Brackley travel to Hartlepool this Saturday in the FA Cup, taking on Pools in a fourth round qualifying tie.
Following a dramatic 4-1 win over last year’s dark horses Ramsgate, it would be a ‘blow for blow’ type fixture for the Saints. Scott Pollock would break the deadlock, smashing a great finish into the top left corner to put the Saints 2-1 up, it would be quickly followed by a quick double from Danny Newton and Shane Byrne to put a hard-fought game to bed for Gavin Cowan’s side.

This weekend’s fixture will be Hartlepool’s first FA Cup game of the season, with the National League side starting their campaign with a somewhat mixed bag, with 4 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses. Just in their previous game, Pools would come out on top in a 7-goal thriller at home to recently relegated Sutton United, all thanks to a second half masterclass from Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, who grabbed a 28-minute hattrick.
The hosts boast an impressive record in the FA Cup, reaching the fourth round of the competition six times, most recently in the 2022, where they lost 2-0 to Premier League staple Crystal Palace. Over 101 years ago Hartlepool would win 10-1 in the FA Cup against St Peters Albion, the clubs highest scoring game in the FA Cup.

The Man in Charge:
Darren Sarll is the brains behind the operation at Hartlepool, taking the reins in April of this year.
Previously at Yeovil and Woking, Sarll would guide Woking to the National League playoffs at first attempt, but it would turn bittersweet and being relieved of his duties early into the 2023-24 campaign.

Key Players:
Leading from the front is veteran Gary Madine, who has spent the majority of his career in the EFL, joining as a free agent after his three-year spell at Blackpool was cut short. Madine won promotion whilst on loan at Sheffield United in 2019 but did not play any Premier League minutes as he returned to parent club Cardiff. His most likely partner is Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, the forward has averaged over 0.5 goals per 90 for Pools and will be key threat from set pieces, towering at 6ft 5.

Pulling the strings in midfield is Nicky Featherstone, who has been at the Durham outfit for over 10 years now. He took on a player-coach role at Victoria park in 2023.