SAINTS MARCH IN PAST BRAVE BARWELL

FA TROPHY winners Brackley Town struck twice in the second half to overcome a battling Barwell side who had the pick of the first-half chances.

Blair Anderson had an early chance before the visitors went close replied with chances from Ellis Myles and Jimmy Armson, the former being denied by Canaries keeper Liam Castle with Armson’s volley clearing the target.

The pick of the first half chances fell to Barwell on 25 minutes when midfielder Nigel Julien burst forward and was unlucky to pull his shot wide of the target.

Brackley had a couple of chances going into the break, a trialist had a shot saved when through one-on-one before a cross from Luke Fairlamb just eluded Lee Ndlovu in front of goal.

Both sides made changes at the break – Barwell replacing Danny Pritchard and Jake Warmington with Brad Gascoigne and one of a few trialists on show.

But it was the National League North Saints who slowly took charge of the proceedings. Adam Walker lobbed just over the bar shortly after the hour mark before they finally broke the deadlock four minutes later when Gregg Smith drilled a low shot past Castle from long range.

There was nearly a second for Town when a trialist twice fired over in quick succession before they wrapped things up in the final seconds.

A defensive calamity from the home side resulted with the ball falling to Myles who tucked the ball over the line with the last kick of the game much to the frustration of Canaries shot-stopper Castle.