A game that was staged at Buxton due to continuing problems with the pitch at Farsley was played in atrocious conditions with gales sweeping the ground through the second half in front of a record low attendance as if we had been transported back to the days of BCD (behind closed doors). 18 year old loanee from Stoke City Jake Griffin made his debut while Gavin Cowan could name only two outfield players on the bench due to injury and suspension.

The game was just a few minutes old when injury to Connor Branson was a significant cause for concern, the Celts’ stand-in captain eventually leaving the field after a lengthy stoppage. Farsley then went ahead punishing poor defending, Robbie Fox’s header finding the net after a corner on 16 minutes.

Brackley dominated possession and had chances to level but could not find the finish, Gaz Dean’s header cleared off the line being the closest Saints came to a first half equaliser. After the break the chances came and went, Matt Lowe’s shot was well saved, Connor Hall firing the loose ball over the bar, while Shane Byrne’s free-kick was deflected away.

In added time Farsley lived precariously, twice thwarting goal bound efforts, but also spurning two golden opportunities to double their lead as Saints pushed forward. The equaliser finally came on 93 minutes, Jez Abbey coming off the bench to fire in off the under-side of the cross-bar. The result leaves Farsley teetering above the relegation places and Brackley becalmed in mid-table with a tally of just four points from the last four matches.

“Conditions were atrocious but that is no excuse for us, we were particularly poor today,” Cowan stated. “Concentration and focus were not there and today the players needed to be a lot better. We had enough chances to win the game.”

Brackley Town:  Maxted, Carline, Lyttle (Arlott-John 65), Dean, Griffin, Calder, Lowe, Byrne, Roberts, O’Sullivan (Abbey 65), Hall.   Subs unused:  Worby.

Farsley Celtic: Flavell, Walker, Misambo, Abankwah, Hyde, O’Boyle, Sloane (Ferguson 89), B.Atkinson, Branson (Kondolo 8 (Silva 60)), Fox, Fielding. Subs unused: Sturridge, Pickard.

Referee: Dan England Assistants: Connor Everard and Sam Bailey 4th official: Samuel Wright

Attendance:   77