LEAMINGTON began the post Paul Holleran era with a 2-1 victory against Halesowen Town in the third round of the Birmingham Senior Cup.
Goals from Seb Thompson and Tim Berridge ensured the Brakes made a winning start under interim boss Chris Knott at the Your Co-op Community Stadium.
Leamington took to the pitch for the first time this year following successive postponements of their scheduled league fixtures.
That meant Knott began his interim spell in charge of the Brakes against a Halesowen side who play one division below Leamington.
And Knott enjoyed the perfect start to life in the Brakes dugout as Thompson fired into the net with the game just two minutes old after Owen Farmer saw his initial effort blocked.
The home side doubled their lead on 34 minutes when Berridge cut in from the right and beat several defenders before holding off his marker and finding the net.
Halesowen won a penalty four minutes after the break as Demico Burton brought down substitute Ben Cassidy in the box.
However, returning Brakes stopper Rogan Ravenhill denied Jim Kellerman from the spot keeping out the midfielder’s effort down the middle of the goal with his legs.
The Yeltz eventually halved the deficit 10 minutes from time as veteran striker Tyrone Barnett bundled the ball home but the Brakes held on to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
Leamington are next in action against South Shields on Saturday, January 17 with kick-off at 3pm at the First Cloud Arena.
