Leamington 2, Nuneaton Town 0

[dutchman]

Craig Owen bags the second of his two goals for Leamington against a below-par Nuneaton Town at The New Windmill Ground on Saturday.

Kevin Wilkin was visibly disappointed with the performance of his Nuneaton Town team as they slumped to defeat at Warwickshire neighbours Leamington in their final warm up game before the real action begins on Saturday.

Both sides were shorn of key players with Andy Brown, Amari’i Bell and James Armson unavailable for Boro – while Simon Forsdick is a long-term injury victim.

The hosts, who ply their trade in Skrill North, were without six of their first team squad but showed more appetite for Saturday’s encounter than their local rivals.

Wilkin had stressed the need for Boro to be more clinical in front of goal after they spurned a number of chances at Solihull Moors on Tuesday, but there was little evidence of that at The New Windmill Ground as they barely conjured up a decent effort on goal over the full 90 minutes.

Greg Pearson looked their biggest attacking threat, having a goal ruled out for offside before being denied by a well timed challenge from former Tamworth defender Sam Oji inside the six-yard box.

Prior to that, Leamington had taken a 10th minute lead through a fine Craig Owen half volley.

Matt Dodd hoisted a useful ball in from right touchline and Ricky Johnson knocked down for Owen to strike first time into the top corner.

Dimitar Evtimov had looked nervy in the opening exchanges, parrying a cross from Dodd and diving over another from Johnson.

He should have perhaps done better with Owen’s second of the game on 37 minutes.

The midfielder robbed Jon Adams 25 yards from goal with a firm challenge, and then thumped home a low curling drive that hit the bottom corner before the young Bulgarian could attempt a save.

Gavin Cowan and Delroy Gordon were introduced after half time as Nuneaton changed formation in an attempt to improve their fortunes.

Pearson crashed in a shot that clipped the bar after good work from David McNamee, as Nuneaton began the second half brightly.

But with the tempo of the game slowing as substitutions from both sides fragmented proceedings, there was precious little in the way of scoring opportunities for either side.

Wes York directed a smart volley at Tony Breeden from Liam Daly’s loose defensive header, but with the Skrill Premier opener at Macclesfield Town now looming large for Boro, it was difficult to draw positives from Saturday’s display.

LEAMINGTON: Tony Breeden, Alex Taylor (12 Sam Adkins, 38), Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, Liam Daly, Sam Oji, Matt Dodd (16 Josh Thompson, 76), Craig Owen (17 Jonathan Bukasa, 85), Stefan Moore (18 Ryan Coyle, 79), Ricky Johnson (15 Lee Moore, 67), Lee Chilton (14 James Husband, 73).

BORO: Dimitar Evtimov (19 James Belshaw, 50), Gareth Dean, Adam Walker, Jon Adams (4 Gavin Cowan, 46), Louis Moult (17 Connor Taylor, 73), Theo Streete, David McNamee, Danny Sleath, Wes York, Greg Pearson (20 Phil Trainer, 68), Mark Bell (15 Delroy Gordon, 46).

ATTENDANCE: 380.