PAUL HOLLERAN says Leamington can be proud of their midweek performance after earning a point and a clean sheet against champions elect King’s Lynn Town.
The goalless draw on Tuesday night helped the Brakes build on their previous result, a 1-0 win over Southport, following the postponement of Saturday’s home game with Bradford Park Avenue.
It was, in fact, only the fourth time this season that a team has managed to prevent King’s Lynn from scoring.
And with another positive result on the board against a side much-fancied to go up as National League North champions, Holleran says his charges were more than a match, and were perhaps deserving of winning the encounter.
“It wasn’t a game where we sat around on the edge of our box and defended for long periods,” said Leamington’s manager.
“We tried to be brave and go up against them, I think sometimes you’ve got to take that approach.
“It was a tough night over there earlier on in the season [a 5-2 defeat], but from our perspective Tuesday night was a really good, solid performance.
“You have to be really compact against them because of how many players they commit forward and how quick and sharp their football is.
“You’d probably have to say that the best chance was ours when we hit the inside of the post. Both sides had two or three really good half chances and neither of us have taken them.”
The woodwork was struck early on at the Phillips 66 Community Stadium when Jack Edwards climbed highest to thump a header from Joe Parker’s corner kick onto the far post.
Stephan Morley was next to try his luck, firing a 20-yard effort which required a good save from Town custodian Alex Street.
While Leamington were the side registering more attempts at goal, the visitors were unable to match the hosts for the number of openings created, but always looked a threat when spraying the ball across the pitch.
Adam Marriott was the first opposition player to try his luck, working his way through on goal before thrashing a deadly shot wide of the mark.
A strike from Dayle Southwell went close to breaking the deadlock for King’s Lynn with an effort that whistled narrowly past Lewis Gwilliams’ far post, while his teammate Ross Barrows should have done better with a half volley from a promising position.
Ending goalless at the interval, the beginning of the second half failed to inspire much hope of a breakthrough as a scrappy affair ensued.
Town substitute Michael Gash twice tried his luck to no avail, while Parker’s corner down the other end was spilled by Street into the path of James Mace – only for the ‘keeper to smother the ball as the defender looked to pounce.
With minutes remaining, the hosts almost won the day when Josh Martin’s attempt was kept out on the goal-line by a King’s Lynn defender, while the rebound was sent straight into the goalkeeper’s gloves by Kaiman Anderson.
A trip to Guiseley, who are 11th, now awaits on Saturday (3pm).
