Much improved Town suffer narrow loss

Town started the match brightly and were definitely the better team in the early stages. The first shot of the game went to Woodley's Adam Cashin-Murray who saw his effort from the right side of the box blocked by Brackley defender Dean March. Minutes later Sam Sherratt did well to cut out a Josh Blackwood pass before it reached Woodley striker Seun Odusanya.

Just past the ten minute mark both teams traded shots; Cashin-Murray blazed over before Ryan Knight forced Dan Smith in the home goal to make a smart save from the left side of the box, whilst up the other end Odusanya dragged his shot and it was easily gathered by Brackley keeper Piotr Jacucha.

Half way through an end to end half Town centre back Stuart Doe got up well to win a header then gained Woodley possession by tackling Matt Johnson after a good run by the latter. Town, who always look dangerous from set pieces, came within inches of creating a golden chance when Cashin-Murray's free kick just missed the head of captain Gary Smith at the back post.

Town were playing their best stuff for a number of weeks and were prevented from taking a deserved lead by a good Jacucha save from Cashin-Murray after a nice move. As the game approached the thirty minute mark the away side had a flurry of half chances. Blackwood did well to clear a Brackley corner before Doe blocked a fierce drive from twenty yards. Dan Smith then tipped over a Matt Carr shot after a slip by Woodley left back Matt Molloy allowed the Brackley full back space on the right. The resulting corner found Sherratt who saw his acrobatic effort sail over.

Surviving the spell of Brackley pressure, Town then had the ball in the net when Odusanya finished superbly; unluckily for Town the goal was ruled out for a previous offside. Both teams carried on creating chances; Carr forced another good stop from Smith before Jacucha pulled off the save of the game to deny Doug Groves who powerfully headed goalwards a sublime Blackwood cross.

As a pulsating half came to an end, Ryan Knight fired into the side netting from a tight angle for Brackley before Odusanya was booked for a hefty challenge on Jacucha.

HT Woodley Town 0-0 Brackley Town Development

The first chance after the break went to the visitors. Knight was played in on the left; dribbling into the box he saw his low shot saved well by Smith. Brackley were starting the half the more lively of the two sides and Smith was once again called into action diving to his right to thwart Tom Kalugin.

Woodley's first effort of the half fell to Gary Smith; his header from a Cashin-Murray set piece was saved in the bottom right corner by Jacucha. On the hour the game got its first goal and what a goal it was. Brackley forward Matt Johnstone beat four Town players in the box before firing low into the right corner.

The goal signalled a change for Woodley; Jordan Goddard replaced Matt Molloy. Dan Smith then showed that he's equally good with his feet as his hands when he controlled a strongly hit back pass before clearing his lines.

Fifteen minutes to go and Town made their penultimate change when Tafari Downes replaced Jon Malone who had played in a more advanced role today. Woodley continued to press forward in search of an equaliser. Brackley skipper Charlie Wise headed clear after a good run down the left by Blackwood.

As the game approached the eighty minute mark, a perfectly timed Groves tackle denied Kalugin. Up the other end the impressive Jacucha punched clear another Town set piece before Downes saw his effort from eighteen yards well blocked.

With the game entering its final minutes Brackley should have put the game to bed when Johnstone somehow headed over from six yards. In stoppage time Blackwood saw yellow for a late tackle. The final chance of a half that didn't quite live up to the frantic pace of the first went Town's way. David Stevens shot wide after Wise had headed clear a dangerous cross by Downes.

FT Woodley Town 0-1 Brackley Town Development

Woodley Town
D. Smith, Rodriguez, Molloy (Goddard), Doe, G. Smith, Malone (Downes), Blackwood, Cashin-Murray, Odusanya, Stevens, Groves

Unused subs
Stiff, Kemp, Brookling

After the game manager Damien Marshall said the following 'I'm disappointed, but only with the result. Our players' effort deserved far more. We need to work on quality in the final third but if we keep working it won't be long before results change and we go on a good run. David Stevens was my Man of the Match; asked to play in a deeper role today, he was outstanding'.