Owen passes the initial audition to be Batchelor’s goalscoring replacement

Batchelor reached double figures last season on his way to the Supporters’ Player of the Year Award but in his injury-enforced absence, an unlikely replacement stepped up to the mark against the Skrill Premier League visitors.

Craig Owen has notched just once in 85 appearance for Leamington, but the manner in which he took both his goals on Saturday bore the hallmarks of a natural finisher.

The first, following a fine move down the right featuring both Matty Dodd and Stefam Morley, ended with a sweetly struck half-volley from Ricky Johnson’s knockdown, while the second, after an error from Jon Adams, owed much to a calmness of thought as the midfielder stroked the loose ball past the diving Dimitar Evtimov.

In addition to the goals, Owen also provided a reassuring presence in midfield for a home side missing several key players, something Liam O’Neill - standing in for Paul Holleran, who was away on holiday - attributed to his improved fitness.

“Craig is probably technically one of the best players I’ve ever worked with,” said O’Neill. “This summer he has come back fitter than I’ve ever seen him - you can see that’s he’s put lot of work in - and since we returned to training on July 1, he has been our shining light, really.”

Owen’s first-half strikes were no more than the home side deserved against the lacklustre visitors, who showed little of the qualities one would expect from a side playing one division below the Football League.

Dodd was unable to guide Owen’s intelligent cross on goal before the tenth-minute opener, while Brakes were also enjoying plenty of success on the flanks.

Trialist centre-back Sam Oji produced a superb last-ditch tackle to prevent what looked a certain goal for Theo Streete, but it was to prove a rare glimpse of goal for the visitors, who were clearly struggling to adapt to the windy conditions.

Owen’s second, in the 37th minute, failed to rouse Nuneaton from their slumber, with the only anxious moments for the home side coming from the direct running of Wesley York.

There was some improvement from the visitors after the break, with Greg Pearson heading wide when well placed and then shaving the bar with a shot.

However, while a raft of substitutions blunted Leamington’s attacking threat, a tame Stefan Moore shot apart, they never looked in undue trouble at the back, with York’s first-time volley into the midriff of Tony Breeden, the home keeper’s only action of note.

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

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