"Bucks aiming to confirm playoff place against Leamington"

Match Date : April 6th, 2024 3:00 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 15:00

The Bucks take on Leamington this weekend in what could be a dress rehearsal for the playoffs.

The Brakes were relegated from the National League North alongside the Bucks last season, and similarly initially struggled for consistency at the start of the current campaign. However, like the Bucks, Leamington have improved as the season has gone on. The Brakes currently sit in 5th and have lost only two of their last 24 league games, with both defeats coming at the hands of leaders Needham Market.

Like the Bucks, Leamington’s campaign has been built on defence. The Brakes have the second-best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 29 goals in 35 games, and their backline has only been breached once in the last four games. That record will no doubt be pleasing for Brakes boss Holleran, who has now been in charge at Leamington for 13 years. Holleran recently marked his 700th game in charge of the club with a 3-0 win at Hitchin.

The Leamington squad includes three former Bucks in Theo Streete, Adam Walker and summer signing Tyrone Barnett. Holleran also strengthened his forward line in the offseason with the arrivals of Henry Landers (Banbury) and Callum Stewart. Youngster Stewart, who scored 40 goals for Coventry Sphinx last season, has impressed with 12 league goals this campaign. Meanwhile, in February the Brakes recruited Halesowen captain Rob Evans, who bagged the only goal of the game when Leamington beat the Yeltz 1-0 in the Brakes’ most recent outing.

The Bucks haven’t beaten Leamington home or away since December 2018, with the last five games between the sides ending in draws. But the Bucks were a touch unfortunate to come away from Warwickshire with only a point earlier in the season, with Leamington earning a 1-1 draw courtesy of a more-than debatable penalty decision. If Kevin Wilkin’s men can secure all three points this time around, the Bucks will confirm their place in the playoffs.

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MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for Saturday’s fixture will remain on sale up until kick-off and are available for purchase online in advance. See our ticketing page for further details.