Brakes claim the Southern League title, only this time there is a happy ending

Manager Paul Holleran is hoisted aloft at the final whistle after Brakes clinched the Southern Premier League title at Bideford. Pictures: Gary Learmonth

On the final day of the 1982/83 season, with Graham Allner’s side having won the title with a 4-1 success over Poole Town, the club was shattered by the news that Automotive Products were to sell their Windmill Ground to developers, a decision that was to send Brakes on a terrible downward spiral that resulted in them not playing a game for 12 years.

A dedicated band of supporters refused to give up, however, and the amazing rise from the ashes saw a new chapter written at The Sports Ground as the present-day team emulated their predecessors by winning the title once again.

Roared on by a 250-strong travelling support, Brakes struggled to get going during the first half against a Bideford side who were not mathematically safe from relegation.

Richard Batchelor calms Leamington nerves with the winning goal at Bideford.

Sean Downing was the hosts’ obvious dangerman and the former Plymouth Argyle youngster volleyed an early effort over the bar and then flicked on a dangerous free-kick into the box from which Kevin Squire’s header forced Laurie Walker into a fine save.

Moments later, Downing sent a diving header inches wide of the upright when he really should have scored.

In between, Ricky Johnson forced Bideford keeper Tim Sandercombe to parry his goalbound header after Martyn Naylor had played a free-kick back into the area, and Liam Daly’s effort from a corner was held under the bar.

Downing was continuing to cause problems, however, and was played clear after a stray pass from Naylor was pounced on inside the Leamington half. Fortunately, James Mace was alert to snuff out the danger.

Substitute Richard Groves then sliced a shot from a great position inside the box as Bideford cranked up the pressure on their nervy visitors.

The visitors, who were forced to bring on James Husband for the injured Stephan Morley at the break, came more into the game in the second half, Daly glancing a header straight at Sandercombe.

An almighty scramble in the Leamington penalty area saw them eventually get the ball clear, while Rob Farkins looped a header over the bar, but this was merely a precursor for the only goal of the game.

The ball was played back to Liam Daly, who neatly sidestepped a lunging challenge before firing the ball high up the wing. Johnson glanced it on into the path of Batchelor, who evaded a sliding challenge to fire in a first-time shot from an acute angle that squeezed under the body of Sandercombe and into the net.

Only a point was required to extinguish the stubborn challenge of Stourbridge, but Walker ensured Brakes claimed the title in style by pulling off a fine save to keep out a well-struck free-kick from Groves with almost the last kick of the game.

Bideford: Tim Sandercombe, Ian Sampson, Connor Clifford, Sean Downing, Rob Farkins, Aaron Harper Penman, Matt Hockley (Richard Groves, 28), Matt Bye, Kevin Squire, Nick Barker, Matt Andrew. Subs not used: Ben Wood, Jack Furzer, Billy Tucker.

Brakes: Laurie Walker, Martyn Naylor, Stephan Morley (James Husband, 46), Joe Magunda (Sam Adkins, 90), James Mace, Liam Daly, Craig Owen, Lee Chilton, Stefan Moore (Lee Moore, 87), Ricky Johnson, Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Tom Berwick, Niall Cooper.