"Bucks face Brakes in Monday's promotion showdown"

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

The Bucks take on Leamington in the Southern League Premier Central playoff final this Monday, with both sides looking to return to Step 2 at the first time of asking.

The Brakes were relegated from National League North alongside the Bucks last season, and the Warwickshire club similarly struggled for consistency at the start of the current campaign. However, like the Bucks, Leamington improved as the season went on and eventually finished 3rd. The Brakes lost only three of their last 30 league games – twice to champions Needham Market and, most recently, against the Bucks one month ago.

Kevin Wilkin’s men ran out 1-0 winners at the New Bucks Head that day at the start April. However, that was the Bucks’ first win over Leamington home or away since December 2018, with the five meetings prior to April’s fixture all finishing as draws – including a 1-1 stalemate in Warwickshire earlier this season. Monday’s game, then, is likely to be a tight affair.

In fact, like the Bucks, Leamington’s campaign was first and foremost built on defence. The Brakes had the league’s best defence (32 against) this season, with the Bucks laying claim to the joint-second best backline (34 against). And while Leamington were the division’s draw specialists this year (14), they lost just seven league games all campaign, with only the Bucks losing fewer (6).

Despite their resolute defence, the Brakes have tended to perform better in front of their own fans this season. Five of those seven defeats came on the road, with Leamington picking up 29 of their 71 points on their travels – which is relatively low when compared to the 42 points that they gained at home.

Brakes boss Paul Holleran, who has now been in charge at Leamington for 13 years, he recently marked his 700th game in charge of the club with a 3-0 win at Hitchin. And the former Telford coach has three ex-Bucks in his Leamington squad. Theo Streete, Adam Walker and summer signing Tyrone Barnett have all featured regularly for the Brakes this season. But it’s another summer arrival, young forward Callum Stewart, who has, perhaps, made the biggest impression for the Brakes this season. Stewart, who scored 40 goals for Coventry Sphinx last season, finished as the division’s 4th-highest scorer with 17 league goals this campaign.

The Bucks beat Mickleover 2-0 in Wednesday’s semi final, while Leamington needed an extra time winner from club stalwart Jack Edwards to see off a persistant Redditch outfit after extra time. It now all comes down to Monday’s final to decide who will take their place at Step 2 next season.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

This game is sold out. 

Turnstiles will open at 1:15 pm. It will be cash only in the concourse for food and drinks. Please refer to our playoff arrangements page for full details.

If you were unable to purchase a ticket, you are able to watch a live stream of the game for £9.99.