ADAM Walker’s early red card proved costly as Leamington lost 2-0 against relegation-threatened Marine to slip to a third straight defeat in all competitions.
Brakes captain Walker saw red for a knee-high challenge on 19 minutes with the game goalless at the Your Co-op Community Stadium.
The visitors made the most of the extra man as Enock Lusiama and Finlay Sinclair-Smith struck either side of half time to settle the game.
And the result means Leamington sit 17th in the National League North table, six points above the relegation zone.
The game exploded into life on 19 minutes when Walker made a knee-high challenge on Marine’s Chris Doyle which left both players needing treatment.
Once Walker returned to his feet, the referee showed the Brakes midfielder a straight red card to leave the home side down to 10-men with more than an hour still to play.
Marine made the extra man count on 39 minutes as Lusiama finished Andy Scarisbrick’s pass into the top right corner.
And the visitors sealed the points six minutes from time when substitute Sinclair-Smith burst through on goal and slid a shot past Callum Hawkins when one-on-one.
Leamington are next in action against Oxford City on Saturday, February 8 with kick-off at 3pm at the MGroup Stadium.
