Gavin Cowan’s side turned in a magnificent all-round team performance of determination, resilience and flair to brush aside National League Hartlepool and progress to the first round proper for the first time since 2020 on a night to remember at St James Park.

“The players deserve great credit,” Cowan said. “They put in a big effort on Saturday on a boggy pitch and tonight physically they looked incredible. You could go right through the team and pick the player of the night there were so many excellent performances. We didn’t start well but we reacted brilliantly, came from a goal behind and thoroughly deserved the win.”

The visitors enjoyed the stronger start and were ahead on the half hour as Joe Grey was brought down in the penalty area and Mani Dieseruvwe converted the spot-kick for his sixth goal of the season. But Saints hit back on 34 minutes, Shane Byrne superbly setting up Morgan Roberts whose shot tested Brad Young conceding a corner. Hartlepool failed to clear from the corner and Roberts fired his side level from close range.

Brackley took charge after the interval Scott Pollock putting his side in front on 52 minutes finishing smartly from George Carline’s long throw. Jonny Maxted saved well from Joe Grey and then Anthony Mancini, Pollock scooped his shot over the bar when well placed before Pollock found himself in space as the Hartlepool defence failed to cut out another Carline long throw and the Brackley striker doubled his tally on the night to ease Saints into a two goal lead with 73 minutes played, a lead they never looked like relinquishing as the visitors pressed but could find no way through.

Brackley Town: Maxted, Carline, Newton, Pollock, Bates (O’Sullivan 90+5), Lyttle, Lilly, Dean, Roberts (Hall 85), Lowe (Craig 80), Byrne. Subs unused: Worby, Cross, Abbey.

Hartlepool United: Young, Dodds (Steel 87), Ferguson, Parkes, Sass-Davies, Mancini (Mathurin 62), Charman (Campbell 77), Grey, Sheron (Sloggett 77), Featherstone, Dieseruvwe. Subs unused: Smith, Onariase, Waterfall,

Referee: Jason Richardson Assistants: Alan Cresswell and Harley McKittrick 4th Official: Simon Kavanagh
Attendance: 755

PIC by Glenn Alcock