Late Penalties

Brackley Town 1-1 FC Halifax Town (National League)

I've got the thermals on for a Wednesday night in West Northamptonshire to watch yet another National League game. The Saints of Brackley Town have been doing ok under the interim charge of centre half Gareth Dean, previous manager Gavin Cowan recently left to take the job at Shrewsbury Town at the end of last month, on a limited budget Cowan over-achieved with this small part time squad of players, having won the National League North against the odds last season, they have kept their heads above water in the fifth tier whilst taking a few decent scalps along the way.

Unbeaten in four in the league, they are proving hard to beat and resilient, often ugly, but well disciplined, direct and physical, organisation, work rate and structure has long been their makeup.

FC Halifax have had a wobble of late, three successive defeats including an FA Trophy shootout loss last month have hampered progress this season under Adam Lakeland who has otherwise done well, to put together a strong no frills side that is hovering on the edge of the playoff places.

It's an hour and half drive for me to Brackley, so I'm leaving at 5pm down the A46 towards the M1 and A43 before pulling up at 6:30pm on the Churchfield Way, a short walk towards the ground where I ask the old couple in the ticket office if my names on the list.

The Venue

"I can't see you on here" I'm told. "pop in reception and they'll sort you out". It's a glass fronted modern reception which leads into the clubs magnificent large bar area, I'm greeted by smiles of two ladies which is always a good sign. "My names not on the list" I tell them. "I was supposed to be here on Saturday too" but that game was called off. "So you're four days late" is the response of the woman sitting behind the counter.

They have a giggle and without fuss guide me to my seat, walking through the clubhouse bar to the pitch where I sit at the front of the press area, a couple of rows up, it's always pitch side here at St James Park in such small surroundings, as I'm told "I don't think they'll be many here tonight, they'll be plenty of room for you".

The view in truth isn't great, the corner to my right out of sight behind folk standing, the left side partially blocked by a couple of posts on a stand that runs down the side, you get a glare off the floodlights which aren't the brightest, and then there's my eyes which aren't the best.

That said, it's a homely little stadium, so many different quirks, small seated stands dotted around, covered terracing behind the goals, as I spot a scout from Carlisle who was ironically here the last time I was.

The Game

Halifax are one of the teams who Carlisle might face in the playoffs which is why the Cumbrians scout is down here watching, and as he sits down in front of me, the Shaymen in bright hi-vis like yellow kick off, they pass back to Hobson, who within ten seconds is clattered by teenage striker Ben Wodskou who receives the games first booking. I think it's probably the fastest I have seen since Vinnie Jones got one back in 1990 after just five seconds when playing for Sheffield United.

Hobson isn't happy, he's had to pick himself up off the ground and within 3 minutes decides to take it out on Danny Newton, carving Wodskou's team-mate down to earn a yellow himself, it reminded me of when Stuart Pearce got a headbutt of Basile Boli in Euro 92 and then decided to take it out instead on the player he was marking in Jocelyn Angloma, "you did that you little bastard" said Pearce.

The game has needle and edge as the first half racks up five bookings in total, Halifax you feel are the better team, more possession, they smack the outside of the post through Will Harris, their number nine is a striker I like, whilst at the other end Michael Nottingham who stays up from a half cleared set play, heads over from a fabulous left wing cross by Lowe. A tall leggy defender, Nottingham is a threat in both boxes and with a good record of headed goals, you would have backed him, to make that count.

The Score

At half time it's honours even and for most of the second half you feel the outcome is deserving of a point a piece, Brackley work really hard and dig in, but they perhaps don't do enough to win, Halifax see a lot of the ball, look the better of the two teams, but again, don't do enough to win.

The action is lively with each keeper making a good stop straight at them, but as we are all set for a draw, one scout having seen enough leaves in front of me, Angelo Capello races into the box, gets tugged down and Brackley concede a devastating penalty in the 88th minute.

Will Harris takes his time to shoot hard an effort which cannons off the legs of Gregory into the net, and as you feel that Halifax have snatched it at the death, late on, eight minutes are added and chaos in the Shaymen's area leads to a shot blocked by the hand of a defender, Shane Byrne stepping up to coolly level, on the night, it's perhaps a point a piece which both teams deserved.

The Stars

A lot of good from both teams who I have seen a bit of this season, Halifax who went with their big guys for this one, defended in a 352 but attacked at times with fluidity and movement, I was especially impressed with young AJ Warburton at right wing back, good quick feet, agile and hungry, whilst in attack, David Kawa was very lively, their best player for me though is Cody Johnson who works so hard in midfield, picking up the pieces and doing the ugly stuff better than mostly anyone I have watched in this league.

Other good performances came defensively from Shaun Hobson a stallwart defender of the level, Adam Alimi-Adetoro doing well next to him, whilst Jevon Mills came on for the injured Will Smith and did really well, both Angelo Capello and Kieron Morris were lively also, when they came on.

For Brackley it was the best I have seen them play this season, which wasn't much having witnessed dire performances at Braintree and v Morecambe, but they looked to put real effort in tonight, showing good commitment and honesty, Scott Pollock full of running, the best I have seen of him in a long while, whilst big Ben Wodskou looked a unit up top, he's on loan from Birmingham, just nineteen, putting that big early 'reducer' on a Halifax defender tells you what he might be all about, but he's technically good and I think he'll get regular goals the more he plays.

Another striker in shape, Danny Newton looked like the old player that we saw prior to his move to Harborough Town in the summer, on loan from the Leicestershire based Southern League side he looks to have found his fitness and even at 34 was a persistent menace to contain.

The Verdict

A point probably does neither much harm as Halifax consolidate their playoff place and Brackley edge further away from relegation. Neither step is quite complete with a lot still to do, Adam Lakeland's side are just two points above Southend in seventh but it's all in their own hands, as it is for Brackley who are now four points above the drop zone with a game or two in hand on those below.

The Teams

Brackley Town: Cameron Gregory, Kyle Morrison, Scott Pollock (Morgan Roberts 69), Zak Brown (Jack Price 89), Danny Newton (Connor Hall 89), Matt Lowe, Michael Nottingham, Ben Wodskou (Kian Harratt 69), Zak Lilly, Bryon Pendleton, Shane Byrne.

FC Halifax Town: Sam Johnson, Adam Adetoro, Will Smith (Jevon Mills 42), Shaun Hobson, Thierry Latty-Fairweather (Owen Bray 90), Cody Johnson, Will Hugill, Josh Hmami (Kieron Morris 75), AJ Warburton, David Kawa (Angelo Capello 75), Will Harris.

7:45pm Kick Off. Wednesday 11th February 2026, St James Park, Brackley (att 539).