Scunthorpe United 1-0 Brackley Town Sat 7 Oct 2023

A third meeting of the two teams in three weeks produced another absorbing encounter won by the home side through Jacob Butterfield’s free-kick on the hour spurred on by a hostile and vociferous home crowd.

There were few chances at either end in an even and well-contested game. Danny Lewis saw Butterfield’s early effort late and saved well before Will Evans struck his shot cleanly but wide while for Saints Danny Newton created space but saw his shot blocked in a first half where the visitors did their job as a pumped-up and passionate Glanford Park crowd cheered every kick.

Brackley began the second half strongly, Cosmas Matwasa’s shot bringing a fumble from Will Fitzsimon and Newton’s fierce effort pushed away by the keeper. On the hour mark a break on goal by Scunthorpe led to a foul 25 yards out and from the free-kick Butterfield found the top corner to bring delirium to Glanford Park.

Brackley pushed to find an equaliser but there was no way through. The day belonged to The Iron and their supporters at the end of a turbulent and traumatic week at the club.

“It was a closely contended game and it is a frustrating one for us,” Gavin Cowan said. “We were undone by the free-kick which sometimes you just have to hold your hands up to. Credit to the players who stuck to the game plan for large parts but when we went a goal down we just couldn’t find that something to get ourselves back in it. The atmosphere was something we had to contend with and the big crowd but it is still eleven versus eleven on the pitch.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Carline, Calder (Roberts 86), Murombedzi, Gudger, Dean, Matwasa (Cross 88), Bates, Newton, McHale, Armson (Turner 77). Subs unused: Lyttle, Lilly.

Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimons, Ogle, Evans, Boyce, Elliott, Wilson (Kelly 89), Bennett (Whitelall 72), Butterfield (Shrimpton 85), Scales, Jenkins, Denton. Subs unused: Smith, Barrows.

Referee: Oli Mackey Assistants: Ceri Williams and Scott Mason

Attendance: 5,063

PIC: Kindly supplied by Luke Broughton