Brackley Town boss Dean criticises game management after defeat

Brackley Town manager Gareth Dean was left fuming after a 'wasted opportunity' saw his side lose 3-2 away to Hednesford Town last Friday. The defeat leaves the Saints 18th in the National League North, with 15 points from their opening 12 games, a record of four wins, three draws and five losses. They have scored 15 goals this season but conceded 23, leaving them with a goal difference of minus eight.

Dean described his team's game management as "absolutely appalling" for a 20-minute spell in the first half. "It feels like a wasted opportunity," the manager said. Brackley had taken an early lead through Frankie Roberts after five minutes but conceded three times before the break, with Kieran Coates' late strike proving only a consolation.

The result continued a mixed run of form for Brackley, whose recent sequence reads loss, win, win, loss, draw. This recent form of two wins, one draw and two losses from their last five games includes the 3-2 loss to Hednesford Town on Saturday 17 October, a 2-1 win over Spennymoor Town on Saturday 10 October, a 2-0 loss to Chelmsford City, a 3-2 victory over South Shields and a 1-1 draw with Scarborough Athletic. They sit level on points with both the relegation zone and the play-off positions, making every match vital, and are currently nine points behind the league leaders, Macclesfield. Their next chance comes this Saturday when they host 20th-placed Radcliffe at St James Park.

A victory would provide a significant boost, while a defeat would extend their struggles. The club has scored 15 goals this season but conceded 23.

The manager did note some second-half improvement, with his side playing more to the patterns worked on in training. Brackley will need to carry that into the weekend against a Radcliffe side also fighting for points near the bottom of the standings. The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, October 24.