Scunthorpe United 0-0 Brackley Town - Emirates FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round - 16th September 2023

A first-ever meeting of the two teams and an excellent FA Cup tie with chances at both ends finished goal-less as two well-matched sides could not find the decisive moment and will do it all over again in a replay at St James Park.

Danny Newton came closest to a goal in the first half as Cosmas Matwasa’s battling work on the right delivered the ball to Saints’ top scorer who swivelled and struck his shot well bringing a superb save from Ross Fitzsimmons to send the sides in level at the break.

Scunthorpe came out from the interval on the front foot. Danny Elliott’s effort struck the bar and Fin Shrimpton went just wide as Danny Lewis came under pressure. But Saints were resolute and remained a threat without creating the clear opening to break the deadlock.

Substitute Connor Smith hit the post and in added time Elliott brought a flying save from Lewis. Neither side could find the net and both earned a second chance to progress to the next round.

“Both teams were good value and had chances in an entertaining game,” Gavin Cowan said. “Credit to the lads for another incredibly hard working performance. It’s a hard place to come to and we dug in. Scunthorpe like to enjoy the ball and when they get into the groove it’s important to nullify them so I thought we did that for the most part. We know what we did well today and what we need to do better so we’ll take that into Tuesday’s replay.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Carline, Calder, Murombedzi, Lilly (Lyttle 52), Dean, Matwasa, Bates (O’Sullivan 82), Newton, McHale, Roberts (Armson 68). Subs unused: Turner, Worby, Crawford, Cross.

Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimmons, Kelly, Kouogun, Evans, Elliott, Wilson (Smith 74), Butterfield, Shrimpton, Jenkins, Denton, Whitehall (Bennett 78). Subs unused: Chapman, Boyce, Sembie-Ferris, Barrows.

Referee: Alex Sawden Assistants: Martin Beard and Martin Chester

Attendance: 1909 (26 away)

PIC: Kindly supplied by Luke Broughton