BRAKES have qualified for the third qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time in nine years after thumping Wroxham 4-1 at the New Windmill Ground on Saturday.
Despite going ahead on 24 minutes through David Hinton’s 30-yard screamer the hosts were left stunned when Nathan Stone equalised for the visitors before the break.
But second half goals from Matt Dodd, Jamie Tank and Danny Newton ensured Leamington’s name was in the hat for the next round and they will now face Worcester City from the Conference North at home on October 11.
Paul Holleran’s men made a strong start to the game but they failed to really test Ollie Sutton in the visitors’ goal until on 24 minutes when Hinton hit a vicious dipping volley from 30 yards out which sailed past Sutton and into the back of the net.
Stuart Pierpoint then headed wide from a corner as Leamington looked to cement their advantage but it was the visitors who scored next. Remy Gordon burst down the left and fired in a pinpoint delivery which was powered home by the unmarked Stone.
Newton then thumped a header against the Wroxham bar as Brakes looked to regain their rhythm but it was the Yachtsmen who could have gone in front moments before half time.
Gordon provided another quality ball into the danger area only for team mate Christy Finch to miscue his shot right in front of goal.
The hosts re-grouped after the break and got their noses in front for the second time in the match six minutes after the re-start.
Substitute Lee Chilton, whose return to fitness provided a timely boost to the squad having been sidelined since the opening day defeat to Guiseley, fired a cross to the far post where Dodd was steaming in to head high into the net.
The goal seemed to remove a weight from the players’ shoulders and the chances came thick and fast.
Newton headed over from another Chilton cross before the substitute was involved again, setting up Jordan Goddard for a ball into the box that ricocheted nicely for Tank to score his first goal for the club.
It was another Chilton delivery from the left after a pleasing spell of neat possession football from Brakes that saw Newton grab the goal his efforts deserved, rising to power a header back across goal to complete the scoring and ensure that a potential banana skin had been avoided.
James Fry heads towards goal. (s) Photo by Sally Ellis
