Brackley return to winning ways in a hard-fought win at St James’ Park courtesy of two fine strikes by Connor Hall and Miracle Okafor, following a frustrating loss to Kidderminster Harriers in Midweek.

“We came off a really good effort on Tuesday and have just repeated that with the best version of ourselves” Brackley manager Gavin Cowan said. “We’ve just beat a team 2-0 and kept a clean sheet, that team had just won their last 4! In perspective, that’s an unbelievable win.”
It was an end to end start in Sunny Northamptonshire, with the first threat to the Saints goal coming early on from Harry Green, his set piece effort just glancing wide.

Jonny Maxted’s heroics kept the Saints in the tie, including a long-range strike from Alex Brown, which Maxted prevented from flying into the top left-hand corner.
On the stroke of half time the Saints would break the deadlock through Connor Hall, who drilled it in from close range after Gareth dean’s flick on to raise the mood around St James Park.

The Saints came out the second half all guns blazing, with a fired up Connor Hall hungry for a second strike, but on the 50th minute, Seadogs Captain Alex Purver would be involved in a peculiar stoppage, running over Referee Matt Jackson resulting in a notable pause in play.
Jonathan Greening’s Scarborough had plenty of the ball in the second half, however a commanding performance from Zak Lilly prevented the visitors from having any real sniff of Brackley’s net. Lilly, leading from the back, maintained composure and won every duel to keep Brackley’s title hopes alive.

A relentless Miracle Okafor would eventually steal the ball off Goalkeeper Ryan Whitley, allowing a tidy finish into an open net, summing up a lack lustre afternoon for the Seadogs.

“Since my tenure at the club we’ve been spoilt with free-flowing football and goal fests. What makes Brackley the side we are is that we have players and supporters who believe in what we do.” Gavin Cowan would look on to the Saints next challenge “For now, we’re not going anywhere we’ve got to concentrate on what we’re doing, the only thing in our sights now is South Shields next week.”

Written by Tyler Habib

Referee: Matt Jackson

Brackley Town (3-5-2) Maxted; Lyttle, Dean©, Lilly, Lowe (Abbey 95’), Byrne, Bates, Carline, Pollock (O’Sullivan 76’), Newton (Donawa 88’), Hall (Okafor 73’) Sub unused: Riccardo Calder.

Scarborough (4-2-3-1) Whitley, Weledji, Thornton©(Waldron 45’), Maltby , Brown , Purver, Dom Tear(Maloney 75’), Green (Duckworth 63’) , Colville, Walker (Reed 31’), Bennett ( Mulhern 75’)