Brackley Town 3-1 Chester

    A disappointing afternoon in Northamptonshire saw Brackley come from a goal down to take all three points. 

    The Seals flew out of the traps at the start of the game, pressing Brackley from the front looking for defensive errors to pounce on.

    The first chance came for Kev Roberts after an inviting free kick was flicked on by Adam Thomas but Roberts couldn’t turn his effort goalwards.

    Chester didn’t have to wait long to go in front though, as Ben Tollitt finished off a great move in the eighth minute to break the deadlock.

    Weeks and George Glendon combined well to play in Ollie Heywood down the left before his shot from an acute angle was pushed by Danny Lewis into the path of Tollitt who had the easiest of tasks to slot home.

    Calum McIntyre’s men continued to dominate until around the midway point of the first half, when Brackley began to impose themselves on the Chester defence.

    Danny Newton produced a brilliant save from Will Stanway in the 26th minute after a powerful, long-range effort.

    From the resulting long throw George Carline looped it to the back post before Connor Hall headed into the bottom corner to equalise for the hosts.

    Ben Tollitt then had a great curling effort saved by Lewis before the hosts put the pressure on from successive Carline long throws.

    After the break the hosts came out strongly and Connor Hall doubled his tally for the afternoon in the 48th minute.

    Hall’s second was similar to his first as he headed into the bottom corner after a great cross from Riccardo Calder.

    The Seals struggled to regain momentum in the second half and Brackley searched for another with Newton and Hall looking very dangerous.

    The home side found the third with fifteen minutes left when Danny Newton smashed home into the empty net after he pounced on a rebound from Stanway’s save.

    Tom Peers was involved a physical battle with Gareth Dean all afternoon but finally had a chance to test Lewis late on after he battled past several defenders before his low effort smashed the bottom of the post.

    There was plenty of effort in the final moments but it wasn’t to be for Calum McIntyre’s men ahead of the final game of the campaign next Saturday at home to Darlington.

    Match Report by Tom Bird.

    Chester: Stanway, Burke (Woodthorpe 49′), Williams, Burton, Heywood (Norton 75′), Roberts, Weeks, Glendon, Thomas, Tollitt (Caton 63′), Peers.

    Subs Not Used: Taylor, Daly.

    Scorers: Ben Tollitt

    Attendance: 1,261