SHOT-SHY Leamington are hoping last weekend’s 3-2 win at National League North title favourites Salford has helped them find their scoring boots, ahead of a home clash with York City tomorrow.

Only bottom-of-the-table North Ferriby, with seven goals, have netted fewer times in the division than the Brakes (15), but Connor Gudger and match-winning sub Kurtis Revan both joined three-goal, joint-top marksman Rob Thompson-Brown on the scoresheet in Manchester.

The victory represented the first time Leamington have hit the target more than twice in a game this season with Paul Holleran’s men having fired blanks in seven of their 16 contests.

All of Thompson-Brown’s efforts, meanwhile, have come from the penalty spot with the Black and Golds’ lack of confidence probably best illustrated by the fact that, when the ex-Kidderminster midfielder was dropped to the bench earlier in the season, keeper and captain Tony Breeden assumed responsibility from 12 yards and converted the opening goal in a 3-2 home defeat to Alfreton.

Ghanaian striker Ahmed Obeng is Leamington’s leading scorer in open play, but two of his three goals came in an opening day victory at Gainsborough.

He has failed to start any of the last seven games and was an unused substitute against Salford.

Leamington, who were promoted last season following an extra-time Southern League play-off final victory over Hitchin Town, are in their best league form this season, however, having taken eight points from a four-match unbeaten run and racked up their first back-to-back wins of the campaign, with a 2-1 home triumph over Bradford Park Avenue, preceding their shock victory in Manchester.

Those results have helped lift the Midlanders up to 17th place – three points clear of the relegation zone.

But, having started the season with five straight home defeats, a record of three points on their own soil also represents the joint-lowest haul in the division.

Former Notts County forward Colby Bishop, who has missed the last two games, remains the only injury doubt for manager Holleran, who will have been in charge for eight years next month.

He has previously managed Kings Norton, Solihull Borough, Halesowen Town and Rushall Olympic, who he guided to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time, where they were beaten 6-0 at Bootham Crescent in 2007.