he punched a dangerous cross out from under his crossbar.

There were bookings for Jamie Williams and Scott Hadland as well as the unfortunate Baker, but overall the match officials did well to keep a lid on things, despite a couple of flash points when things threatened to boil over. Richard Morris kept his 21st clean sheet of the season, and this new look Leamington team looked exciting at times, despite the weather. Hopefully, Cadsey will find the solution to end the Stourbridge hoodoo at Amblecote on Monday.

Leamington: Morris, Towers, Parisi, Sanders, Hier, Herlihy (Reynolds, 50), Hadland, Husband, Marsden (Parkinson, 89), Blake, Jackson.

Subs not used: Dutton, Titterton, Harper.

Bedworth United: Kemp, Lazarus, Jephcott, Pitham, Thackeray, Verna, Spacey (Baker,46, Fox,67), Twigger, Kinder, Simeon Williams, Jamie Williams.

Subs not used: Bartley, Sylla, Cole.