Saints’ 14 game winless run was ended in the sunshine on an emotional day as captain Gaz Dean said farewell to St James Park calling time on a record-breaking career.
An early goal by Morgan Roberts set Brackley on their way, Roberts’ 7th minute shot taking a big deflection past ‘keeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke, but spurned chances meant it needed Connor Hall’s late goal to clinch the crucial win.

“I am delighted for everybody and especially our supporters because it has been tough lately,” Andy Whing said. “I am delighted for the players also because they have worked hard and never gave and kept going. This result has been coming and should have come five or six weeks ago. I am delighted for Gaz in his last home game. What an unbelievable servant he has been for this football club.”

Ben Wodskou was well placed three occasions but shot over or wide to keep the result in the balance until Hall’s sharp 89th minute finish doubled the lead, it being Hall’s first action since coming on as a substitute. Aldershot’s Matt Penney fired in a fierce low drive in the sixth minute of added time to reduce the deficit and create a few nervy moments before full-time was called.

Gaz Dean’s added time substitution brought St James Park to its feet in tribute to the club’s record appearance maker and decade-long captain. Many words will be spoken and written to mark the conclusion to Dean’s playing career but Andy Whing summed up the sentiment around the club quite beautifully: “The standing ovation was emotional and deserved recognising all that Gaz Dean has achieved here and all that he has done for the club.”

Brackley Town: Rhone, Lilly, Dean (Nottingham 90+1), Lowe (Hall 88), Elliott-Wheeler, Byrne, Tripp, Roberts (Brown 70), Pollock, Wodskou (Morrison 70), Lyttle. Subs not used: Maxted, Worby, Haynes.

Aldershot Town: Boyce-Clarke, Jenkins (Barrett 46), Widdrington (Tetek 57), Hargreaves, Hill, Stewart (Peart 57), Warren, Nightingale, Nelson (Henry 79), Sheckleford, Penney. Subs not used: Nash, Anderson, Scott.

Referee: Harry Wager Assistants: Marvyn Amphlett and Rob Evans 4th official: Neil Pratt
Attendance: 1097