Striker Scott Cross had forced experienced Brackley Town keeper Billy Turley into making a brave save at his feet, when one on one with the keeper, after just two minutes, and Daventry keeper Richard Morris made a fantastic point blank save from Glenn Walker early in the first half, but the game remained goalless at half time.
The game changed with the introduction of ` Mr Brackley` Tom Winters, as a substitute in the second half, Tom has made well over three hundred appearances for Brackley Town and scored over one hundred goals since moving to Brackley Town in 2005 from Oxford United.
He is known for his ferocious shots and free kicks, but this time he used his head to pick his spot and headed Brackley into the lead in the seventy first minute. Goalkeeper Richard Morris appeared to have been elbowed full in the face after a corner and while he was sprawled across the grass, Winters looped a free header into the empty net. A further two goals in the next five minutes effectively killed off the tie as a contest!
Richard Morris made a fine finger- tip save from ex Kings Lynn winger Owen Story, tipping his shot around the upright of the crossbar, but there was soon to be further heartache for the travelling Daventry supporters, when ex Corby Town striker Stephen Diggin dribbled past three Daventry defenders to score a superb individual goal and put Brackley two up, in the seventy third minute.
Substitute Tom Winters scored his second, in the seventy sixth minute, after his fierce shot was deflected off new Daventry right back Liam Dolman. Free kick specialist Tom Winters, then completed his hat trick in the eighty fifth minute, hitting a superb free kick around the Daventry wall, after a disputed hand ball just outside the penalty area by Adam Confue. Daventry keeper Richard Morris would not have seen the free kick until it hit the back of his net!
Daventry manager Darran Foster said `Once they scored we hit a brick wall and three more goals came quickly, the score totally flattered Brackley. I never normally call officials, but yesterday I felt very hard done by, we received three very poor yellow cards, two of which were very early in the game, which did not help us at all. Their management team leapt up in the air after every tackle! I feel the ref was influenced by this behaviour, as he appeared to favour Brackley. They are a class act and in the end deserved their win, but they didn't need the extra help!
A crowd of over three hundred spectators, many supporting Daventry Town, enjoyed a good game of football and some quality goals on a sunny afternoon, but it is Brackley Town who go into the draw for the third qualifying round of the FA Cup on Monday, a match worth over seven and a half thousand pounds to the winners!
Daventry now need to concentrate their thoughts on the league, Guildford City and Godalming Town have won all six of their league games and are now nine points ahead of eighth placed Daventry Town, who have played one game less. Daventry Town play their next game on Saturday at fifth placed Biggleswade Town, followed by an away trip to North Greenford United on 6th October then the next home game will be against Barton Rovers on Tuesday 9th October.

Jim Davis

Daventry Town Football Club

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