Alfreton Town 0-1 Brackley Town Saturday 25 November 2023

Captain Gaz Dean made a scoring return to the side after suspension to send Saints home with three vital points.

The first half saw little goalmouth action, Saints’ best moment coming late when Morgan Roberts broke through but fired high and wide under pressure. Brackley started the second half strongly with Danny Newton twice in goalmouth action, his turn and shot just wide before breaking away from his marker to steer a header the wrong side of the post.

The goal came on 54 minutes as Tommy O’Sullivan’s cross came back off a defender and was directed into the net by a prone Dean.

Alfreton piled on the pressure with an aerial assault, substitute Jake Day shooting fiercely but straight at Danny Lewis, Day firing over from close range as Brackley put bodies on the line and Nathan Newall’s rising drive grazing the cross-bar. Saints withstood an intense final few minutes but stood strong to claim only a second away win in seven games.

“It was an almost perfect away performance and I felt we were worthy of the win,” Gavin Cowan said. “We defended our box incredibly well and our front three were excellent. We went one nil up and had to defend the lead as they make it hard. The attitude, application and endeavour were what we expect and we can’t drop off this now. It was a big effort with elements of quality today and great resilience. It was a big performance today.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Lilly, Gudger, Dean, Calder, Murombedzi, O’Sullivan, McHale (Carline 82), Matwasa, Roberts, Newton.
Subs unused: Bates, Turner, Armson, Love.

Alfreton Town: Willis, Lind, Wylie, Cantrll, Brisley, Perritt, Fester (Day 57), Newall, Taylor, Motley-Henry, Stacey (Waldock 88).
Subs unused: Clackstone, Digie, Askew.

Referee: Elliott Bell Assistants: William Vaughan and Waqar Ahmad

Attendance: 375

PIC by Darren Clay