Brackley Town's FA Cup run ended on Saturday with a 2-0 defeat to Chelmsford City in the third qualifying round. Two goals in four second-half minutes sealed the Saints' exit at St James Park.
Chelmsford's D. Olopade broke the deadlock in the 69th minute with a powerful long-range strike. Nathan Ralph then doubled the lead just four minutes later, tapping in at the far post from a deep free-kick.
Brackley had started brightly, with Kai Yearn hitting the post inside the opening quarter of an hour. The first half became scrappy, however, and the visitors took control after the interval. The defeat is the first for Brackley Town since Gareth Dean took over as manager from Andy Whing.
Dean expressed his disappointment after the match. "It’s a first defeat for the Saints since Dean took over as Andy Whing’s successor," the manager said.
The loss comes during a difficult league campaign where Brackley Town sit 19th in the National League North, having taken just 12 points from their first 10 matches. Their recent form shows only one win in their last five league outings. The team must now regroup quickly, with their focus immediately turning to a key home fixture against bottom-of-the-table Spennymoor Town next Saturday. Fans can view the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page, while the current standings show the task ahead.
The club confirmed on October 6 that Nathan Ralph's 73rd-minute goal was his first for Chelmsford City. The defender's strike sealed the 2-0 victory for Mark Cooper's side. Brackley Town, who sit 19th in the National League North with 12 points, must now prepare for a home fixture against 23rd-placed Spennymoor Town on October 10.
