Wardens unbeaten run came to a humbling end with a 4-1 loss against an excellent Brinklow side. 

With changes in personal and tactics for Wardens, Brinklow started the game the better of the two sides, taking the lead after just 10 minutes through a slice of good fortune.

A soft shot looked set to be a routine save for Andy Whitehouse in goal, but a huge deflection meant he could only push the ball onto the post before it rolled in.

After going behind Kenilworth began pushing forward but without creating any clear efforts on goal.

The deficit was then doubled on 20 minutes when Brinklow played some excellent football before a powerful shot from the edge of the box took another slight deflection before ending up in the corner of the goal. 

Five minutes before half time Brinklow added another, a long ball forward was met by their captain who excellently finished over Whitehouse from 20 yards out. 

At half time Wardens changed personal and tactics, resorting to their usual style with Alex Waters coming into centre midfield and Eamonn Richards coming on next to Waters. 

This made an immediate impact with Wardens twice going close with set pieces. On 60 minutes a long looping ball from Richards was headed by Harrison Wright, who incredibly managed to loop the ball over the keeper onto the post and in from a tight angle for Wright's third of the season and Richards' fifth assist.

Wardens pushed for another goal and Dan Twigger came close twice when creating his own chances, however both shots were well saved. 

But any thoughts of an unlikely comeback were snuffed out on 80 minutes when Brinklow were awarded a clear penalty and dispatch the ball clinically from the spot for 4-1.

In the closing minutes Brinklow were well on top and had three excellent headed chances which they failed to convert. 

"Brinklow are a really good side and I'm really looking forward to meeting them in the final of the cup on the 18 April," Richards said after the game.

"That result and first half performance was 100% my fault and not the players at all.

"The tactics I put in place was new to the players and in terms of their development wanted to see if they adapt to different tactical instructions.

"I said before the start if it was executed perfectly we'd win but if it wasn't we could be 5-0 down at half time, and despite the lads best efforts it wasn't executed well enough. 

"Second half for the first 30 minutes we were much better and thought we were the better side for that brief period. But Brinklow fully deserved the win. 

"As much as a win would have been lovely this year is about transitioning and development and every game, despite the result is for us learning as individuals and players."