Brackley moved into 8th place with a deserved win over Leamington in a Boxing Day near-local derby. A sparkling first half performance saw Saints take a two goal lead into the interval before a more tightly contested second period demanded defensive discipline to secure the points.
“First half we were electric, we played some great football and should have been out of sight,” Gavin Cowan said. “Credit to Leamington in the second half who took the game to us but we are disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet. Every point counts and it is an important win.”

The first half goals came from Shane Byrne’s penalty on 33 minutes after a handball from Byrne’s shot and, in added time, Connor Hall headed past Callum Hawkins from Riccardo Calder’s exquisite cross, Hall’s eighth goal of the season to mark the anniversary of his arrival at the club.
Morgan Roberts and Hall were a constant threat, Roberts twice threading a mazy path through the defence only to be thwarted at the last. Hall’s low cross needed only a touch from Matt Lowe or Roberts in the centre and was scrambled clear and the back-heel by Roberts from Calder’s cross needed a sharp save from Hawkins.

Fresh from Saturday’s demolition of leaders Curzon Ashton, Leamington showed their resolve in a determined second half performance. Connor Hall was through on goal but Hawkins saved with his legs to keep The Brakes in the game before Adam Walker’s fierce effort on 80 minutes was pushed away by Jonny Maxted and from the resulting corner substitute Tim Berridge’s header squeezed inside the post to set up a nervous finale. Twice the visitors came close to drawing level before the referee called time on an excellent Boxing Day game that sent the home crowd away full of Christmas cheer.

“Leamington supporters were brilliant and our supporters were, as always, quite incredible so there was a great atmosphere around the ground,” Cowan added. “There is just a good feel around the place. I love being manager here and when we win games there is no better feeling.”

Brackley Town: Maxted, Carline, Lyttle, Dean, Griffin, Calder (Abbey 70), Lowe, Byrne, Roberts, Bates, Hall. Subs unused: O’Sullivan, Arlott-John, Worby.

Leamington: Hawkins, Meredith, Quaynor, Evans (Streete 90+1), Landers, Walker, Stewart, Edwards (Clarke 77), Ward, Williams (Medrano 75), Turner (Berridsge 76). Subs unused: Lynn.

Referee: Tommy Breen Assistants: Stuart Lathan and Zach Cunningham 4th official: Ollie Potter
Attendance: 952

PIC: By Josh Nesden