After ending the pre season on a high of 4 wins in a row, Town’s first league game of the new season ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat in the soaring heat at Brackley.
In a match where both sides struggled to find their feet in the first 45 minutes, chances where few and far between, however, Town had a series of late runs into the Brackley defensive backline towards the end of the first half, both Dominic Knowles and Joe Colbeck coming close but falling short.
The second half saw a flurry of yellows for Town from a trigger happy referee, 4 in total, for Thirlwell, Kerry, Shiels and McWilliams. Despite a series of close battle in the midfield, neither side really took the game, and looked to be ending in a 0-0 draw, even the injection of Brendon Daniels and Lloyd Kerry for Swain and Colbeck couldn’t break Brackley down, Town came undone in the dying moments of the match thanks to disputed free kick, despite Crook going full length to reach it.
Simon Weaver brought on Jordan Thewlis in added time in the last throw of the dice, Thewlis had Town’s best chance too, his strike saved on the line by the Brackley keeper, the rebound failing to connect with Knowles, final whistle, 1-0 to Brackley.
Perhaps not a fair reflection on the match, but Town will feel they could have done better not to have put away their chances.
Next up, Gainsborough at home on Tuesday with a 745pm kick off
Photography: Craig Hurle
Report: John Harrison
