A magnificent all-round team display sent Saints through to another Play-Off final on a day of high tension marred at the final whistle by a section of the home crowd invading the pitch to confront away supporters in unprecedented and ugly scenes.

The atmosphere inside the Deva Stadium was at fever pitch long before kick-off but was quietened somewhat by Saints’ outstanding first-half performance restricting the home side to a single chance that came on the stroke of half-time as a header flashed just wide. Theo Robinson had Brackley’s best chance of a hard-fought first period.

The game opened up after the break, Danny Lewis saving from Kurt Willoughby, Robinson’s fine lob clawed away at full stretch by Everton loanee keeper Harry Tyrer and Callum Stead and Glenn Walker both denied the break-through goal.

The home side built pressure as the half wore on backed by vocal support but Brackley’s defence was resolute until the decisive moment arrived with 79 minutes played. Alfie Bates switched the play to find George Carline who advanced and fired in a fierce effort from 20 yards beating Tyrer, the ball rifling into the bottom corner.

Chester poured forward in five minutes of added time but Saints stood firm to see out the win and set up a Play-Off final at St James Park against Kidderminster Harriers who overcame King’s Lynn Town.

“I thought we were genuinely brilliant today,” Gaz Dean said. “To perform like that in front of four and a half thousand fans - the players were amazing. I am really proud of them and the way they implemented the plan we had set out and discussed. It is just another step towards where we want to go and will be a good game with two teams in red-hot form. We will look forward to it and will be excited and focused.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Carline, Calder, Murombedzi, Walker, Cullinane-Liburd, Matwasa (Amantchi 76), Bates, Robinson, Stead, Richards. Subs unused: Rooney, York, Woods, Smart.

Chester: Tyrer, Brown, Weeks, Willoughby, Dudley (Hall 71), Williams, Coates, Earl (Burke 60), Caton, Whitehouse, Edwards. Subs unused: Kenyon, Nmai, Murray.

Referee: Dale Baines Assistants: Matt Archibald and Jonathan Chadwick 4th Official: Stuart Morland

Attendance: 4479

PIC by Glenn Alcock