A SIX-POINT Bank Holiday weekend has manager Paul Holleran jumping for joy, after his Leamington side claimed consecutive 3-1 victories in National League North against AFC Telford United and Kettering Town.
Ravi Shamsi’s brace and a Josh March strike overturned an early deficit to claim victory in Telford, with the latter hitting a brace in Saturday’s win over Kettering, where Jack Edwards was also on the scoresheet.
Holleran was enthused by the manner of Leamington’s Bank Holiday Monday win, and says the performances over the course of the weekend have set the required standard for the rest of the campaign.
“In the past, a result like this might have been seen as a bit of a smash and grab, but today I think we’ve had more of the ball,” he said.
“I think we’ve had more chances, more possession, more crosses, more entry into the final third.
“Saturday was excellent, but today was another step up.
“I ask a lot of these players, I’m always trying to get every drop out of them but they’ve even surprised me today, they’ve set new levels.
The Leamington boss believes the results give the Brakes a platform to build on, and while the season is still in the formative stages, a current position of sixth is certainly not to be sniffed at.
An early lead for hosts Telford put Leamington on the backfoot straight away, with Aaron Williams firing home a rebound from close range after goalkeeper Jake Weaver had initially saved.
Leamington were initially stunned by the deficit and took a while to find their rhythm in the searing August heat, but drew themselves level on the stroke of half time.
After the referee reverted his decision to award a penalty, March made no mistake from the dead ball outside the area, drilling home a low free kick to restore parity.
Shamsi had the first sighter of goal in the second half, meeting Kieran Dunbar’s ball over the top to bring a stunning stop out of Telford shot stopper Corey Addai.
The Iranian was not to be denied a second time though, and after waltzing his way through on goal, flashed a shot into the back of the net via the near post to put the Brakes in front.
Victory was sealed in the second minute of stoppage time, with Shamsi again the goalscorer, this time finishing off a devastating counter attack to earn a third win of the season.
Saturday’s win was a far more straightforward task for Leamington, with Edwards and a penalty from March putting the Brakes firmly in control of the game at half time, before the latter added a second just after the break.
While Weaver was beaten in the dying minutes of stoppage time, it did little to take away from another promising performance by Holleran’s troops.
Leamington next host bottom side Blyth Spartans on Saturday (3pm).
