KENILWORTH 1 LUFFS 3 (06/04/02) Loughborough had to travel deep into the Black Country to get back to winning ways after a disastrous Easter period and then it was a case of never mind the performance look at the result as Blackheath proved to be one of the lesser sides in the division and were there for the taking. From the start of this game Loughborough looked in charge and Gunn had an early shot saved comfortable by keeper Summers while Mcintosh provided the perfect chance for O'Callaghan to finish but his header was easily cleared by Taylor on the line. The Loughborough 'keeper Springthorpe was off his line quickly but this wasn't to be an afternoon where he had that much to do. Blackheath conceded a series of corners and it looked as if McIntosh's corner had curled straight into the net, but Gunn claimed a touch before it crossed the line, whatever it was 0-1 after five minutes and indeed could well have been more. Steve Walker missed a good chance heading into the side netting from a corner before the Black Country side got out of bed. There could have been and should have been a lot more goals at this stage, Gunn missed a sitter from two yards and O'Callaghan could only find the side netting after dazzling the Blackheath defence. It was twenty five minutes before Loughborough could prise open the stubborn Blackheath defence for the second time, McIntosh provided the low cross and Gunn tapped in from close range to make it 0-2. At this stage Loughborough were well in control and going well but it wasn't kept up and Blackheath got a foot in the door. The normally reliable Loughborough defence were caught napping for the third time in three games and although keeper Springthorpe parried the first shot Turton nipped in to make it 1-2 and Blackheath were back in the game. Almost immediately the Loughborough defence were caught square and Turton could well have levelled the scores shooting just over the bar. By half time Loughborough were back in control and doing most of the attacking, but Blackheath by this time were a more formidable opposition the chances to put them well out of the game had been lost. The second half should have seen Loughborough build up a cricket score but Blackheath defended doggedly and basically Loughborough couldn't raise the wherewithal to prize them open. The Blackheath 'keeper Summers went lame but still carried on to make two heroic saves while their central defender Methusilah put the leagues second leading goalscorer O'Callaghan in his pocket. The game fell into a pattern, Loughborough attacked missed, then attacked again, laboriously, Walker wasted a free kick Brookes shot over the top and Gunn, who could have had hit hat trick twice over hit a wild shot over the top. With keeper Summers struggling it cried out for a testing shot and Mcintoshs' free kick looked destined for the bottom corner but the keeper was intent on his bravery medal and fell on the ball at the last minute. Loughborough had lost their magic in midfield and occasionally Blackheath threatened to open the normally tight Loughborough defence. It was not pretty to watch but with their noses in front Loughborough were ready to settle for the 1-2 away win. The third goal came like a breath of fresh air, O'Callaghan finally got away from his marker down the left and picked out defender Philip Bouchard at the back post to score with a textbook header. It made the scoreline look a bit more respectable and gave Bouchard his first goal for Loughborough in three years, it was worth wading through the dross just to see this one. But a win away from home in the Mid Com against anybody is not to be sneezed at and credit the Loughborough side with three away points and still an outside chance in the promotion race. This Saturday Loughborough return to the drome after five away games on the trot and near a thousand miles under their belt and this is the big one at home to Leamington. The descending of the Leamington hordes upon the town of Loughborough, the "Lemmings" drew a record crowd of 1200 at home to Rugby a week ago, there were five hundred when Loughborough visited them early in the season. Now it looks as if Rugby have sown up the league and this becomes a crucial battle for second place for both clubs, Leamington are favourites at this moment Loughborough have no choice, they simple have to beat them just to stay in the race. It would indeed be nice if the Leamington hordes (and a credit to their town they are) could perhaps be matched by a few hundred Loughburians for vocal support, reminiscent of the good old days when the town was represented at a much higher level and indeed supported in the numbers currently enjoyed in the Spa Town.