Match Report: Brackley Town 2-1 Chester

The Blues were defeated on the road by Brackley Town in Northamptonshire.

Gavin Cowan’s side led by one at the interval as Shane Byrne dispatched a spot kick after Matt Lowe was pulled down inside the box.

Charlie Caton levelled the scores from 12 yards mid-way through the second half, but Connor Hall  grabbed all three points with a drilled finish just a minute later.

Brackley showed the first sign of intent early on when the ball fell to Miracle Okafor inside the area, but his powerful effort struck Elyh Harrison’s arm and bounced to safety.

Harrison Burke had a good chance minutes later from a well-flighted corner but his header bounced wide of Jonny Maxted’s goal.

Okafor proved to be a major threat for the hosts during the first period, despite the slow pace of the contest.

Both teams struggled to find any rhythm at St James Park as the clash drifted towards half-time, but the hosts were handed a golden opportunity in the 42nd minute, when referee Kavan Hurn pointed to the spot after Kevin Roberts pulled down Matt Lowe inside the box.

Shane Byrne dispatched the penalty in comfortable fashion, as he sent Harrison the wrong way and placed the ball into the top corner.

Declan Weeks kicked off the second period with a powerful effort from distance but Maxted was equal to it and pushed the ball to safety.

Charlie Caton headed towards goal after he latched on to a floated cross from Iwan Murray, but the ball whistled just past the post.

The Blues made a positive start to the second half and were handed a route back into the game when Murray was tripped by Alfie Bates inside the box.

Caton had the task from 12 yards and he smashed into the bottom corner to draw the scores level.

Brackley took the lead a minute later though, when Connor Hall found space inside the Chester 18-yard box and finished in clinical fashion, with a drilled effort into the bottom corner.

The Saints were reduced to ten men in the 79th minute when Bates was shown a second yellow card after he delayed a free-kick from being taken.

Calum McIntyre’s side threw bodies towards the Brackley goal in the final few minutes, but nothing came off for the Blues, who tasted defeat for the first time in four outings.

Match Report by Tom Bird.

CHESTER FC: Harrison, Hunter, Burke, Rawlinson, Woodthorpe, Roberts (Willoughby 77′), Weeks, Bainbridge, Murray (Glendon 85′), Caton, Peers (Mottley-Henry 72′).

Subs not used: Glendon, Willoughby, Hancox, Mottley-Henry, Pollock.

Scorers: Charlie Caton 65′

Attendance: 870 (170 away)