The 87th-minute goal - his 22nd goal of the season - finally saw off the stubborn resistance of the mid-table BGB Southern League Division One Midlands visitors at a blowy New Windmill.

Jason Cadden's side had to work hard for the victory. It was an uphill battle from as soon as the third minute, when captain Stephen Pratt silenced the home support by heading a left-sided cross past Richard Morris into the net.

It might have been worse as the home side struggled to get going. Michael O'Neill shot just over, Chris Marsh hit the bar and Pratt might have repeated his goal with another free header.

Josh Blake came closest for Brakes while all that was going on, having a header punched away by Paul Taylor. He beat the keeper after half-an-hour, racing on to a fine Mackey through ball and finishing neatly.

The pattern of play continued in the second half, with Dunstable remaining a threat and Brakes failing to create enough of the flowing football home fans have come to expect.

Neal Perrin came closest for the visitors, forcing a fine fingertip save from the diving Morris.

No one could doubt Leamington's desire though and they kept pressing. Ryan Parisi and Jamie Towers worked hard on the flanks without reward, while Stuart Herlihy, Marcus Jackson and the non-stop Craig Dutton patrolled central midfield with varying degrees of effectiveness.

The solid work of defenders Arron Parkinson, Martin Hier and Guy Sanders made the extra attacking effort possible. The Dunstable rearguard was finding it much tougher and Ross Hanley almost put a Towers cross into his own net.

Mackey was determined to break the deadlock himself and finally did so on 87 minutes with a superb shot from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Evesham's 2-1 defeat at Aylesbury made the result all the more important.

Brakes host Chasetown on Saturday (March 8, 3pm), while the Robins are at home to Cinderford and then go to Stourbridge on Tuesday.

Brakes: Richard Morris, Jamie Towers, Arron Parkinson (capt] Guy Sanders, Martin Hier, Craig Dutton, Stuart Herlihy (James Husband 69), Marcus Jackson (Keith Rostill 53), Josh Blake, Ben Mackey, Ryan Parisi. Subs not used: Adam Cooper, Martin Thompson, Andy Harper. Att 560.