LEAMINGTON head to high-flying Chorley in the Vanarama National League tomorrow (Saturday) after a mixed week of results.
The Brakes sit eighth in the table after losing 2-1 at Manchester side Radcliffe on Tuesday and being on the right side of the same scoreline at home to Peterborough Sports on Saturday.
On a drizzly bonfire night, Brakes boss Paul Holleran restored Tim Berridge and Theo Streete to the starting 11 for the first-ever meeting with Radcliffe. Will Shorrock served the final game of his ban and Ted Rowe sat out with injury, while Henry Landers dropped to the bench as the manager altered his usual formation.
Radcliffe did more of the attacking early on, although the home side did look uncertain when Brakes pressed forward. Just after the half-hour mark, Radcliffe took advantage of Leamington mistakes when a fine low strike from Rick Smith nestled into the bottom left hand corner and the score remained 1-0 going into the break.
Just before the hour mark, Landers, only on as a sub for two minutes, levelled things up with a sublime strike into the far corner.
But, within six minutes, Jordan Hulme was given far too much time and drilled a low shot under diving keeper Callum Hawkins into the net to give Radcliffe the win.
Leamington’s 2-1 victory at home to Peterborough on Saturday came thanks to a brace from Cally Stewart. Both goals came in the first half, Stewart heading home a Dan Meredith cross for the first and then slotting home a penalty after Evan Williams drew a foul in the box.
The Brakes will be hoping for more of that against second-placed Chorley at Victory Park (3pm).
