Mace deals decisive blow as Brakes go top

eague placings mean little in the early stages of the season but another assured display was evidence of the growing confidence and team spirit in Paul Holleran’s squad.

Still without Dean Perrow and Stephan Morley, Lee Moore was also unavailable for this game.

Craig Owen stepped in to support Tom Berwick, along with Lee Chilton.

The early stages highlighted the contrasting playing styles of both sides, but there was little in the way of goalmouth action at either end.

Brakes looked to use the width of the pitch, spreading play at every opportunity.

Robins keeper Darren Chitty pushed out a dangerous low cross from Lee Chilton as Leamington continued to probe for the opening goal, and this pattern continued into the second half, as the noisy travelling faithful cranked up the volume.

Frome registered their first effort on target with an hour played but Kevin Sawyer saved a weak shot with ease.

There followed a brief period of pressure on the Leamington goal, and a shot cleared the crossbar, but when Tom Evans collected his second yellow card in a matter of minutes the pendulum began to swing in favour of the visitors.

A needless shove on Dodd almost on the touchline reduced the home side to ten men, and they collected a further caution before going behind on 70 minutes.

Richard Batchelor did superbly to pull the ball back from the dead ball line into the perfect space right in front of goal, and Tom Berwick simply couldn’t miss, heading in from almost on the goal line.

Liam Daly was close to adding to the lead when his free kick whistled over the bar, before Lewis Powell managed to get the better of Jamie Hood as they chased the ball back towards the Leamington goal.

He squeezed a shot past Kevin Sawyer but the ball rolled in front of goal and with no attacking player to follow it up it was cleared away.

The second goal nine minutes from time made things more comfortable for Brakes, and was the result of a swift break away.

Slick passing across the edge of the Frome penalty area saw Dodd and Chilton work the ball into the path of James Mace, who barely had to break stride as he swept the ball low inside the near post.

Despite the game looking sewn up Leamington continued to search for more goals and were applauded from the pitch by the raucous band who had travelled south in support.

Speaking after the match, Brakes manager Paul Holleran said: “It was a job well done and I take my hat off to the players. Many of them had done a days’ work before the long trip and they all put a shift in.

“We know we’re only six games into the season but it’s nice to have those points on the board.

“We’re 18 games unbeaten in this league now so there’s a buzz about the place and long may it continue.”

*Attention now turns to the FA Cup and the visit of Stourbridge to the New Windmill Ground tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).