Forest Green were beaten on the road at Brackley this Boxing Day.
On what was a gloriously sunny winter’s day at St. James Park, the performance was not quite so glorious, and we suffered a 1-0 defeat.
Michael Nottingham put the home side ahead in the 16th minute, and FGR could not find a way to reply.
With others at the top of the table gaining points, it was a costly defeat and not quite what we had asked Santa for.
FIRST HALF:
It was a cagey start to the match, with each team throwing the odd jab and feeling the other out.
Brackley saw their captain subbed off after only 5 minutes, following a fairly innocuous challenge. Many wondered whether this would weaken the Brackley defence, but they were well organised throughout.
There were a couple of good opportunities for both sides. Temi fired just over, Nick Haughton had a good shot blocked, and Jayden Clarke shot wide, all in the space of a few minutes.
However, in the 16th minute, Nottingham rose above all at the FGR back post to nod in a cross which Isted couldn’t quite reach.
Not long after, Newton went through one-on-one with Isted, who produced an amazing save to stop the hosts doubling their lead.
Despite a few odd shots here and there, Rovers just couldn’t seem to get going.
In 41 minutes, Tom Knowles burst into the box and appeared to have been brought down.
As the ref blew his whistle, the Forest Green fans celebrated, and the Brackley fans moaned.
The ref, however, had other ideas and produced a yellow card, booking Knowles for simulation.
The first half ended with another fine save from ‘player of the match’, Harry Isted.
Brackley defended very well throughout the first half and frustrated the visitors.
SECOND HALF:
Robbie Savage made two subs at the break in an attempt to freshen things up and go with a bit more of an attacking formation.
Brackley came out of the blocks quickly in the second half, but their attack lost momentum not long after.
For much of the second half, they were defending, and defending very well.
The Brackley commentator even went so far as to say it was like watching the Alamo!
Despite not playing their best, with half an hour to play, you felt like (hoped) Rovers would nick a goal, but even with more subs and adjustments to the formation, the goal just wouldn’t come.
It was a tough afternoon for the lads at St. James Park and ended in defeat.
Full Time: Brackley 1-0 Forest Green Rovers
Attendance: 1,497 (322 away)
Brackley Town: Gregory, Morrison, Dean (Lyttle, 5), Pollock, Brown, Lowe (Price, 89), Nottingham, Wodskou (Roberts, 72), Pendleton, Byrne, Newton.
Forest Green: Isted, Mendy, McAllister (Robson, 57), Haughton (Bamba, 64), Knowles (Doidge, 73), Clarke (Mitchell, 46), Moore (Dausch, 46), Pemberton, Whitwell, Babalola, Kanu, Whitwell, Babalola, Kanu.
