Southport 3-1 Brackley Town - Saturday 10th February 2024

Brackley suffered a first defeat in seven games at 21st placed Southport and in bizarre circumstances. Having conceded just once in the previous five games Saints conceded three times in the final minutes of the game. Leading on 85 minutes against ten-man Southport Saints were heading into third place, six points behind Scunthorpe United in second spot, until the late goal blitz turned things on their head leaving Saints in sixth place.

“The manner in which we lost is not acceptable,” Gavin Cowan said. “This is three points dropped and the points were in our hands. To lose from that position is shocking. In the last ten minutes there was a complete lack of concentration but everything was in our control yet we gave three points away.”

Danny Newton put Brackley ahead on 12 minutes finishing crisply and with great accuracy into the bottom corner as the visitors threatened to score with every attack in a one-sided opening. Southport clawed their way back into the game before the interval twice bringing Gaz Dean into last ditch action to avert the equalising chance.

The second half saw opportunities for Saints to increase the lead. Newton’s free-kick was close, Zak Lilly’s effort was just over, Cosmas Matwasa’s far post header was cleared off the line and Newton’s first time shot from Alfie Bates’ corner kick brought the save of the day from Chris Renshaw.

The game-changing moment came on 85 minutes as Harry Flowers headed the equaliser unmarked from a corner. Within two minutes Southport were in front through a flukey goal as Josh Hmami’s cross defied the attentions of striker and defender to run through beyond Danny Lewis to stun Brackley. A third goal on 92 minutes from substitute Jordan Archer completed the remarkable turn-about that lifted Southport out of the bottom four and left Saints with serious soul-searching on the long trek home.

“We have to put this to bed as quickly as possible,” Cowan said. “I want the players to hurt as I am, my staff are and the fans are because when you lose like that you deserve to hurt. We will come in on Tuesday, re-calibrate, look at it, move on and get ready for two big home games coming up next.”

Brackley Town: Lewis; Calder, Dean, Lilly, Lyttle; Murombedzi, O’Sullivan (Bates 56), Matwasa (Armson 86); Hall (Turner 80), Newton, Roberts. Subs unused: Carline, Gudger.

Southport: Renshaw, Doyle, Flowers, Carver, Walton, Hmami, Arthur (Archer 83), Heath (Thomson 67), Hockenhull, Philliskirk, Russ (Bennett 36). Subs unused: McMillan, Quansah.

Referee: Matt McQuillan Assistants: Martin Parker and Kieran Chell
Attendance: 754