An Ethan Moore penalty snatched a point for City against Brackley Town, who needed nothing less than three points to continue their play-off push, in a dramatic penultimate home game of the season.

The visitors ended the game with their manager sent to the stands following a touchline incident involving Wayne Thomas after the Brackley boss failed to give City the ball back for a throw in, and Brett Solkhan was sent off for deliberate handball in the second half.

A lively front four of Devaney, Nti, Brown and Moore caused the meanest defence in the division problems, but City couldn’t force home a winner that would have seen them rise to 13th place in the league.

City started brightly as Ethan Moore’s prod goal-wards from inside the six yard area was turned behind by Billy Turley after just two minutes, before City had a goal ruled out minutes later as Tom Sharp was deemed to have been fouled before he toed Ellis Deeney’s corner into his own net the deny City an early lead.

Brackley struggled to deal with the aerial threat of converted-striker Aaron Brown, who headed over before Owen Story’s long range pass couldn’t be brought under control by the through-on-goal Ryan Rowe and he over-ran the ball with the advancing Leigh Bedwell smothering the danger.

City dominated the opening 20 minutes and came close to taking the lead as Deeney’s corner was headed out to the lively Martin Devaney, whose dipping half-volley from the edge of the area was turned behind by a scrambling Billy Turley.

But Town gave City a real scare six minutes later following a swift counter attack that culminated in Steve Diggin’s low cross being missed by Hutchinson, only for the in-form Bedwell to save Glenn Walker’s shot from inside the six-yard area from point-blank range.

City looked dangerous on the break themselves and a neat move ended with a powerful run from Martin Devaney, shaking off the challenge of Eddie Odhiambo before drilling his shot inches wide of the post from the edge of the area.

Brackley came close in the closing stages of the half as Izak Reid’s first time shot from Glenn Walker’s cross was well held by Bedwell, before Aaron Brown’s curling free-kick fizzed agonisingly of Billy Turley’s post.

City were playing with a certain swagger towards the end of the half, and neat trickery from Devaney allowed the wide-man to cross to Wayne Thomas, whose header back across goal was sliced wide by Ethan Moore, before Devaney’s audacious attempt to lob Turley minutes later fell wide of the target.

City started the second half where they left off as Ebby Nelson Addy struck wide from the edge of the area.
But, rather against the run of play, Brackley took the lead after 52 minutes as Glenn Walker’s free kick flashed across goal with Ryan Lowe bundling the ball past the unfortunate Bedwell.

Brackley nearly doubled their lead as Walker’s deep corner was met by a thundering header from Brett Solkhan that was beaten clear by Bedwell.

In a five minute spell of madness at the hour mark, the Brackley Town manager was sent to the stands after he refused to give the ball back to Tyler Weir, sparking a heated touchline confrontation. Wayne Thomas was also booked in the incident.

City were level with 65 minutes gone after Brett Solkhan was dismissed for what the referee deemed deliberate handball after the defender’s sliding block denied Ethan Moore an easy tap in. Moore stepped up for the spot kick and the ball squirmed under Turley to give City a deserved equaliser.

City pushed for a winner in the final 10 minutes but Tyler Weir’s tame shot was easily saved by Turley, before Daniel Nti’s shot in the dying minutes was beaten away by Turley.

But the visitors nearly stole a dramatic late win after they were denied by Bedwell in added time, with the impressive goalkeeper beating out Ryan Rowe’s point blank shot.

“I think on chances and certainly on possession we dominated the game for long spells. We know goals are hard to come by, but we’ve created enough opportunities, certainly in the first half. And right at the end in the last six or seven minutes we’ve had great chances to win the game”, said City boss Carl Heeley.
“If anybody thought we were just going to go through the motions for the last three games you need to look at the performance today. They’ve kept going, they’ve worked hard. I’m sure they’re looking forward to the summer break, and they’ve earned it, but they’re not their yet theres three more games to go and we can play a part in the end of season shake-up”, he added.

Attendance 568

Match Report by Alex Harris