North Ferriby 3 Leamington 1: Travel-sick Brakes again blighted by first-half failings at Church Road

Paul Holleran made changes to the side that had won so convincingly against Hyde the previous Saturday, resting Lee Chilton and Jordan Goddard, who picked up a nasty gash to his leg against Hyde, while Stuart Pierpoint and Matt Dodd dropped to the bench, allowing James Mace, Aron Wint, Jack Edwards and Richard Batchelor to start.

Brakes kicked off just ahead of their hosts in the table, but the Villagers looked like they could score at will during the opening stages.

After hitting the post early on through Dan Clayton they took a fifth-minute lead when Jason St Juste swept the ball into the far corner, doubling their advantage just ten minutes later when Liam King scored what looked a slightly fortuitous goal, the player slipping as he looked to cross it and seeing the ball loop over Neil Collett and into the net.

Leamington tried to respond and had two shots blocked on the edge of the box before a swift breakaway in the 25th minute gave hope to the vocal visiting contingent, Danny Newton speeding onto a through ball to charge in on goal before unselfishly knocking it square for the unmarked Moore to slot home.

Unfortunately that was as good as it got for the visitors.

Ferriby struck the top of the bar before adding a third goal 12 minutes before the break, Nathan Jarman forcing the ball home after an almighty scramble in the Leamington six-yard box.

A free-kick also whistled dangerously past Collett’s right-hand post before the half-time whistle.

The Villagers, and skipper Russell Fry in particular, were dangerous from direct set plays throughout and sent another one inches over the bar early in the second half, but other than that they seemed content to hold on to their advantage, which they managed to do fairly comfortably.

Newton had Leamington’s only other effort on target, a stinging volley from the left just inside the box that was matched by a superb save from Adam Nicklin.

Mace fired over from a good position at the far post as he met a free-kick, while Moore almost got through on goal but his first touch carried the ball through to Nicklin.

North Ferriby United: Adam Nicklin, Nathan Peat, Josh Wilde, Liam King, Gregg Anderson, Danny Hone (Matt Wilson, 36), Dan Clayton (Jonathan D’Laryea, 70), Russell Fry , Tom Denton, Nathan Jarman, Jason St Juste. Subs not used: Tom Nicholson, Adam Bolder, Louis Bruce

Leamington: Neil Collett, James Fry, Stephen Morley , Joe Magunda (Lee Moore, 68), Jamie Tank, James Mace, Aron Wint (Matt Dodd, 67), Jack Edwards, Stefan Moore, Danny Newton, Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Stuart Pierpoint, Liam Maher, David McNamee.