A chastened Saints side will face off in a replay with a second opportunity to progress further in the FA Cup after a battling draw in torrential rain at Midland Premier League side Hanley Town.

The Step 5 side proved determined opponents deservedly taking a lead into the half-time break before a rare Gaz Dean goal levelled and Kevin Wilkin’s side had chances late on to grab a winner.

“It was a tough afternoon for us,” Wilkin said. “Hanley are a strong side and clearly far better than the level they are playing at with some experienced players in their side. Our passing and link up play was not very good in the first half and when you go a goal behind you know you are in for a long afternoon. Credit to the lads, we kept going, we changed it around and gave a better account of ourselves in the second half.”

It was a game of very few goal chances. Lee Ndlovu’s early shot was just wide but it was the home side who scored first through Lewis Dodds on 34 minutes who finished well as Saints failed to clear.

A double substitution at half-time changed both the Brackley personnel and formation with Wes York filling in at left back. Dean headed Saints level on 54 minutes from Shep Murombedzi’s corner kick, Matt Lowe’s header was wide when well placed and only a scrambled clearance denied the visitors an 80th minute lead before Hanley’s Ryan Shotton received an 85th minute straight red card for a foul on Lowe. Lowe’s resulting free-kick effort was well saved. In a rare Hanley chance Dean’s last gasp tackle saved the day for the visitors and the sides will replay at St James Park on Tuesday evening.

“It was a fair result on the day,” Wilkin added. “Hanley didn’t have many moments in the second half but we didn’t in the first half. Take nothing away from Hanley, it was a real game. We have to improve certainly on that first half performance and test the keeper more in those moments we did create in the second half.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Myles, Yusuf, Murombedzi, Lomas, Dean, Lowe, Prosser (York 46), Ndlovu, Rolt (Mitford 89), Cullinane-Liburd (Richards 46). Subs unused: Wise, Worby, Putz.

Attendance: 518