It was Stratford who ended Leamington's unbeaten run in the Polymac Services Midland Alliance campaign of 2006/07 and, just like Stourbridge, they are becoming a thorn in the side of Jason Cadden's team, this time halting an encouraging run of pre-season results.

That said, this victory did not require too much effort from the home side as their two goals came gift-wrapped courtesy of the Brakes defence and the match was all over inside the first eleven minutes.

Stratford's Matt Gasper had two chances early in the game. His first shot deflected for a corner and he then put the ball over the bar following good work by former Racing Club Warwick player, Matt Blair.

The opening goal came in just the fifth minute as former Brake Richard Adams found Gasper. With keeper Richard Morris clawing at the air instead of gathering the ball, Jozsef Jakab had the easiest of chances.

The second arrived on 11 minutes when Ryan Parisi passed back to Morris who, unable to pick the ball up, tried to clear with his feet, only to mis-kick and give Jakab an even easier chance.

Jamie Towers tried to bring Brakes back with some telling runs down the right and in the 16th minute Mark Bellingham collected one of his passes.

The in-form striker turned and shot in one movement, but Chris Jay gathered comfortably.

Bellingham then had the best chance of the half in the 37th minute, but Jay tipped his fierce shot over the bar.

Although Brakes did up the tempo in the second half, chances were few and far between.

David Care, who had replaced Towers, put in a telling cross on 73 minutes which was met by Steve Palmer but his shot rose over the bar.

Luke Corbett did manage to get the ball in the net with ten minutes remaining but his effort was ruled off-side.

Manager Jason Cadden, said: Some of the players were feeling the effects of the effort against Solihull Moors on Saturday, but I don't want to offer that as an excuse.

"We didn't start the game well and it was a big disappointment to lose like that after three good performances. We will learn from the experience."