Braintree Town 3-2 Brackley Town - Emirates FA Cup - 3rd Qualifying Round - Saturday 30th Sept 2023

A dramatic late goal rush turned this tie on its head after Saints took a two-goal second-half lead only to be pegged back before a stunning winning goal saw Braintree advance to the next round.

“We were really pleased with the first half performance and the first part of the second half and were two nil up and seemingly in complete control of the game and in cruise control really but then we got complacent,” Gavin Cowan said. “There is no excuse for it and it is unacceptable. We are disappointed and should not have allowed that last half an hour to happen.”

The first half saw few clear-cut chances at either end. Loan striker Aaron Blair’s shot was deflected just wide and Saints finished the half the stronger. Goals from Dan Turner and Alex Gudger gave the visitors a comfortable lead before The Iron hit back.

Turner recorded his first goal for the club on 57 minutes rounding keeper Jack Sims and being forced wide but having the composure to score from a tight angle with defenders on the line. On 65 minutes battling work by Danny Newton produced a loose ball that Gudger swept into the net from close range doubling the lead.

Turner’s shot and then Gaz Dean with a header almost added to the score-line but the home side gave themselves a life-line with a 71st minute goal from Tom Blackwell before Blackwell turned provider, crossing for Will Davies to head past Danny Lewis to level the score on 78 minutes.
Braintree’s pressure won a series of corners from which Blair struck a perfect and unstoppable volley to put Braintree ahead and complete the come-back.

Six added minutes stretched into eleven and in the dying seconds Saints spurned a double chance at close range somehow failing to equalise and take the tie to a replay instead sending National League South Braintree through and ending Brackley’s FA Cup hopes for another season.

Brackley Town: Lewis, Carline, Lyttle, Murombedzi, Gudger, Dean, Matwasa, Bates (Crawford 90+2), Newton, McHale (Armson 56), Turner (Roberts 86). Subs unused: Worby, Lilly, Cross.

Braintee Town: Sims, Mason, Stevenson, L.Davies (Herschel 63), White, Tompkins, Lambe, Payne (Watt 85), W.Davies, Blair, Blackwell (Carson 90+3). Subs unused: Quantrell, Sparkes, Matshazi.

Referee: G Laflin Assistants: J Perry and R Preca