Moors failed to end their Brackley Town hoodoo as they fell to a disappointing 4-1 defeat in National League North at St James Park.
Brackley has rarely been a place of celebration for Moors fans down the years and it rarely looked likely to change as Moors registered a below-par first half display which saw the hosts take a stranglehold on the game.
The Saints opened the scoring on 16 minutes through Connor Hall, before Tommy O’Sullivan added a second less than 60 seconds later. Another came just before half time as Morgan Roberts finished into the bottom corner for 3-0.
Rob Ramshaw did manage to pull a goal back for Moors late on, but all hope of a fightback was extinguished minutes later as Hall got his second and Brackley’s fourth to secure the points.
The hosts got on top early on as their first real attack saw Riccardo Calder break into space down the left, before putting in an inch-perfect cross into the centre of the box, and onto the head of Hall. The front man headed home unmarked into the bottom right corner.
Brackley then came forward straight from Moors’ kick-off, charging down the left yet again before Morgan Roberts struck a low cross into the path of O’Sullivan, who tucked home into the bottom corner.
Moors were left reeling but did engineer a half chance when Ramshaw whipped a ball towards Glen Taylor at the back post, but home keeper Joe Young was quick to take control and claim.
By the 40th minute, it was 3-0. Provider turned scorer as Roberts drove forward through the Moors defence with real intent to slot calmly beyond Brad James and into the bottom corner.
The events of the first half left Moors with a mountain to climb.
However, Graeme Lee’s men opened the second half in a much more positive and attacking minded outlook, with Reece Staunton winning an early corner. Matty Dolan’s ball in found Dan Rowe, but his header couldn’t be kept down and rose over the bar.
It could’ve been four for The Saints just minutes later, as James’ clearance was skewed and landed at the feet of Hall. The striker took a touch and lofted a long shot on goal – luckily for Moors, the ball bounced just wide of the mark.
Michael Ledger had a chance to grab a goal on 67 minutes, but his shot was high over the bar from close range after Taylor’s initial header had been parried by Young,
Ramshaw grabbed a late consolation goal for Moors when he was in the right place to turn the ball home after substitute Junior Mondal’s low shot had been blocked on the line.
However, all hope of a comeback was quickly extinguished as Hall smashed home from close range following good work from Matt Lowe down the right.
A game to forget for Moors who will have to pick up the pieces in preparation for midweek action in the coming days, as they face Southport away from home on Tuesday.
Full Time: Brackley Town 4 Moors 1
Moors: James, Ledger, Rowe (Rutledge 62), McGinley (Mondal 46), McKeown, Ross, Dolan, Staunton, Hancox (Shrimpton 46), Ramshaw, Taylor.
Subs not used: Johnson, Rose.
Booked: Ross (88), Ramshaw (90)
Brackley Town: Young, Carline, Dean, Lilly (Donawa 71), Lyttle, O’Sullivan, Byrne (Bates 66), Calder, Roberts (Abbey 84), Hall, Lowe
Subs not used: Worby
Booked: Lilly (66)
Referee: Matt Scholes
Attendance: 806
