Nigel Preece reports from Brackley.
I'd only been to Brackley once before, the fateful day that led to Peter Beadle's crazy dismissal. We were battered that day, 2-0 could have been far worse, on today's evidence things have not changed too much.
For all its relative closeness to my home (compared to Blyth or South Shields anyway) the lack of a railway station is probably why I've not visited since 2018. Having something to play for helps of course, 348 Bulls, a good turnout, a clear indication of “it's the hope that kills you”. So with the kind help of a couple of fellow bulls a trip was planned; sorry folks, you're getting another travelogue.
Train from Cardiff to Swindon (my car conked out on a Cwmbran roundabout on Tuesday meaning I missed the Alfreton game, so that option was a non starter), change to a Didcot stopper, then a more sedate service past Oxford up to Banbury. Left home at 0815, in Banbury by 1130, that's about as fast as away travel gets for me.
Odd arriving in Banbury, I imagine the welcome at the station next week won't be so quiet? I strolled into town, had some lunch and a beer at some hipster style warehouse type street food and craft beer venue, except it wasn't really very hipster being attached to the town centre’s dull 80s shopping centre.
I wandered to another craft beer joint, a Banbury fan in there who voted for our extra tickets, I did say defeats today and next week and we might not even need the initial 400 ……
Final stop in Banbury, just up from the famous Cross, as in ride a white horse, was the, er, White Horse.
I was picked up from there and driven the 20 minutes to Brackley, what fantastic supporters we have that help each other out. More on that later.
An average (I'm being kind) beer in Brackley town centre, it's a nice looking place but really doesn't feel like a football town to me, before we wandered to the ground.
Segregation for such a low crowd seemed unnecessary and, frankly, the facilities provided were well below standard. Six portaloos is simply not good enough for a club that clearly wants to be in the league above given the investment on the pitch, though mindful of the bottom line, while we may not have been allowed in their clubhouse, they happily sold beer to already well lubricated fans throughout.
Anyway, there was a game of football to watch. A (disappointing in my opinion) change in formation, back to three centre backs, Howkins returning to supplement Cameron and Downing. Skinner and Hudson wing backs, Tex, Babos in the middle, plus Willo. Okeke on the right. Cowley up front. Sadly, no Ceesay, as feared his knee issue prevented him taking part, fingers crossed he's fit soon.
Jid Okeke On The Right Wing
Our lopsidedness showed immediately and we were repeatedly short on our left, a succession of home attacks causing havoc. After several spurned opportunities, some fine saves by Pond and the odd slice of luck, Brackley took a deserved lead; the ball was played across the edge of the area rather than crossed into it, the resultant space allowed a free hit from 20 yards that gave Pond no chance.
Two more fine saves by Pond prevented further damage before we conceded a change was necessary, Skinner moving to a sort of left half (does that really age me?) role and Okeke having to sacrifice much of his potential right wing marauding. It had to be done, we were very fortunate to be only one down.
Jason Cowley With A Shot From Distance
We had one chance before half time to grab a thoroughly undeserved equaliser, Willo was played through, seemed to get there before the Brackley stopper (is he 42? Makes Willo a whippersnapper!) but couldn't quite stretch enough to toe it round the floundering aforementioned keeper.
Second half was better in that we probably dominated territory but Brackley are clearly used to controlling games when in front and held us at arm's length for most of the time. We created little to nothing, some pinball in the area, a couple of decent solo efforts from Babos and Cowley that didn't trouble Brackley’s ageing custodian who, well he is getting on a bit, took every opportunity for a little lie down. Not that any time wasting was necessary.
I almost missed the second goal having decided a portaloo stop was advisable before full time, as what looked hesitant defending from a free kick allowed ex Bull Zak Lilly to score Brackley's second and give a fairer reflection to the outcome.
By this time Tex had been booked for a flying challenge, a decent ref for once who didn't buy his (and others’) antics and then subbed for Obadeyi, Willo replaced by Phillips but it made no difference.
Brackley were well worth their 3 points and, unlike last week when I felt a play off at Chorley shouldn't worry us, I find it difficult to see us winning there …. though they do have a habit of play off capitulation. We need to get there first, the next two games seem like we're at the must win stage now.
I mentioned what a great supporter community we have; I got a post match lift back to Didcot from a different person to earlier, saving me an hour on my trip home. Another exiled Bull offered me a lift too, there are lovely people that support our club. Thank you to all of you.
Getting to Swindon by 6ish, I resisted the first train home for the short walk to the legendary Glue Pot pub, slap bang in the historic Swindon railway village. It's worth mentioning as, while I've been there several times over the years, a particular memorable pre and post match session from 2006 is worth recalling; a young and athletic Andrew Williams scored two great goals on the break for a fantastic win. Today's performance was quite a contrast to that athletic marauding display, perhaps unfair to single out Willo but he looked lost and unsure of his role in the team. I hope we revert to a more straightforward formation for those two upcoming big games, Paul Caddis had the perfect opportunity to judge having to watch from the stands as a result of his regular collection of yellow cards.
My train home from Swindon was a bit delayed meaning longer than I would like contending with the post rugby chaos at Cardiff Central station but gave me extra time to start scribbling this travelogue / match report.
Bring on next Saturday for more of the Hereford rollercoaster.
Att: 1061 with 348 in the away areas.