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| Andy Williams's penalty couldn't be saved by Joe Young |
After a poor first half from both sides, albeit with Connor Hall grabbing a goal for the visitors just before half time, Paul Caddis's team talk worked wonders as Andy Williams equalised with a smart, flicked header before taking the lead from the penalty spot. Brackley pulled themselves back level thanks to Matt Lowe, but substitute and third-time debutant Levi Andoh scored a late winner for the Bulls in front of the Meadow End.
With the Bulls going into the game after a much-needed 1-0 win at Peterborough Sports midweek, Matt Preston coming back into the side in place of Ryan Bartley.
As the first half got underway at Edgar Street, underneath grey February skies, neither side could get a foothold in the game. There were a few early half-chances for Brackley, who were second in the form table ahead of the clash - far higher than the Bulls in 19th. Former Harrier Shane Byrne's tame shot was claimed by Theo Richardson, before the Bulls stopper was then quick to steal the ball from Matt Lowe after he burst into the box having taken advantage of a defensive error.
In midfield, the familiar face of Tommy O'Sullivan was helping to pull the strings for Brackley. While Brackley looked to be lacking the killer cutter-edge up top which had helped them to 5th place in the table, the former Bull was a key part of intercepting the Bulls' long balls forward and wayward passes when they couldn't retain possession. He tried his luck in the search for the opener 14 minutes in, but a rushed shot from 25-yards was off target and didn't trouble Richardson.
Despite that, the first half was an uninteresting affair, with neither side really carving out decent chances. With 36 minutes on the clock, Brackley's Morgan Roberts saw his snapshot sting the palms of Richardson, who reacted well to the unexpected strike, before Matt Lowe somehow put the rebound into the side netting.
That proved a spark for Brackley though as they forced a series of late corners in the final five minutes of the first half. While Matt Lower saw a header saved off the line, Connor Hall scored the opener from the next corner - in a goalmouth scramble, his outstretched leg managed to force the ball over the line.
Half time: Hereford 0 - Brackley Town 1
With Hereford's first half performance leaving a lot to be desired, the Bulls seemed to come out for the second half with renewed vigour. From the kick off, Sammy Robinson was able to burst forward and his shot from range had to be saved by Joe Young.
After a fruitless Brackley corner, it was Andy Williams to haul his side back level. As Lewis Hudson drove down the left flank and crossed in to Williams in the 49th minute, the striker showed his experience with a flicked header, lifting the ball over Young and into the far corner.
Brackley looked to respond immediately though as Connor Hall tried to play in Matt Lowe, whose slip saw the chance go begging, before they combined again - though Lowe wasn't able to cut the ball back to his teammate before Sammy Robinson swept in to clear the danger. The Saints should then have done better with a free kick, awarded for Matt Preston's high boot on Lowe, but Tyler Lyttle's could only fire into Williams as part of the wall.
In the 65th minute, Willo was then involved in action in front of the Meadow End as he converted a penalty. It was wing-back Riccardo Calder who upended Jaiden White as he tried to get onto the end of Robinson's ball into the box, with referee Joe Moss pointing unhesitatingly to the spot. Up stepped Willo and for a brace, played the ball straight down the middle as Young dived down to his right.
With the Whites now ahead, Matt Lowe could've cancelled out Willo's spot kick within two minutes as he broke free and forced Richardson into another quick-reaction save to deny the 28-year-old. Lowe and the 39 travelling fans didn't have to wait long for the equaliser though as it came with 20 minutes left on the clock, completing a well-worked piece of play from the Saints.
As both sides tried to push for a winner, a flurry of changes were made - including Levi Andoh making his third Bulls debut as he came on in place of Hudson.
As the game entered its final stage a powerful effort from Babos was parried by Young and almost into the path of Williams - but it flew past the striker who had the goal gaping. The winner did come though, on the stroke of full time from Andoh. In a similar way to Brackley's opener, the warning shot had been fired by Hereford with Babos's earlier effort. It was an inch-perfect cross from Babos who saw the ball headed across the line by Andoh, sending the home side into raptures.
While an imperfect first half, the second 45 was much more entertaining and either side could've left the Street with all three points. Richardson in particular, while not being able to keep a clean sheet like on Tuesday, made sure it was only 1-0 at half time when it could have been 3-0. Right-back Sammy Robinson in the second half was also regularly one step ahead of the opposition and on hand to get his centre backs out of trouble.
Full time: Hereford 3 - Brackley Town 2
Attendance: 2402 (39 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Andy Williams
Hereford: Richardson, Hudson, Campbell, Preston, Babos, Williams, White, Ceesay, Mitchell, Robinson, Howkins.
Subs: Skinner, Sturridge, Cowley, Rose, Andoh.
Brackley: Young, Lowe, Lyttle, Bryne, Roberts, Dean, Lily, Hall, Carline, Calder, O'Sullivan.
Subs: Bates, Pollock, Okafor, Abbey, Donawa.