South Shields 0-1 Brackley Town Vanarama National League North - Saturday 9th March 2024

Brackley’s first ever trip to the 1st Cloud Arena saw Gavin Cowan’s side return with three points after a well contested game settled by Morgan Roberts’ late solo effort.

“The is a great result,” Cowan said. “The lads were impeccable today. They followed the game strategy to a tee and stuck to the task carrying out the game plan. We know South Shields will have a lot of the ball and are a very good side in a false position in the league table in my book so we needed that game plan.”

Both sides created chances with leading scorer Paul Blackett testing Danny Lewis, Brackley hitting the bar in a second half goalmouth scramble and Connor Hall’s header bringing a fine save by South Shield keeper Myles Boney.
The dead-lock was broken on 80 minutes as Morgan Roberts took the ball past defenders and found the net from a tight angle for his fifth goal of the season, a crucial deciding goal taking Saints into fourth place in a tight battle for play-off places.

“Getting the goal near the end was great reward for the huge effort that has gone into this weekend and for the supporters who came all this way,” Cowan continued. “Three successive clean sheets is pleasing and now we must ensure everyone is prepared and recovered for another tough game on Tuesday.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Gudger, Lilly, Carline, Calder, Lyttle, Bates, Roberts, O’Sullivan, Hall (Armson 83), Newton. Subs unused: Cross, Matwasa, Evans, Turner.

South Shields: Boney, Hunter, Morse, Broadbent, Adams (Abbey 79), Briggs, Smith, Heaney, Woods (Clarke 50), Blackett, Stephenson (Martin 64). Subs unused: Savage, Sloan.

Referee: Harry Warner Assistants: Dan Ranson and Tyler Dutton
Attendance: 2204