Brackley Town edged out Sutton United in a closely contested match at St. James Park, with a late goal from substitute Connor Hall securing the victory. The match, overseen by referee Michael Barlow, was characterised by intense midfield battles and limited clear-cut opportunities for either side.
The first half was a cagey affair, with both teams struggling to assert their dominance. The combative nature of the game was underscored by a yellow card issued to Sutton United’s Aaron Jones in the 38th minute for a foul. At the interval, Sutton manager Jon Meeney made a double substitution, introducing Ashley Nadesan in place of Noa Boutin and Junior Eccleston for the cautioned Aaron Jones. This indicated a tactical adjustment aimed at injecting greater attacking impetus and solidifying the defence.
Brackley responded in the second half with their own tactical tweaks. In the 65th minute, Justin Donawa was replaced by Danny Waldron, a forward. This substitution suggested Brackley’s intent to adopt a more advanced attacking approach. The second half also saw a series of yellow cards, with Brackley’s Zak Lilley and Zak Brown both cautioned for fouls. In the 76th minute, Brackley made a crucial substitution, bringing on Connor Hall for Bailey Hobson. Sutton United also made a substitution in the 79th minute, introducing David Ogbonna for Brandon Njoku.
The decisive moment came in the 84th minute when Connor Hall, assisted by Gareth Dean, found the net. The goal sparked celebrations among the home supporters and put pressure on Sutton United to respond. However, Brackley managed to hold on for the win, despite a late yellow card for Matt Lowe. Sutton’s Harry Phipps also received a yellow card in the 89th minute, reflecting the growing frustration.
The result sees Brackley Town climb to 10th in the National League standings with 13 points, ending their 5-game winless run. Sutton United, meanwhile, remain in 22nd place with 5 points, now on a 3-game losing streak, and will need to reverse their fortunes quickly to escape the relegation zone.
