Brackley Town 0-0 Farsley Celtic Vanarama National League North - Saturday 2nd March 2024

After Tuesday’s impressive win over Chorley this was a missed opportunity for Brackley as the battle for play-off places hots up.

Brackley dominated possession and chances without finding the moment to break the deadlock. Farsley were restricted to rare threats on goal but defended stoutly to pick up a hard fought away point.

“I thought our performance overall was excellent and we created chances but perhaps without that killer instinct,” Gavin Cowan said. “The players are disappointed because we want to be the masters of our own destiny with just nine games to go and when you deserve to get something and you don’t get it it is disappointing. But it’s a point on the board and we’ll go to South Shields and try to get a result there.”

Saints almost took the lead in the first minute as Danny Newton’s fine cross was met by Connor Hall with his header flashing past keeper Zan-Luk Leban but also inches past the post. Newton was close shooting first time just wide and Newton hooked over after excellent work by Morgan Roberts to get to the by-line and play in a fine cross.

Roberts combined with Hall and Newton to pose a continual threat to Leban but Celtic’s defence held firm to go in goal-less at the break.

After the interval Brackley struggled to find their fluency again until midway through the half when they again created sustained pressure for the break-through. Newton’s superb header was pushed out by Leban at full stretch and Roberts’ mazy run set up Newton whose shot was blocked as Saints won a series of corners as pressure built for a winner.

The draw leaves the teams as they were with Brackley in 5th and Farsley in 16th.

Brackley Town: Lewis, Gudger, Dean (Lilly 46), Carline, Calder, Lyttle, Murombedzi, Roberts, O’Sullivan (Armson 79), Hall (Turner 70), Newton. Subs unused: Cross, Evans.

Farsley Celtic: Leban, C.Atkinson, Allan, Misambo, Smith, Evans, B.Atkinson, Branson, Watson (Leverett 83), Coulson (Rowe 85), Donaldson. Subs unused: Wilson, Adewoju, Morrissey.