MANAGER Paul Holleran praised Leamington’s resolve as they got back to winning ways in National League North with a 2-0 victory at Blyth Spartans.
After two successive defeats, goals from Jack Edwards and Kieran Dunbar ensured the Brakes came away with the three points and their fourth win of the season on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Tony Breeden also had to be equal to Bradley Fewster’s penalty with 20 minutes to go to deny the hosts from forcing their way back into the fixture.
Although the victory put a smile on Holleran’s face, he was keen to point out his players showed good mental strength to come away with the clean sheet.
“We played good football with a good tempo, but it was also the way we saw out bits of the game, at times when we’ve been susceptible to conceding goals,” he said.
“There’s a penalty decision that’s gone against us but we’ve got away with it.
“I think we deserved that, though, as our performance deserved a clean sheet.
“There were some massive individual performances but more importantly a massive collective team performance.
“It was pleasing for us as a group that the things we’ve worked on and spoken about all went our way.
“The squad was a little stretched but it was an excellent performance.”
Holleran added: “Blyth is always one of the toughest away trips of the season.
“The distance is a factor and Blyth’s home form is always good.
“I think this is the first time I have won here in a long time but it’s the way we won that’s pleased me the most.”
The victory moved Brakes up to eighth in the league standings and after the opening ten games of the campaign, Holleran has been pleased with how the squad has shaped up.
“Ten games in and we have competed in each of them so far, which is pleasing because at times in the first ten games last season we looked out of our depth,” he added.
Brakes visit Stourbridge in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
The winners receive £9,000.
