PAUL Holleran hailed Leamington’s impressive 3-0 thumping of visitors Farsley Celtic on Tuesday night as one of their best performances of the season.
The Brakes will be seeking to avenge their FA Cup exit when Kettering Town come to the Your Community Co-op Stadium for their National League North contest on Saturday.
And they head into the clash in upbeat mood after goals from Joe Parker, Jack Lane and Dan Turner accounted for Farsley.
The game had been delayed 45 minutes after the Yorkshire visitors had been stuck in M1 traffic and Holleran admitted it was tough for them to prepare.
“You feel for Farsley,” said Holleran told the Brakes website.
“I do question the fixtures. I get Covid, I get FA Cup, fixtures have to be moved and you have to deal with things but I think at the start of the season when Farsley are coming here as part of the fixture list and Leamington are going to Farsley on a Tuesday after Christmas I just think there could be a little more common sense with that.
“Sadly they’ve been caught up with the closure on the M1. We tried to be as helpful as we could, but I would say that’s affected them a little bit, but taking nothing away from us.
“They’re a good side, Farsley. Down the middle of the pitch you’ve got to be really strong, aggressive and competitive to stay with them, and then it’s being brave enough to try and go down the channels and play wide, and that’s where I was really pleased with us tonight.
“I thought the combinations out wide – the quality – was tremendous. We’ve had some good performances here this year but that one was right up there. It’s been a good night for us.”
Brakes keeper Jake Weaver was the early hero, however, saving a penalty from James Hanson after ten minutes. After that, however, the Brakes ruthlessly took their chances when they came.
Parker collected Kieran Cook’s inviting pass to fire home on 22 minutes for the opener and Parker then turned provider eight minutes later with a free-kick delivery for Lane to nod home.
The tireless Turner settled the contest with 20 minutes to play, nipping in for his seventh goal of the season.
The Brakes’ defensive prowess had been tested last Saturday in a 1-1 draw at Darlington.
Kevin Dos Santos gave the hosts the 18th minute lead but Leamington levelled just before the half-hour after Turner escaped to collect Lane’s pass and score.
