Brackley Town 3-1 Scunthorpe United - Tuesday 19th September 2023 - FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round Replay

Brackley and Scunthorpe followed up Saturday’s excellent cup tie with a scintillating game that Saints won coming from behind with late goals to go through to face Braintree Town in the next round.

After a cautious opening as both sides tested each other out, Gavin Cowan’s side dominated the game but fell behind to a clinical strike by Danny Elliott on 25 minutes in Scunthorpe’s only goal attempt of the first half. Brackley were denied five times by resolute defending and Ross Fitzsimons as Dan Turner and Dom McHale’s efforts were blocked before Turner’s close range header was well saved and twice Turner’s shots were kept out by an inspired Fitzsimons.

Undaunted by the loss of captain Gaz Dean to injury on 20 minutes a re-organised Saints side were on the front foot and maintained the momentum after the break, Danny Newton seeing his 49th minute penalty saved only for Turner’s effort from the rebound to strike the crossbar in a double let-off for The Iron.

Elliott broke away and shot over in a rare attack by the visitors as Saints pressed for the equaliser. It came on 86 minutes as Tyler Lyttle finished well from a cross beating Fitzsimons at his post in composed fashion. With nine minutes of added time both sides sought a winner. Cosmas Matwasa’s shot could only be pushed away by Fitzsimons as Brackley won back to back corners and at the other end Jack Jenkins’ fierce effort found the woodwork.

With 97 minutes played Danny Newton collected the ball and from 25 yards unleashed a shot that flew into the top corner with unerring accuracy to atone for the earlier penalty miss and score the undoubted goal of the round to give Saints the lead.

In the 100th minute Dom McHale was felled in the penalty area and took the spot kick himself to seal the win and cap a terrific night of cup football and a night for all at St James Park to remember.

“It was a very entertaining game and we are pleased to come out of it with a thoroughly deserved win,” Cowan said. “We bossed the game from start to finish and were disappointed to find ourselves behind at the break but the lads deserve full credit because they were incredible tonight. We lost our captain and had no recognised centre back on the pitch so that makes the performance even more impressive. Their bravery on the ball and courage came through. They did everything we had asked of them after Saturday. We wanted to drive a stake in the ground for ourselves as a measure of where we are and they have done that and got the win against a very good Scunthorpe side.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Carline, Calder, Murombedzi, Lyttle, Dean (Turner 21), Matwasa, Bates (Cross 71), Newton, O’Sullivan (Armson 83), McHale. Subs unused: Roberts, Crawford, Worby, Tibbetts.

Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimons, Kelly, Kouogan (Boyce 75), Evans, Elliott, Wilson (Sembie-Ferris 46), Butterfield, Shrimpton, Jenkins, Denton, Bennett (Whitehall 72). Subs unused: Chapman, Smith, Barrows.

Referee: Dean Skipper Assistants: Tom Hood and Neal Templey

Attendance: 491