Report: Warrington Town 1-2 Brackley Town

Brackley Town needed a last minute winner to keep their National League North title hopes alive at relegated Warrington Town.

Justin Donowa’s long throw was bundled in by Miracle Okafor to ensure Brackley kept the pace with Scunthorpe United and Kidderminster at the top.

It was hard luck on the Yellows, who had battled bravely despite their injury problems forcing them to start with four centre-backs and six central midfielders.

There was a first league start for hometown youngster Sam Gill, who had a second-half free-kick saved by Jonny Maxted.

Brackley, as expected, had more of the running in the first half, with Matt Lowe proving a handful up front.

His toe-poke forced the first save out of Dan Atherton, who then denied him superbly from point-blank range after George Carline had nodded down Tommy O’Sullivan’s corner.

The Yellows proved resolute and in the final minute of the first half, took the lead.

Aaron James found some space on the right and he passed inside to Matty McDonald, who tried to release Mikey O’Neill in the box. When the pass was blocked, McDonald took on the loose ball and his left-foot shot was deflected and looped beyond Maxted.

But in almost typical fashion of their season, the Yellows still didn’t manage to go in at half-time with the lead. In the fourth minute of injury-time, Morgan Roberts eased off Dana Amaral in midfield, drove forward, and unleashed a low left-foot drive that went in off the inside of the post.

Brackley could even have had the lead by half-time but for Atherton, who came out to deny Lowe with his shoulder and then got down well at his near post to save from Roberts.

Roberts had Brackley’s best chance of the early stages of the second half, a shot beaten away, and later on Danny Newton headed over when well placed from Alfie Bates’ cross.

As the minutes ran out, Atherton again frustrated the visitors, pawing away a Lowe shot that he saw late through bodies.

But Brackley got the goal they desperately needed bang on 90 minutes, substitute Donowa taking a throw-in with his first touch, and it bobbled around in the box and Okafor appeared to bundled it into the net.

Warrington Town: Atherton; James, Clarke, Makinson, Southern (Hont 18); Dixon, Amaral (Amis 59), O’Neill (Bennett 78), Harris, Gill, McDonald. Unused subs: Roper, Green.

Brackley Town: Maxted; Lilly, Dean, Lyttle (Okafor 78); Carline, O’Sullivan (Pollock 68), Byrne (Donowa 90), Roberts, Calder (Bates 73); Lowe, Hall (Newton 63).

Post-match reaction