HENRY Landers scored an injury time winner on his Leamington debut as the Brakes began the season with a 2-1 win against newly-promoted Long Eaton United.
Landers struck in the first minute of time added on to seal victory after Jack Lane’s opener was cancelled out by Cameren Philip’s second-half goal at the Your Co-Op Community Stadium.
The result means Leamington sit ninth in the Southern League Premier Central table after one fixture.
And the Brakes took the lead on 16 minutes when Lane slammed the ball into the back of the net from Tyrone Barnett’s knock down following a cross from the left.
The home side were firmly on top as Landers controlled Lane’s cross and forced Long Eaton goalkeeper Ross Durrant into a scrambling save.
And Landers went close again on the stroke of half time as a combination of a Long Eaton defender and goalkeeper Durrant kept out the striker’s effort.
However, Long Eaton equalised three minutes into the second half when Philip headed Kameron Campbell’s cross from left past Leamington goalkeeper Callum Smith at full stretch.
The leveller sparked the Brakes into life as substitute Callum Stewart almost made an immediate impact playing in new club captain Adam Walker who clipped the outside of the post.
More chances came and went as Landers drove a shot inches past the post while Stewart also fired an effort straight at Durrant.
Long Eaton remained a threat at the other end and almost snatched the points late on as Smith made a superb reaction save to tip Riece Bertram’s powerful shot over the bar.
However, the Brakes finally found a way through in injury time as Landers stabbed the ball home from close range from Stewart’s excellent low cross much to the delight of the Harbury Lane End.
Leamington are next in action away at Coalville Town on Saturday, August 12 with kick-off at 3pm at the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium.
