RUGBY Borough upstaged Leamington to claim a 2-1 pre-season victory against the Brakes on the club’s first-ever visit to Kilsby Lane, writes Jacob Scandrett.
Goals from Cameron Collins and Corey Armeni put Borough in command before Kyle Finn reduced the deficit for the Step Three visitors.
Borough created the first chance of the game with Collins firing a shot over the crossbar from the left hand side of the penalty area.
Leamington bounced back shortly after as a trialist forced a good save out of the home goalkeeper Marcus Bald.
Brakes keeper Cian Tyler then sprang into action, as he denied Wes York twice and held Collins’ powerful header on the line.
And Borough eventually broke the deadlock moments before half time as Collins touched home a cross from the left after Tyler denied the same player seconds earlier.
The home side remained on top after the club as Tyler touched Manny Nnaji’s bouncing effort behind.
And Rugby’s continued pressure led to the home side doubling their lead on 53 minutes as Armeni slotted a low effort into the net after Raj Palit lost possession 20-yards from the Leamington goal.
However, the Brakes responded on 70 minutes when Finn controlled Owen Farmer’s cross and skipped past a couple of challenges before finding the back of the net.
Leamington looked to restore parity with a close chance coming from Palit who drove a shot inches past the post.
In the closing stages, the visitors pushed for an equaliser but could not find a leveller as Farmer headed into the side netting and Palit lashed a late free-kick over the bar.
