Acton makes amends to send Brakes crashing out

Leamington were the brighter side for much of the first period, but were unable to turn their terratorial advantage into goals.

This was mainly down to the final pass which was lacking in crucial areas, but also the form of Darren Acton, who was clearly determined not to make a similar mistake to the one that helped Brakes to force the replay.

Tony Breeden pushed a corner kick behind early on, but Leamington forced the first real opportunity when Luke Corbett’s neat backheel saw Chris Murphy into space on the left. The diminutrive midfielder’s low cross found Craig Wilding, whose low shot was parried by Acton. Peter Faulds was quickly on to the loose ball but his shot on the turn hit the side netting.

Marcus Jackson won a free-kick which led to Wilding having another shot blocked, with Acton eventually claiming the ball.

The home side were struggling to get going, but almost broke through, only to be halted by an offside flag as a shot was blocked.

However, they were handed the initiative ten minute before the break when Tony Breeden was adjudged to have bought down Francis Green in the area, and was duly yellow-carded.

Steve Basham stepped up to send the Brakes keeper the wrong way from the spot and swing the tie in Brackley’s favour.

The Saints began the second half with renewed vigour and went close on three occasions.

Corbett then saw a well-struck free-kick tipped over the bar by Acton before Chris Wilmott doubled Brackey’s lead in the 68th minute, his header taking a slight deflection on its way into the net.

Owen Story flashed a shot across goal and was inches from increasing the lead, before Brakes went close to pulling a goal back.

Grant Roscorla, who looked lively in his brief appearance from the bench, sent in a dangerous cross which forced a back-pedalling Acton to push the ball behind.

Wilding glanced a header towards goal from the corner, but Acton again denied Leamington by just getting his fingertips to the ball.

The stopper spilled a shot from Richard Batchelor late on, but the game was already up by this point, and Tom Winters almost grabbed a third Brackley goal, seeing his shot deflected just past the post.

Brackley Town: Darren Acton, Joe Magunda, Jamie Gould (Tom Winters, 71), Barry Quinn, Josh Green, Chris Wilmott, Owen Story, Carl Palmer, Francis Green (Jon Challinor, 89), Steve Basham (Kwesi Appiah, 78), Michael Blackwood. Subs not used: James Clifton, Darren Collins, Leroy Simpson, Stuart Dorrill.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, Scott Lycett, Alex Cowley, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly (Michael Tuohy, 86), Chris Murphy (Matt Lewis, 78), Peter Faulds (Grant Roscorla, 80), Marcus Jackson, Craig Wilding, Luke Corbett, Richard Batchelor. Subs not used: Darren Stapleton, Lee Williams.

n Brakes captain Lee Downes was given the all-clear after a precautionary X-ray following Saturday’s FA Cup clash at the New Windmill.

The midfielder was stretchered off in considerable pain following a clash of bodies during the first half.

However, after tests on his hip, Downes is expected to be fit to face Tiverton tomorrow.

“The good news is that Lee has not suffered a break or crack,” said Paul Holleran.

“He was in considerable pain and was complaining of pins and needles in his leg.

“That’s cleared now and it looks like we are dealing with a muscle injury that will hopefully be short term.”