Southam are in good heart ahead of curtain-raiser

Tomorrow, Saints take on Southern League Division One Central side Daventry Town (3pm), who sit two steps above Knibbs’ men in the non-league pyramid.

The Town squad features a number of former Leamington players in Mykel Beckley, Josh Blake, Ryan Howell, Richard Morris, Chris Murphy (who played for Saints last season) and Guy Sanders, but despite the gulf between the two sides, Saints will be full of confidence having seen off step five opponents Ardley United last Saturday.

The early chances fell to the Hellenic League Premier Division side, with Joe Eyre blasting wide in the first minute and Steve Howkin setting up Troy Bryan in the third, but Keiran Conway did just enough to force him wide of the goal.

The industrious Howkin then hit a free-kick into the Saints defensive wall from a dangerous position.

Not many chances were coming Saints’ way with Simeon Smith and Robbie Stephans having the best of them.

Conway kept Saints in the match, tipping a well-struck free-kick from Howkin over the bar in the 35th minute, before a cross from Alistair Eiok from the right flashed across the face of the home goal.

Chris Wilson King’s fine run ended with a corner, from which keeper Thomas Soanes spilled the ball, but no Saints forward was on hand to follow up.

Saints opened the second half brightly, with chances for substitutes Martin Thompson and Alex Roberts before Soanes denied Smith with a good save in the 65th minute.

Ryan Caputo gave Saints the lead with a fine strike in the 73rd minute and Smith should have made it 2-0 a minute later, but took too long over his shot and Soanes saved with his foot.

Former Oxford United favourite Kevin Brock, now manager at Ardley, replaced Alistair Eiok with twenty minutes to go, joining his son Harry on the field.

Bryan missed a good chance in front of goal for Ardley and they were made to pay in the 84th minute when Thompson, who had earlier been confirmed as club captain for the season, broke through and drove a low shot into the corner to double Saints lead and seal the match.

“I thought that they were a disciplined and well organised side,” said Knibbs.

“But, we played well throughout and I was happy with our possession and fitness levels.

“We kept a clean sheet and took our goals well and, overall, I have to be pleased with our performance against a higher-rated side.”