"Bucks looking to hit top gear against the Brakes"

Match Date : October 28th, 2023 3:00 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : New Windmill Ground
Kick Off : 15:00

The Bucks will travel to Warwickshire this weekend to take on Leamington.

The Brakes were relegated from the National League North alongside the Bucks last season. And while both sides were fancied before the new campaign kicked off, both have struggled for consistency so far.

Leamington made a mixed start to the campaign before a run of 13 points from five games catapulted them into the playoff places. Back-to-back league defeats saw the Brakes slip out of the top five, but a 2-1 win over Stourbridge on Tuesday lifted them back up to 8th, two points above the Bucks. Before that midweek win over the Glassboys, Paul Holleran’s side have lost four of their last five in all competitions.

Brakes boss Holleran has now been in charge at Leamington for 13 years, taking charge of over 670 games in that time. And the former Bucks coach will be aiming for his side to make a swift return to Step 2.

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, who scored 40 goals for Coventry Sphinx last season. Meanwhile, Will Shorrock has recently arrived from Rushall Olympic to bolster the Brakes’ midfield.

But it’s in defence where Leamington have been particularly impressive. The Brakes have conceded just 11 goals in their 12 league games so far, with only the top three having let in fewer. However, the Brakes have only found the net on 16 occasions in that time, which is the division’s worst record outside of the bottom six.

The Bucks have picked up seven points from the last three league games but haven’t beaten Leamington home or away since December 2018, with the last four games between the sides ending in draws. What’s more, each of the last two games at the New Windmill Ground have seen the Bucks recover from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. Kevin Wilkin will no doubt be hoping his side can secure all three points in Warwickshire this time around.

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MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Website: www.leamingtonfc.co.uk

Match information: Tickets can be purchased online in advance via the Leamington website.

Ground Address: Harbury Lane, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV33 9QB