EWAN Williams was the hero as Leamington secured an immediate return to the National League North with a 1-0 victory against AFC Telford United in the play-off final.
Williams scored the game’s only goal on 73 minutes to stun Telford at New Bucks Head as Paul Holleran’s side sealed promotion after just one season in the Southern League Premier Central.
Holleran has now secured three promotions with Leamington during his 700-plus game tenure.
Backed by 650 travelling supporters, the Brakes spurned an early chance as Cally Stewart fired a tame effort straight at Telford goalkeeper Brandon Hall.
Telford responded with a chance of their own as Montel Gibson dragged a shot across goal and narrowly wide of the target.
The home side went close again when Ellis Myles-Tebbutt drove a shot straight at Callum Hawkins before Orrin Pendley clipped an effort into the side netting.
And after Jack Edwards saw his header saved and Gibson nodded over the bar at the other end, the teams went into the break all square.
The Brakes forced Hall into a save early in the second period as Stewart jinked his way into the box before driving a low effort towards the near post with the Telford stopper equal to the shot.
Telford looked to make home advantage count as Gibson went close with an acrobatic effort before Remi Walker’s free-kick from distance whistled narrowly over the crossbar.
However, the Brakes broke the deadlock when Williams turned home Josh Quaynor’s cross at the back post to send the 650 travelling fans behind the goal into delirium.
The home side went in search of an equaliser as Gibson sent a powerful header just over the bar before Hawkins claimed a high ball and the final whistle sounded as the Brakes defied the odds to secure a return to the National League North at the first attempt.
