Saints Claim Points With Early Strike - Brackley Town vs. Solihull Moors

Goalmouth action at a blustery St James Park

The weather yet again had a major bearing on match choice this weekend. After my initial choice of Lowestoft was called off the first match I heard that was defiantly on was Brackley at home to Solihull Moors in the Conference North. I therefore made the journey across London from Liverpool Street to Marylebone to make the trip out to Northamptonshire. I had previously seen Brackley in their Southern League title winning season, claiming the points in a local derby at Banbury. Brackley were having a great season and reached the second round of the FA Cup knocking out in Gillingham in the first round following a replay. There was plenty to play for as both sides were very much in the play off picture.

Kick off at St James Park

Brackley claim a very early goal as the midfielder smashes the ball home from distance following a loose Solihull pass. The home side almost have a second when Solihull fail to fully deal with a corner kick but the chance is put wide. It is an extremely windy day in Brackley and both sides struggle to cope with the breezy conditions. Solihull then have their best chance of the game so far as a free kick from the edge of the area is put just over the bar. Then they come even closer but no one can get a touch on a fierce ball in to the box. The visitors then thick they have the equaliser but the Brackley defender manages to clear the ball off the line after the winger had got to the byline. It is then the hosts who have an effort cleared off the line as a header following a wind assisted corner is cleared.

Brackley try for a second in the first half.

The wind doesn't let up in the second half which makes the ground very, very cold. Solihull almost get a well crafted equaliser as the forwards chip over the keeper just clears the bar. They create another opening shortly afterwards after the ball is headed back across goal from a corner but no one is able to take advantage. The visitors are well on top at this point and they have another effort cleared off the line by the resolute Brackley defence. Brackley then have their first chance of the half as they hit the post with a header from a corner. Brackley soon think they have a penalty but the referee instead decides to book the forward for diving. Solihull have another headed chance in the closing stages which goes just over and the home side see out the rest of the game.

Solihull on the attack in the first half.

As I mentioned earlier, the nearest station to Brackley is Banbury which is a just about an hour away from Marylebone and there are two trains an hour. From Banbury the 500 bus will take you to within two minutes of the ground. The bus journey takes around forty minutes and there are two buses an hour. Both Banbury and Brackley are worth exploring before a game. On the market place in Brackley is The Crown Hotel which has more a restaurant feel but does has a huge open fire place. Across the market place is The Red Lion which has a big screen for the lunch time kick off. The clubhouse is quite large and had a large selection of drinks. The clubhouse also has a big screen for the early kick.

The Brackley programme is one of the better Conference programmes I have seen in recent seasons. There are pen pictures for both sides and there is a lot of reading.

Side on view of the main stand