SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD GB and Ire unless stated -8 P Broadhurst, J-F Lima (Por) -7 S Dyson, B Lane -6 I Garbutt, S Little, Pa. Lawrie, C Monasterio (Arg)

The Englishman is alongside home favourite Jose-Filipe Lima, who carded 65, on eight under par.

The pair were one shot clear of English duo Simon Dyson - whose 64 broke the course record by a shot - and Barry Lane, who compiled a steady 67.

England's Ian Garbutt and Stuart Little were among those on six under, as was former Open champion Paul Lawrie.

Former Ryder Cup man Broadhurst, looking for a first win in 10 years, put his good form down to his mental coach John Pates.

Broadhurst said: "Everything was going to the right in practice and I just couldn't see how I could get round the course. So I came in early before the first round to work on that.

"But my sports psychologist earned his money - he suggested I was getting too uptight and that was causing me my problems."

Meanwhile, Lane, who won last year's British Masters following a 10-year barren spell of his own, said he is relishing another final-round scrap with Broadhurst.

I have been hitting the ball so well for the last year or so and I am very happy Barry Lane

Lane was trailing Broadhurst by one stroke going into the final round of at Forest of Arden.

"It is good to see us both up there, especially as we have been playing on the tour together for about 18 years," said Lane.

"It is just getting better and better for me. I have been hitting the ball so well for the last year or so and I am very happy."

Lima, born in France, adopted his Portuguese parents' nationality at the end of 2004.

And while he was happy to be enthusing his 'new' supporters, he was disappointed with his finish, dropping a shot by missing the 18th green.

"It was all my fault," he said. "My caddie told me to go for the middle of the green with my second shot and I played for the flag."

Lima - who won his maiden European Tour title last year, the St Omer Open - knows he could create a new record if he were to win as a Frenchman and a Portuguese.

He said: "It is a strange situation, but I like the pressure."