LEAMINGTON will be hoping to quickly put to bed their FA Cup heartache when they return to National League North action this weekend.
Paul Holleran’s men make the trip to Ashton United on Saturday looking for a quick return to winning ways following their 3-2 defeat to FA Cup specialists Stourbridge in the second qualifying round.
Brakes had come from 2-0 down to level the tie in the dying embers on Saturday only for a late Kaiman Anderson strike to secure the win for the hosts.
Leamington were bright in the opening exchanges as Matt Stenson nudged the ball against the post in the opening couple of minutes.
The next chance did not arrive until the 24th minute, with Stenson glancing a header towards goal after winning a free-kick just to the right of the penalty area.
Leon Broadhurst had the first chance for the hosts, glancing a header wide from a free kick.
Junior English recycled the ball well following a throw into the Stourbridge penalty area, sending it across to the far post from the right where Ahmed Obeng chested it down and drove in a shot which was deflected behind for a corner.
Some home fans believed Rob Thompson-Brown had fired them in front as a free-kick was deflected through to him but he lashed his shot into the side netting.
Stourbridge fans were cheering a goal minutes before half-time when Broadhurst netted after Tony Breeden had done well to save Paul McCone’s low drive but the offside flag cut short the celebrations.
The second half was barely two minutes old when the home side moved in front, with Thompson-Brown’s ball in from the right unfortunately put into his own net by Jack Lane.
The game looked lost with 20 minutes to go as the hosts added a bizarre second.
Broadhurst steered the ball first time into the bottom corner from almost 40 yards out after Breeden had come off his line to block a shot from Thompson-Brown.
Stourbridge’s tails were up now and Breeden had to save well at his near post from Kaiman Anderson, but James Wren maintained his side’s advantage with another impressive save, pushing out a thumping header from Stenson who finally got the goal his efforts deserved from the resulting corner as he stabbed the ball home from close range at the second attempt.
Brakes piled on the pressure and got their reward when Stenson bundled home another close range effort to level the scores with only minutes to play.
Anthony Dwyer had a shot blocked as Leamington went for a winner but seconds later they were in despair as Anderson glanced home a right wing cross from substitute Chekaine Steele’s first touch of the game in stoppage time.
