Vanarama National League North
The Big Help Stadium
Haig Avenue
Tuesday 4th March 2025

Brakes completed their third league double of the campaign with a highly efficient and impressive performance on a ground where they have not enjoyed much success in the past, but they certainly enjoyed this victory at Southport on a chilly Tuesday night, which moves them sixteen points clear of the relegation places in National League North. 

Paul Holleran named a starting line up with two changes from Saturday’s impressive victory over Chorley, with Theo Streete and Joe Clarke coming into the eleven in place of Rob Evans and Jack Edwards. Will Shorrock travelled with the squad, but was not involved. 

Both sides pressed forward in the opening moments, Leamington pressing first before Southport went close through Danny Lloyd, the ball flashing just wide. 

Adam Walker then cleared a goalbound shot, before Brakes carved out their first opportunity of the evening when Tim Berridge, so impressive on Saturday, played in Henry Landers, but Sandgrounders keeper Chris Renshaw quickly closed down the space and forced an early shot from the Leamington man, who clipped his effort onto the roof of the net. 

Marcus Carver then saw a drive from distance held by Callum Hawkins. Brakes were standing up well to Southport threat, getting some good blocks in to prevent shots and balls into the box. 

The hosts constructed a neat move that saw Lloyd drive just wide. At this point almost all of the play was happening in the Leamington half, but Brakes were containing their hosts by and large, and looked capable of causing problems at the other end when they were able to break. 

Ward cleared another shot at Hawkins’ goal from in front of his keeper, before Leamington forged their best move of the evening so far. Owen Farmer, Walker and Landers were all involved, the latter spreading play out to Dan Meredith, who cut inside his marker and drove low towards goal. Renshaw had his near post well covered however, but appeared to get a touch on it. Referee Darius Bradley decided otherwise. 

Just as the first half looked to be ending scoreless, Leamington made the breakthrough in added time. From a second successive corner, this time on the left, Ward rose to help Landers’ flag kick on to Berridge, who controlled and lashed an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net. 

Having seen out the opening ten minutes of the second half without incident, Leamington began to push forward again; Williams seeing a drive from distance held by Renshaw, with Landers screaming at his team mate for a pass. 

The Brakes midfielder would get his goal on the hour mark however, after some fine work from a drop ball in which three players converged on a poor touch from the Southport man who received the ball, and Farmer drove down the left and fired in a cross towards the near post. The ball went just behind Berridge but sat up perfectly for the unmarked Landers to drive into the net. 

This set up the final half an hour nicely, but Brakes were indebted to Hawkins, who produced an unbelievable save to deny Lloyd’s header from close range. Keenan Quansah then headed the loose ball wide. 

Farmer cut in from the left again to fire across goal and wide, while a Southport shot flew over the crossbar and Hawkins held another header, but this was Leamington’s game to lose now, and they were not about to let the chance to pick up three points on the road slip. Ant Lynn came on for the final fifteen minutes and put in a tremendous shift, chasing, harrying and not giving the Southport defence a minute's rest, as did Jiah Medrano. Every player gave 100%, and contributed to a fine win on the road which continues a timely upturn in form on our travels of seven points from the last four games, and one defeat in the last eight overall, during which time Brakes have picked up 17 points from 24 available.

The manager was understandably proud of his troops, speaking to us on the journey back to Warwickshire. ‘The timetable of games is difficult at the moment - you could see that looking at the squad tonight - it’s threadbare. I think Southport have had a similar schedule. That probably explained why the game lacked a bit of quality.

‘They certainly started the stronger, we looked a threat on the counter. Prior to Tim’s goal Henry had a really good chance, but I thought in the second half we really got a grip of the game, managed it much better, passed the ball better; scored a great goal, and then had to dig in a bit at the end, which is natural. You’ve only got to look at some of the players they’ve got playing for them - they’ve got a lot of football league experience. But it’s another great result. The last seven or eight games have been really productive, really positive. We’ve shown amazing spirit and character. I’ve had to ask the same players to go again and go again and go again, but sometimes you’ve just got to roll your sleeves up and get on with it. Roll on Saturday and Scunthorpe away! It’s easy to get yourself up for that one. It’s important now to get the rest and recovery in for the players; that’s all we can do really. Hopefully we’ll have at least one back on Saturday, maybe two. 

‘Next week is going to be really tough. Scunthorpe and Kidderminster were probably the two favourites weren’t they, so it’s going to be a big ask, but at the moment we’re answering all the questions, so hopefully we can answer a few more.’  

Attendance: 632 (15 Leamington)

Southport: 1 Chris Renshaw, 4 Owen Lunt, 6 Nathaniel Knight-Percival (20 Luke Burgess, 65), 7 Danny Lloyd, 10 Marcus Carver, 11 Dior Angus (8 David Morgan, 69), 14 Keenan Quansah, 15 Tom Moore, 18 Sonny Hilton, 25 Danny Philliskirk © (9 Jamie Proctor, 80), 29 Aaron Pickles (28 Connor Evans, 80). 

Sub not used: 13 Tony McMillan (GK).  

Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 2 Dan Meredith, 3 Josh Quaynor, 5 Theo Streete, 14 George Ward, 7 Henry Landers (16 Jiah Medrano, 84), 8 Adam Walker ©, 11 Tim Berridge (19 Ant Lynn, 80), 17 Ewan Williams, 21 Joe Clarke, 24 Owen Farmer. 

Subs not used: 6 Rob Evans, 10 Jack Edwards, 20 Jacob Humphries (GK) 

Referee: Mr Darius Bradley

Assistant Referees: Mr Kieran Chell & Mr Ethan Murray

Fourth Official: Mr Dale Wilson 

Brakes Man of the Match: Ewan Williams.

Photos: Paul Edwards & Jack Godbert Brown.